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.
That would be great! I'm a big promoter of medical mission nursing. I've been to Vietnam twice with a medical mission. We go for 2.5 weeks, set up a clinic in a different village and sometimes a city each day. We have physicians, NP's, PA's, Nursing - we have a fully functioning lab, we have optometry/glasses, a dental clinic. I took my daughter the second time and she did her Senior Project on it.
It wasn't so hot - but it did get humid. Gorgeous, lush countryside. The food was awesome! The fruit is amazing.
The people are welcoming and friendly. The government - not so much although after almost 20 years of this happening, things are better. Plus, Vietnam promotes tourism to help with their economy. They need to be nice to foreigners.
My goal within nursing is to do something like that. I met a nurse while I was doing my clinicals who would take the worst shifts for the pay differential and then go abroad to do nursing where ever as long as she could afford it. She got to work on islands in one of the African rift lakes (can't remember which one) - they hadn't seen a health care professional of any kind for a long time. She's been to the Amazon basin and several southeast Asian countries - I adored her stories.
It's so cool that you've done that! And that your daughter got to experience that - living in a different culture really broadens your horizons - and I think deepens your appreciation for what we have here in this country. I would love to have Vietnamese food up close and personal! And yes, the tropical fruit is amazing. Thank you for your service there. :)
I simply don't think what you learned (in Nursing class) is sufficient to be equal to a pharmacology course. That seems to be your instructors opinion and what I would conclude. I know my ASN classes didn't seem to cover quite that much, from my recall.
I concur. It was mixed in with my basic classes. I wish I'd had a dedicated class in my AASN. In my MSN I did, so there's that.
I would welcome more pharmacology. My original point - which was sort of lost in the kerfuffle I created - is that times are hard financially, and I believe I have sufficient pharmacology to enter a BSN program without having to pay to test out of it. I will do that, of course, but it is a bit of a hardship at this point in time. Again, I'm not claiming to be a pharmacology expert by any means. I do enjoy the subject matter - heck, that's what my dad specialized in, so I've had plenty of exposure to it. So... anyway. Thanks for listening.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
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.
No surprise. It's a school by school thing. However, you can't assume it's a for profit purely on a class.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I would welcome more pharmacology. My original point - which was sort of lost in the kerfuffle I created - is that times are hard financially, and I believe I have sufficient pharmacology to enter a BSN program without having to pay to test out of it. I will do that, of course, but it is a bit of a hardship at this point in time.
My original response to you may have gotten lost in the kerfuffle as well. Have you looked into other RN-BSN programs? I know of several, and none required pharm as a prerequisite.
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.
Tossing about this tired old phrase IS insulting...
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.
My original response to you may have gotten lost in the kerfuffle as well. Have you looked into other RN-BSN programs? I know of several, and none required pharm as a prerequisite.
I have. I'm happy with this program, though - the school is good, and I can finish the program in a year. Although I'm not happy about having to pay for the pharmacology test-out, brushing up on the pharm can only be a good thing, right? Trying to be positive here, especially after my rantiness that got me in so much trouble. Also, going to this school will allow me to stay close to my folks, which is why I moved back to Ohio to begin with. I am sort of out of my element here after twenty years on the east coast.
I love your quote, by the way. I had to Google it. :)
As it turns out, I am not able to pounce on every new thread as it appears. I respond as I read, so my thoughts aren't tainted by the words of others. My sincerest apologies to you, Jensmom, how dare I irritate you with my post. Since the thread has not/had not been closed, I was under the impression that I was free to post here. If this is incorrect and I need to run things by you first, I hope an admin will let me know this before I dare do it again!
Which she apologized for quite awhile ago, and the rest of us have moved on.
Perisoreus
43 Posts
My goal within nursing is to do something like that. I met a nurse while I was doing my clinicals who would take the worst shifts for the pay differential and then go abroad to do nursing where ever as long as she could afford it. She got to work on islands in one of the African rift lakes (can't remember which one) - they hadn't seen a health care professional of any kind for a long time. She's been to the Amazon basin and several southeast Asian countries - I adored her stories.
It's so cool that you've done that! And that your daughter got to experience that - living in a different culture really broadens your horizons - and I think deepens your appreciation for what we have here in this country. I would love to have Vietnamese food up close and personal! And yes, the tropical fruit is amazing. Thank you for your service there. :)