What did you take away from your ADN to BSN program

[jennifers]

Going back to school in the Fall (Lord willing). I already have a BS in another field and my ADN. My question is for those of you that have went this route. What did you take away from the BSN program? Did you feel your knowledge greatly changed? Your attitude toward the profession? What was the one greatest thing you learned from your program? Are you glad you did it?

Thanks for the answers.

[WyndDrivenRain, BSN, RN]

I am in the process completing the Capstone in an RN-BSN program. I'll be done in 6 weeks. I have learned a significant amount in this program about evidenced based nursing, research and being an agent of change in healthcare. There were courses where I didn't learn that much, but the evidenced based nursing, nursing informatics, cultural diversity and even the economics classes certainly made up for those. I think it was worth it.

Sue, RN

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Actually, when I was in the Excelsior BSN program I hated it and thought it the most useless waste of time I had ever paid for. I switched to Chamberlain and am loving it. Some of the classes are not providing a lot of new information but I *am* expanding my knowledge with certain things that I *thought* I knew but having to sit down and write out how to handle, say, a passive-aggressive subordinate is helpful.

I do agree that in *some* programs there is too little an emphasis on clinical and scientific study, but those more clinically-based programs are out there and had I been willing to complete some science prereqs I could have gone to one. But I wasn't. If I decide to go on for a master's I will take them.

I'm having fun and this is broadening my view of what nursing is and can be beyond the bedside, which isn't where I am anyway.

Anyway. Knowledge is never a waste.

And usually, if APA isn't required MLA is.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Wow! The U of M doesn't require APA formatting in its graduate coursework?

*** I don't know about that. I just know the program I want does not.

But---does that mean they have a different kind of formatting that might be even more difficult? Or one that might be a bit more user-friendly?

*** They use AMA and it is much harder as (so far as I can tell) it is less standardized than APA.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Probably because they run off after one year, right?

Bingo!

[BluegrassRN]

Like many others' experiences, my ASN to BSN experience has been nearly meaningless. The theory/philosophy/history of nursing...what a bunch of crap. Do physicians have to take hours and hours of this sh&t? I think not. Most of my non-science classes seem to exist purely to justify nursing as a profession. Seriously, nursing education has a huge mental health issue, and it's called "small man syndrome". My professors periodically rant and rave about BSN needs to be the entry level, about the characteristics that make a "profession", about all the different theories of nursing--who gives a crap? Oh, and one characteristic of a profession is that classes are taught by experts in the field--ie those with the PhD--but only one of my professors has her PhD, the rest have their masters. So you denigrate my associates degree as insufficient, quoting Abraham Flexner's report from 1910, but you don't fulfill your own educational standards? Please.

Another complaint I have with my program is that I am in class with non-nurses. I'm sorry, I know way more than they do based on my NINE YEARS OF ACUTE NURSING EXPERIENCE. I really felt that my patho classes in particular were watered down to accommodate the non-nurses. I was ready for it to move faster and go way more in depth than they did. I think there should be completely separate, accelerated classes for RNs completing their BSNs. As it is, I never study. I skim the material for about 2-4 hours prior to the test, take the test, get an A, and that's that.

It's a hoop to jump through. While it is true, you get out of it what you put into it, I feel like if I am paying thousands of dollars for a degree, the university should meet me halfway. It should be all on me to put out a huge effort, with no effort at all coming from the instructors or the school. I definitely learn more at work, or cruising wikipedia, than I have learned in my 12 hours of my BSN coursework thus far.

ETA: I feel like RN to BSN programs are there just to churn out BSNs. They are not as academically challenging as they should be, which completely negates their premise that a BSN makes a "better" nurse, one who functions at a higher level. Not in my experience. I cannot honestly see where any of my BSN classes has significantly contributed to my practice. It's simply a stepping stone. I am discouraged, and I hope that masters programs are more challenging; but I suspect they, too, are degree factories. Sad for us, it diminishes our accomplishments when ANYONE can get a BSN or MSN.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

My professors periodically rant and rave about BSN needs to be the entry level, about the characteristics that make a "profession", about all the different theories of nursing--who gives a crap? Oh, and one characteristic of a profession is that classes are taught by experts in the field--ie those with the PhD--but only one of my professors has her PhD, the rest have their masters. So you denigrate my associates degree as insufficient, quoting Abraham Flexner's report from 1910, but you don't fulfill your own educational standards?

