What can I do with my BSN that Assoc. RN's can't?

[doodlebug914]

I just graduated with my BSN this spring. I'm working as a PCA2/Graduate Nurse at a local hospital until I take my boards... I am taking my HESI tomorrow at the college I graduated from. This is an 'exit' type of exam that we have to pass before taking our boards. I'm feeling down about not being able to pass and have this huge fear that I am not going to pass my boards!

Amidst my fear, I am questioning taking a role as an RN on floor nursing. It seems like most of the RN's on my floor have an associates degree, and I am questioning if I should be doing something different since I have my bachelor's? The pay is the same for an Assoc. or BSN, which doesn't make any sense to me. Just wondering what else is available that I might not be looking for, or what your opinions are!?

Another BSN student who just graduated as well was speaking with me, and said she wonders if the Assoc. degree RN's laugh thinking that we have wasted our time getting our BSN when we get the same pay/same responsibilities. Is this a big issue?

Thanks!

Miranda

[zenman]

Don't forget to check out my website before you go. I'm going to bed. Three days off! And I've made the decision to give up my supervisor job and get back in the ED or ICU; patient care is just too much fun. Plus I'll probably go to NP school also. I love learning! :chuckle

[jeepgirl, LPN, NP]

from the way zenman talks, every ADN and diploma nurse is an uneducated fool, not worthy of doing any more than the basic functions of nursing. that is basically what you are saying. and I find it sickening. the other thing you are saying is that nursing is not a respected profession because of ADN and diploma nurses. and that is wrong.

the only reason people might think that nursing is not a respected profession because of nurses like yourself. You see, if I was not a nurse... and if I see you talking about how unprofessional stupid and uneducated everyone around you is, I might believe it also... I don't wouldn't the difference.

Look. Every nursing school has to meet criteria for it to be able to teach students to become RNs. I think its great that ADN schools can do that in three years instead four.

I've never heard of a two year LPN program.

Since I graduated from school, I don't know how many

times I have had family members, neighbors, friends and others say something to the effect of "oh, you're a nurse! that is a wonderful job... you get to take care of and help people every day. that's such a great job... you must be so smart to be able to be a nurse!"

you make it sound like adn and diploma nurses are monkeys hanging IV's and giving meds mindlessly all day long, that we are functioning outside the scope of our practice. there is nothing in the "scope of practice" that I can't do as an entry level ADN that an entry level BSN can do.

obviously, we are educated to a level that is comparable to that of a BSN nurse. if we weren't, we'd all be tested differently, or BSN nurses would have a different designation instead of just being an "RN".

obviously, if you don't have a BSN and you're a nurse, then you're squat to this guy. someone needs to wake up here.

basically, i think that you can do anything with your ADN that you can with your BSN if you want to, unless you want to go to grad school. other than that, the only thing a bsn might do is make it a little bit easier for you to obtain that promotion you're wanting... but if you've proven yourself to be a good nurse and a hard worker, i have personally not seen the lack of a BSN to be a problem.

[OBRNinTN]

AMEN!!!!

Nursing is nursing..I'll get my degree in egomania later.

from the way zenman talks, every ADN and diploma nurse is an uneducated fool, not worthy of doing any more than the basic functions of nursing. that is basically what you are saying. and I find it sickening. the other thing you are saying is that nursing is not a respected profession because of ADN and diploma nurses. and that is wrong.

the only reason people might think that nursing is not a respected profession because of nurses like yourself. You see, if I was not a nurse... and if I see you talking about how unprofessional stupid and uneducated everyone around you is, I might believe it also... I don't wouldn't the difference.

Look. Every nursing school has to meet criteria for it to be able to teach students to become RNs. I think its great that ADN schools can do that in three years instead four.

I've never heard of a two year LPN program.

Since I graduated from school, I don't know how many

times I have had family members, neighbors, friends and others say something to the effect of "oh, you're a nurse! that is a wonderful job... you get to take care of and help people every day. that's such a great job... you must be so smart to be able to be a nurse!"

you make it sound like adn and diploma nurses are monkeys hanging IV's and giving meds mindlessly all day long, that we are functioning outside the scope of our practice. there is nothing in the "scope of practice" that I can't do as an entry level ADN that an entry level BSN can do.

obviously, we are educated to a level that is comparable to that of a BSN nurse. if we weren't, we'd all be tested differently, or BSN nurses would have a different designation instead of just being an "RN".

obviously, if you don't have a BSN and you're a nurse, then you're squat to this guy. someone needs to wake up here.

basically, i think that you can do anything with your ADN that you can with your BSN if you want to, unless you want to go to grad school. other than that, the only thing a bsn might do is make it a little bit easier for you to obtain that promotion you're wanting... but if you've proven yourself to be a good nurse and a hard worker, i have personally not seen the lack of a BSN to be a problem.