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.
I read all the responses, and as usual, I see it as a more basic issue.
Whoever provides the service, gets to make the rules. I jump through all kinds of assorted hoops on any given day, to accommodate rules somebody else thinks are necessary.
I read all the responses, and as usual, I see it as a more basic issue.
Whoever provides the service, gets to make the rules. I jump through all kinds of assorted hoops on any given day, to accommodate rules somebody else thinks are necessary.
You have indeed used a bazooka to kill an ant. NETY is an insult the way it is used and practically the "N" word when overused.
There is nothing anyone on this board can do to actually help your situation. The BSN program you are seeking to enter has established its requirements and has no obligation to change that for one student. A "stand-alone" pharmacy class is of course easier to transfer had your program done that. Unfortunately the "format' of your program did not do that and instead embedded it in a multitude of classes. Teasing out that information is a tedious task the current head of the Nursing Department chose not to do. Your expectation that these institutions accommodate your special circumstances is the very definition of entitlement.
I would not assume, as you have, that "this woman" is teaching information she obtained prior to the 80's. Were she doing that, then it would be invalid. I believe she is aware things change by her acknowledgement that the pharmacology that was taught 7 years ago is out of date. Your criticism of her education is petty and defensive.
You have never been a practicing nurse and your nursing education is over 7 years old. Your RN-to-BSN plan is not a bad solution to the fact that you will have an extremely difficult time trying to obtain employment in Nursing with a 7 year old unused ADN degree. If you are able to sell yourself as a new grad, that 7 year gap disappears. BSN nurses aren't expected to be clinically competent right out of the gate anyway, so look for a job that offers a strong orientation or residency program.
You have indeed used a bazooka to kill an ant. NETY is an insult the way it is used and practically the "N" word when overused.
There is nothing anyone on this board can do to actually help your situation. The BSN program you are seeking to enter has established its requirements and has no obligation to change that for one student. A "stand-alone" pharmacy class is of course easier to transfer had your program done that. Unfortunately the "format' of your program did not do that and instead embedded it in a multitude of classes. Teasing out that information is a tedious task the current head of the Nursing Department chose not to do. Your expectation that these institutions accommodate your special circumstances is the very definition of entitlement.
I would not assume, as you have, that "this woman" is teaching information she obtained prior to the 80's. Were she doing that, then it would be invalid. I believe she is aware things change by her acknowledgement that the pharmacology that was taught 7 years ago is out of date. Your criticism of her education is petty and defensive.
You have never been a practicing nurse and your nursing education is over 7 years old. Your RN-to-BSN plan is not a bad solution to the fact that you will have an extremely difficult time trying to obtain employment in Nursing with a 7 year old unused ADN degree. If you are able to sell yourself as a new grad, that 7 year gap disappears. BSN nurses aren't expected to be clinically competent right out of the gate anyway, so look for a job that offers a strong orientation or residency program.
Wow. Ok. I was not criticizing that nurse's qualifications at all - I never intended to say that, and if you read what I've written, you will see that I did not. I do think I caught her on a bad day, but I'm past that now - should never have posted to begin with, I suppose. I have no doubt that her credentials are good - it's a good school.
I apologize for asking a question. I was upset - times are lean in my life right now - so I was looking for support. Again, perhaps I shouldn't have posted at all. I don't expect for any institution or other human being to make exceptions for me - I thought my request was reasonable, but it isn't, so here we are. I do take affront to being called entitled. I am not. I am sorry that I came across that way.
Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
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
No, just no. I attended one of the top ADN programs in my state and I didn't have a stand alone pharm class. And the amazing thing about my program, all the nursing core classes and the pre-reqs transferred to the top school in my state. Nothing shady about it at all. And the top school in my state is also one of the top in the country.
If the question you are referring to is "Why do nuses eat their young?" (as the title of your post) accept that it is offensive to many on this board and set a poor tone. Of course you take affront to being called entitled because you think you do deserve special treatment or perhaps you didn't realize what you are requesting is special treatment. In my opinion you came across that way.
I did not say you were criticizing her qualifications. You were clearly criticizing her education by implying if she thought your 7 year old education was insufficient to meet today's standards then hers is more insuffienct by being even older.
Dialing it back a bit, I am sorry you are having financial difficulties. That is not what we are prepared for with having advanced education.
Are you having any luck getting a job with your ADN? I don't have an ADN and have no experience with that but based on what's been written on this board, new grads in some parts of the country are having a real hard time. I would place you in a catagory similar to a stay-at-home-mom who has a significant break in her career. Those folks usually have to take a refresher course to be employable. Something like that could increase your exposure to the nursing network. A job as an RN does provide a living wage.
If the question you are referring to is "Why do nuses eat their young?" (as the title of your post) accept that it is offensive to many on this board and set a poor tone. Of course you take affront to being called entitled because you think you do deserve special treatment or perhaps you didn't realize what you are requesting is special treatment. In my opinion you came across that way.
I did not say you were criticizing her qualifications. You were clearly criticizing her education by implying if she thought your 7 year old education was insufficient to meet today's standards then hers is more insuffienct by being even older.
Dialing it back a bit, I am sorry you are having financial difficulties. That is not what we are prepared for with having advanced education.
Are you having any luck getting a job with your ADN? I don't have an ADN and have no experience with that but based on what's been written on this board, new grads in some parts of the country are having a real hard time. I would place you in a catagory similar to a stay-at-home-mom who has a significant break in her career. Those folks usually have to take a refresher course to be employable. Something like that could increase your exposure to the nursing network. A job as an RN does provide a living wage.
I really was not criticizing her credentials, not at all. My intent was the opposite - regardless of the time you've had away from school, you are still a capable and intelligent professional. We've now revisited the fact that I sounded entitled, and I have to say again that I really am not. Again, if my words made me sound that way... please consider that I am human and therefore prone to fallibility.
I am sorry for using the term "NETY" - I did not know the impact it has.
Now that we're here - do you think a refresher course is a good thing? Because I will do that. No, I haven't gotten a job with the ADN. I am working in a nursery doing plant pathology and entomology.
Come on, guys. She had a little rant, said something silly, recognized it and apologized. This should've died after the 2nd comment. Give OP a break, or are we really that NETY?
Come on, guys. She had a little rant, said something silly, recognized it and apologized. This should've died after the 2nd comment. Give OP a break, or are we really that NETY?
klone, MSN, RN
14,857 Posts
OP, you should hit the "quote" button when responding to individual posts.