*** I wonder how many of those other PhD taught professions graduate professionals who punch time clocks like factory workers and nurses do?

[CuriousMe]

I'm curious (really just curious--there's a very concrete reason I chose my screen name-- I'm in a BS program now, so I'll never participate in an RN-BS program).

Those of you that are unhappy with your programs, what were your expectations? How did you choose your program? Were you able to speak with someone from the program and ask questions and see if this program would meet those expectations?

I'm looking at Grad programs and have some specific expectations myself and I find it sometimes difficult to judge, even after speaking with admissions, if different programs will meet those expectations.

[Moogie]

Like many others' experiences, my ASN to BSN experience has been nearly meaningless. The theory/philosophy/history of nursing...what a bunch of crap. Do physicians have to take hours and hours of this sh&t? I think not. Most of my non-science classes seem to exist purely to justify nursing as a profession. Seriously, nursing education has a huge mental health issue, and it's called "small man syndrome". My professors periodically rant and rave about BSN needs to be the entry level, about the characteristics that make a "profession", about all the different theories of nursing--who gives a crap? Oh, and one characteristic of a profession is that classes are taught by experts in the field--ie those with the PhD--but only one of my professors has her PhD, the rest have their masters. So you denigrate my associates degree as insufficient, quoting Abraham Flexner's report from 1910, but you don't fulfill your own educational standards? Please.

Another complaint I have with my program is that I am in class with non-nurses. I'm sorry, I know way more than they do based on my NINE YEARS OF ACUTE NURSING EXPERIENCE. I really felt that my patho classes in particular were watered down to accommodate the non-nurses. I was ready for it to move faster and go way more in depth than they did. I think there should be completely separate, accelerated classes for RNs completing their BSNs. As it is, I never study. I skim the material for about 2-4 hours prior to the test, take the test, get an A, and that's that.

It's a hoop to jump through. While it is true, you get out of it what you put into it, I feel like if I am paying thousands of dollars for a degree, the university should meet me halfway. It should be all on me to put out a huge effort, with no effort at all coming from the instructors or the school. I definitely learn more at work, or cruising wikipedia, than I have learned in my 12 hours of my BSN coursework thus far.

ETA: I feel like RN to BSN programs are there just to churn out BSNs. They are not as academically challenging as they should be, which completely negates their premise that a BSN makes a "better" nurse, one who functions at a higher level. Not in my experience. I cannot honestly see where any of my BSN classes has significantly contributed to my practice. It's simply a stepping stone. I am discouraged, and I hope that masters programs are more challenging; but I suspect they, too, are degree factories. Sad for us, it diminishes our accomplishments when ANYONE can get a BSN or MSN.

You sound very frustrated and disappointed with your program. If you honestly feel you can get more from Wikipedia than from your classes, you need to get out of there and get into a program in which you will feel sufficiently challenged. Have you considered an RN to MSN program instead? If the university you are attending has a master's program, you may wish to talk with someone about skipping the bachelor's altogether and getting into grad school sooner rather than later---although if you are very unhappy with the BSN program, you may wish to look elsewhere for a program that is better suited to your needs.

May I ask what kinds of courses you have had so far? Most of the RN to BSN students in my program were not terribly impressed or challenged by the junior year courses but we did find the senior level courses to be far more stimulating. You may find the same or you might just be in a bad program.

