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.
Just to be clear, "sucking it up" financially is not really much of an option for me. Hence the post.
Something I have done successfully in the past is pick up an additional shift for extra or unforeseen expenses. As a ADN if you do an overnight, holiday or weekend shift you will probably even have some money left over. Good luck.
Yeah, lots of people who can't teach say that. I'll bet the "old nurse" who shared that insight with you was actually taught by plenty of people who could also "do," as were you, and as was everyone here.
An old nurse taught me that back in the 80s, words to live by.
Cheers
People, people, time for a little historical perspective here.
When this charming little saying was popular, it had nothing to do with doing or teaching, per se.
It was a slam on administrators/managers who seemingly rose to their positions of power without ever having actually been in the trenches with the rest of the peons.
Or, if they did have experience with the rest of us, they were so blindingly incompetent that there was nowhere for them to go but up.
Please, can we retire this one? Unless we want to complain about incompetent bosses, of course. 😈
Wow... I am quite envious! I have long wanted to visit the south Pacific! So beautiful. And very chill, clearly. I lived in Sri Lanka for three years... it was pretty, but not quite like this. Food can't be beaten, though.
Wow, cool. What's it like there. Were you working as a nurse at the time?
No... I was working in environmental restoration - mostly with mangrove ecosystems but also with sea turtles. It was an amazing experience - I also got to work a lot with farmers, fishermen, and women's groups. I would love to go back as a nurse!
Wow, cool. What's it like there. Were you working as a nurse at the time?
Oh, and... it was hot all the time, loads and loads of mosquitoes (with endemic malaria and dengue fever - thankfully, I contracted neither, though I did get roundworms and lice!)... but it's a beautiful country. The people are lovely, the food is amazing, and I am so glad I had the chance to live there. :)
Jules A, MSN
8,864 Posts
Something I have done successfully in the past is pick up an additional shift for extra or unforeseen expenses. As a ADN if you do an overnight, holiday or weekend shift you will probably even have some money left over. Good luck.