Why do nurses eat their young?

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I am transitioning from an ADN to a BSN, and I am very financially strapped right now. The RN-to-BSN program I hope to start wants proof of sufficient pharmacology. I didn't have a pharmacology class per se - it was embedded in the curriculum. I can test out of it, but the test is $200. The school asked for syllabi from my nursing alma mater, so I contacted them. The current head of the nursing department was dismissive and abrupt -

"Your request for us to verify that you had "ample pharmacology" is not possible. Instructions involved select categories and examples of a few specific drugs, but I would not consider that "ample". And it also varied greatly from course to course. Secondly, your education was over 7 years ago and pharmacology has undergone many changes."

This woman has been teaching since 1980, so it's safe to assume her education is quite a bit older than mine. Does that invalidate it? I don't think so. Clearly I passed my NCLEX, and my RN is current in both OH and NY. I was taken aback by her attitude, but I have seen a lot of this sort of behavior among nurses - especially in academia. I don't understand it. I would think she would want to support a graduate of her program, not shoot me down - the condescension in that reply is palpable. I have a BS and an MS in different fields; I am hardly stupid.

Can any of you speak to this nurses eating their young? Because I just don't get it. We should be supporting each other. I have no problem taking the pharm test - I just don't want to be out $200 - I can't afford it.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I don't see this as a "nurses eating their young" issue. It sounds like she made two good and valid points. If you didn't have a formal pharmacology class, which is required by your ADN-BSN program, then I can understand why she wouldn't want to vouch for your pharmacology education. She can't exaggerate or falsify your education.

Obviously you are already a registered nurse she have passed the NCLEX, so you have pharmacology knowledge. Apparently that alone is not enough for your BSN program. You're just going to have to bite the bulled and take the class or pay for the test to be exempt.

It does suck to have to take a basic class like that. I hope it works out for you.

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I know she's making reasonable points... it's just that I have to have had adequate pharmacology in order to pass the NCLEX. I'm not trying to pretend I'm a pharmacology expert. And her tone! I'm being ranty, I suppose. I apologize. Mostly I'm balking because of the cost involved... it's an extra burden I don't need right now.

Thank you for your input!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Yeah, I don't blame you for wanting to avoid the cost. As far as having adequate pharm knowledge since you passed the NCLEX, that would be better argued with your current school than your old one. Apparently your current school has a higher standard for proving "adequate" pharmacology than just passing the NCLEX.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Sooooo, let me get this straight.

The head of the nursing program deems your >7 year old program to be inadequate to award credit at HER institution, for HER department, while giving multiple appropriate facts to back up her judgment, and this is NETY???

I, in turn, might call this a privileged young person who expects the world to revolve around him/her.

I do believe I can die happy now. I have truly seen & heard it all.

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I may not have been succinct enough in my posting. I am just a bit frustrated. I am not an entitled young person, not by a long shot. As I said, I am being ranty, which is allowed, I think? I will take the pharmacology test-out option, it's just a real financial burden right now, and I resent it a bit. I have seen much more support for fellow workers in agricultural research, which is what I currently do. I've seen some bad examples in the nursing profession - hence the question. I'm not trying to insult anyone, I'm just trying to understand.

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Thank you, Karou. I appreciate your words.

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People in the helping professions tend towards personality disorders. LOL It's sad but true. Nothing has changed either, which is quite sad, and lends credence to my statement.

The patient within — psychopathology in the helping professions

Richard Tillett

Advances in Psychiatric Treatment Jul 2003, 9 (4) 272-279; DOI: 10.1192/apt.9.4.272

I'm not sure if weblinks are allowed on here, but if not just put the above in Google. The patient within — psychopathology in the helping professions | BJPsych Advances

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Considering the fact that hospitals are wanting nurses to get their BSN, ADN programs should prepare their students to transfer into a BSN program, WITHOUT having to take more classes or expend more cash. It seems if you have a license you should be qualified to enter a BSN program.

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I know she's making reasonable points... it's just that I have to have had adequate pharmacology in order to pass the NCLEX. I'm not trying to pretend I'm a pharmacology expert. And her tone! I'm being ranty, I suppose. I apologize. Mostly I'm balking because of the cost involved... it's an extra burden I don't need right now.

Thank you for your input!

And like anything else, she works for a business. A business that wants your $200 bucks and is not into the time nor energy to try and get your school records to "prove" otherwise.

There are leaders in academics that are just not nice. They are many who are in for the profits, and shy away from giving ANY paperwork designed to discourage the taking of Pharmacology (or any other course) in their academic institution. Especially if they are a for profit school.

Can you get a grant/scholarship/tuition reimbursement for the test/course? Is there an online option that is cheaper? If you choose to do an online thing, just be sure that the school you are currently attending will take the credit once you complete it.

Sometimes it is not cheaper to "test out" of anything. Depending on the test, if it is filled with obscure questions that are designed to have you then re-take, buy "booklets" to assist etc. I would compare that to the $500 to just take the course.

It is all expensive. But I would think about the pros and cons.

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Specializes in Neurosciences, stepdown, acute rehab, LTC.

This isn't NETY, it's just a grouchy lady. Can you call back and just ask for the nursing syllabus? do they need it directly from the school? Can you talk to someone else? People can be rude in many circumstances. It's really aggravating when people are abrupt for no reason but when I think of "NETY" I think of it out on the floors , at work where no one wants to help you or answer your questions and are just rude to you overall. I havent even experienced it very often, and I have suspicions that people throw that term around when it's not warranted. Most people are very encouraging.

Back to the main topic though. I like the above persons answer to just take a class online and add it to your loans. I Took the class separate from my ASN program and got much more out of it. But I personally love pharmacology.

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She can be a jerk all she wants but I still don't get why she can't just give you a copy of the syllabus(syllabi) for the classes that you took when you attended the school so that your BSN program of choice can review them and make their decision based on what is in the documentation. Why is she hoarding the syllabi? Many BSN programs request them when considering to award transfer credit...She's just being a terd. I would go over her head at this point and see how you can get a copy of the documentation that you need....it's a freaking syllabus and you don't need her condescending commentary...just the request document

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