I don't think it works to have RN to BSN students in the same classes as entry-level BSN students. My program was like that---it was the first RN to BSN class that my school even had so in many ways we were an experimental group. The school eventually went to separate curricula based on differing learning needs for the entry-level and RN to BSN courses. It might seem that putting the two groups together is a total no-brainer but, due to budget cuts in many states, some programs don't have much choice.

I do understand your frustration that your instructors are talking the talk about educational preparation but not walking the walk since the majority have only master's degrees. There is a huge shortage of PhD-prepared nurse educators and most schools cannot recruit enough doctorally-educated instructors because of the disparity between faculty pay and the pay one can get in a clinical setting. Doctoral programs are also costly and time-consuming and while some are very doable for nurses who are working, especially for those who are working as educators, others are not very accessible. There are, increasingly, more doctoral programs that are online but online education requires a significant commitment in terms of time and cannot be squeezed into one's free time.

Do keep in mind that many programs at all levels require greater amounts of student input as opposed to what seems like instructor effort. This is part of the idea of adult education, that one takes greater responsibility for one's learning. Sometimes this is very frustrating in nursing education because there is a balance between "spoon feeding" (which I suspect you neither expect or want) and being completely hands-off. Sometimes an instructor gives little feedback or provides little guidance and it is frustrating not to be clear on expectations.

I hope things get better for you and that you don't let your negative experiences so far completely sour you on furthering your education and your career. Do please consider an RN to MSN program if you feel that you are not being challenged. You sound like you are ready for that sort of program and you might find that it suits your needs far better.

[aCRNAhopeful]

I'm curious (really just curious--there's a very concrete reason I chose my screen name-- I'm in a BS program now, so I'll never participate in an RN-BS program).

Those of you that are unhappy with your programs, what were your expectations? How did you choose your program? Were you able to speak with someone from the program and ask questions and see if this program would meet those expectations?

I'm looking at Grad programs and have some specific expectations myself and I find it sometimes difficult to judge, even after speaking with admissions, if different programs will meet those expectations.

I can tell you what I expected from it. Since my interest in nursing is with critical care and one day anesthesia, I really want to advance myself CLINICALLY. So when I took pathophysiology I expected to learn something useful from it. But like others have said, it was watered down and not challanging at all. I had to learn so much further in depth physio/pathophys in my ADN that the class was a joke. And I go to a major university with a well known nursing program. Now I'm getting ready for my final two semesters of RN-BSN: community health and leadership... give me a break. Can't wait for this to be done.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I do have to say that the fun I am having is not in the nursing classes. I reallt don't want to study change theory and apply it to managing an LTC unit. Gah.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

I have taken quite a bit away from my RN-BSN program:

• A very basic understanding of statistics
  
• Research basics & how to understand what I'm reading (statistical methodology & reliability/validity, etc)
  
• Palliative Care class added TONS of clinical knowledge not included in my ADN program
  
• Gerontology class added TONS of clinical knowledge not included in my ADN program
  
• Genomics class - learned a bit about hereditary diseases and heritability
  
• Pathophysiology class covered pathophys topics not covered in ADN program
  
• Assessment class covered a few things not covered in ADN program, like I can use an ophthalmoscope/otoscope and know what I'm looking at and if something's (grossly) wrong in eye/ear (I recently found cataracts when someone complained about visual symptoms & I looked with the opthalm.scope & found the red reflex to have black opaqueness. Thanks RN-BSN class!)
  
• Public Health, community resources avail.
  
• Nursing Theories - meh, I could do without
  
• Most of all - most important to me, personally, the liberal arts classes (non-nursing) required at the university level can change your perceptions and perspectives. I cannot imagine what my life would have been like had I not taken some of these liberal arts classes. They really can change how you view yourself, others, and your worldview!
  

[aCRNAhopeful]

I will say I agree with the above post. If your interests reflect the curriculum taught by the RN-BSN program, you may learn a lot of useful stuff. But for those with different interests than what is taught in the curriculum... it's like being mentally burned at the stake. My interests are, as my name implies, CRNA school as well as things that are relevant to critical care. So far, have learned very little if anything useful to me.