Why do nurses eat their young?

[Perisoreus]

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.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

You're not a new nurse anymore.

So waving the NETY banner comes across as embellishing.

Honestly, you pointing out she has been teaching since the 80's sounds like ageism and sour grapes.

They may have been less than cordial so take it up with the customer service people to get a better answer.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

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

Nursing MADE me crazy. I sure didn't start out that way.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

It is not up to the receiving institution to gather the records and necessary documents. That's up to the applicant. And that is with any profession, not just limited to nursing; the OPs original school may have been for profit, which is what it sounds like with pharm embedded into other courses. That may be where the problem lies. Many ACEN accredited schools won't accept that

OP sounds like she has been a nurse for a while and some programs change. Non profit has nothing to do with it. I am have been an LPN and ADN and not once did I take a stand alone pharm class. Neither did any of my co-workers. Only when they took our BSN, was it required at both non profit and for profit schools.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

It is not up to the receiving institution to gather the records and necessary documents. That's up to the applicant. And that is with any profession, not just limited to nursing; the OPs original school may have been for profit, which is what it sounds like with pharm embedded into other courses. That may be where the problem lies. Many ACEN accredited schools won't accept that

OP sounds like she has been a nurse for a while and some programs change. Non profit has nothing to do with it. I have been educated at an LPN and ADN level, and not once did I take a stand alone pharm class. Neither did any of my co-workers. Only when they started their BSN, was it required. This was for both non profit and for profit schools.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

OP sounds like she has been a nurse for a while and some programs change. Non profit has nothing to do with it. I am have been an LPN and ADN and not once did I take a stand alone pharm class. Neither did any of my co-workers. Only when they took our BSN, was it required at both non profit and for profit schools.

I was in an ADN at a community college and we had a stand alone pharm class. All the community colleges and BSN programs in my area have a stand alone pharmacy class.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

I was in an ADN at a community college and we had a stand alone pharm class. All the community colleges and BSN programs in my area have a stand alone pharmacy class.

Mine too. Only the 'shady' programs (that state in fine print that most credits won't transfer) have the embedded pharm classes. I had never heard of embedded prior to these popping up. I learn something new all the time. When I was teaching at the the community college, that's where most of the pharm students came from, as they needed this class and a couple of others to transition lpn-adn-bsn

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

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.

There are many reasons that isn't true and one is that a BSN is not required to be a registered nurse. The ADN program prepares us just fine to be a registered nurse and until it really changes that nurses HAVE get get a BSN, they have enough on their plate to teach us. Going on to get my BSN I had to take a statistic class before I could start my RN-BSN program - I loved statistics even though it was a tough class.

My RN-BSN program consisted mainly of writing APA papers. I'm glad I did it but don't think it made me a better nurse.

I was in an ADN at a community college and we had a stand alone pharm class. All the community colleges and BSN programs in my area have a stand alone pharmacy class.

I took a stand-alone pharmacy class in my ADN program as well as the BSN program.

As others have mentioned, going to the knee-jerk term, NETY, is frustrating for many of us.

[Perisoreus]

I love it too - my dad is a pharmacologist! It's just... well, I've already made my point. Trying to conserve money!

I appreciate your insight... you are likely right. Grouchy lady. Sometimes I am inclined to take things too personally, which is something I need to stop doing. Thank you!

[Perisoreus]

HA! Yes, this. You'll have to forgive my lack of understanding - mostly I have worked as a scientist. The culture can certainly be similar, depending upon the institution, but I am still learning about nursing culture, such as it is.

[Perisoreus]

Just to be clear, "sucking it up" financially is not really much of an option for me. Hence the post.

[Perisoreus]

I am most certainly not an age-ist, being of an age myself. Saying she has been teaching since the 80's was just to say that my ancient seven year old education is no more invalid than hers is - and hers is a lot older than mine. My point is that we don't lose what we learn just because we didn't graduate ten minutes ago. Sour grapes? Maybe. That's my problem, though.

Apologies to all of you for breaking out the term "NETY" - I really didn't mean to hurt you. I am still learning.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Mine too. Only the 'shady' programs (that state in fine print that most credits won't transfer) have the embedded pharm classes. I had never heard of embedded prior to these popping up. I learn something new all the time. When I was teaching at the the community college, that's where most of the pharm students came from, as they needed this class and a couple of others to transition lpn-adn-bsn

I never had a stand-alone pharm class, and I can assure you it was not a "shady" program.