I'm not talking about other nursing students, but the general public. Heck, even patients!
I have had a patient ask me was I in nursing school (obviously). She then asked how far along I was and how long was the program. I told her it was a 4 year degree with 3 years of nursing classes (at my school). She said "What?! For a nurse?" Granted, she was out of it and in pain, but it was just the way she said it. The general public is really uneducated on what nurses actually do and their schooling. We need to work on improving that so people don't just think we are all assistants who work under the doctor.
Then there are the people who call themselves nurses, or have others call them nurses, when they are medical assistants and such. I'm not going through all this rigamorue in school to be compared to someone with a certificate who went to school for a few months. I'm sorry but that's not a good look.
Nurses might as well be aliens because apparently who we are and what we do is a mystery covered by the CIA.
Just after reading and posting on this trhead I get on the phone with my best friend, who is a little ditsy, and she starts asking me well-why is it so hard to get into ns isn't it easy? I state no its not and ns is very hard and she's mystified and says oh really it's hard???? well whats hard the classes???
She sounds like an elementary education major, lol.
It's been my experience that any of my friends and family that know what nursing school is about, know that it isn't easy. And I agree, it is very annoying when people working as CNA's and MA's call themselves nurses. Some people just have no idea. So here is what you do: when someone starts talking about how easy it is to be a nurse, talk about a situation you've had in clinical (don't use names) and USE MEDICAL TERMS and NURSING JARGON. They will have no idea what you're talking about and they might just think that you do more than wipe butts :) PLUS, it's entertaining to watch them act like they understand what you're talking about :) :)
I gues I'm fortunate enough that I haven't run into this problem. I work and go to clinicals at a large teaching facility and all the patients that have asked me about nursing school always congratulate me. I usually get questions about the types of nursing programs and my schedule. I'm glad I haven't gotten that type of response because, honestly, I don't think I would be able to hold in the emotional response towards someone that ignorant.
She sounds like an elementary education major, lol.
LOL You hit it on the head, she is an elementary education major! And she's not even in her program yet, she's only taken a few pre-req's for it.. She just couldn't understand how ns school could be hard? She kept asking me well is it the tests? When you're at the hospital? It started because I was telling her that there tends to be a retention problem in ns and she's like well why? she said maybe people just decide they don't wanna do it anymore? and i said uh no its because its hard
None of my friends think it's easy, but it's mostly because I've made it my mission to let them know just how hard it really is to be in nursing school. I've told them that while they might be able to go out, get wasted every weekend, barely study, and miss class in college, it's not exactly an option for me.
I think people want to think of nurses as being regular people, not necessarily those with a lot of schooling.
I also think, and I greatly apologize for the offense taken by any ADN-prepared nurses, that the fact that we have 2-year and 4-year preparatory RN programs and how that plays out is greatly confusing to the public, to employers, to regulating agencies etc. I think it's a real problem that exists that just keeps getting swept under the rug. What is the real point of two different programs that are preparing you to take the same test? IMHO, I think that we need to decide whether the 2-year program is too weak to adequately prepare nurses in the field, or the 4-year program is superfluous for staff nurses.
Personally I believe that we don't have a clear picture of what it means to be a nurse at the moment, and that's why people don't realize how hard it can be for us nursing students. Whenever someone tells me that "You're wasting your time getting a 4-year degree when I/myfriend/mydaughter/myuncle/mywhoever is getting their 2-year RN and will make only 60 cents less an hour than you," I can't help but feel a lot of resentment. If my 4-year degree is pointless, why is it even offered? However, I DON'T think my degree pointless. I think that nursing is so desperate for employees that they've allowed the 2-year program to go on for so long despite the fact that the scope of practice for nursing has changed and, in my opinion, needs 3 years of nursing school to adequately prepare good nurses with critical thinking skills. Just my opinion.
I have been presented with this problem very few times and for the most part people I know have been very supportive of me. As has been previously mentioned, most people get their information about the profession from TV, movies and what may have been true 50 years ago. Think back. Before we started in school how many of us had the same generic idea of what nursing or NS was like? I would venture that most of us did.
Now, if the rare question about the substance of our education comes up, I inform the inquisitor that nurses are considered the last line of defense for our patients. Do they really want some uneducated dolt carrying that responsibility?
most people dont think about it either way...BTW I know a PA who calls himself Doctor and has DR on his name tag. I thought that was odd, and by odd I mean illegal lol.
None of my friends think it's easy, but it's mostly because I've made it my mission to let them know just how hard it really is to be in nursing school. I've told them that while they might be able to go out, get wasted every weekend, barely study, and miss class in college, it's not exactly an option for me.
I think people want to think of nurses as being regular people, not necessarily those with a lot of schooling.
I also think, and I greatly apologize for the offense taken by any ADN-prepared nurses, that the fact that we have 2-year and 4-year preparatory RN programs and how that plays out is greatly confusing to the public, to employers, to regulating agencies etc. I think it's a real problem that exists that just keeps getting swept under the rug. What is the real point of two different programs that are preparing you to take the same test? IMHO, I think that we need to decide whether the 2-year program is too weak to adequately prepare nurses in the field, or the 4-year program is superfluous for staff nurses.
Personally I believe that we don't have a clear picture of what it means to be a nurse at the moment, and that's why people don't realize how hard it can be for us nursing students. Whenever someone tells me that "You're wasting your time getting a 4-year degree when I/myfriend/mydaughter/myuncle/mywhoever is getting their 2-year RN and will make only 60 cents less an hour than you," I can't help but feel a lot of resentment. If my 4-year degree is pointless, why is it even offered? However, I DON'T think my degree pointless. I think that nursing is so desperate for employees that they've allowed the 2-year program to go on for so long despite the fact that the scope of practice for nursing has changed and, in my opinion, needs 3 years of nursing school to adequately prepare good nurses with critical thinking skills. Just my opinion.
Why not just enjoy having a four year degree? The heck with what anyone else thinks. Only about a quarter of Americans has a bachelor's degree or higher. Only about 18% of Arkansans have a four year degree so in terms of education you're doing better than most Americans.
most people dont think about it either way...BTW I know a PA who calls himself Doctor and has DR on his name tag. I thought that was odd, and by odd I mean illegal lol.
I've been in patient rooms as a student where the Attending or Resident introduces medical students to patients as Dr. so-and-so. But nurses are still on a first name basis!
Why not just enjoy having a four year degree? The heck with what anyone else thinks. Only about a quarter of Americans has a bachelor's degree or higher. Only about 18% of Arkansans have a four year degree so in terms of education you're doing better than most Americans.
I definitely am happy with my decision, and this has nothing to do with anyone else or their opinion.
However, BSN-prepared nurses must put in a lot of effort in nursing school that is not reflected on the NCLEX, and certain topics are not covered in ADN programs. If we are expecting BSN-prepared nurses to be the leaders in hospitals or communities, they deserve their own exam with their own standards, instead of expecting one exam to accurately determine nursing knowledge for two entirely different programs. That's one way that we can begin to give credit where credit is due, and to foster more respect for the different levels of education in the nursing world.
There's nothing wrong with an ADN nurse at all - but they are not a BSN nurse. We need to accurately reflect what people are doing with their educations and career. If ADN = BSN, then there would be no reason for nurses to continue education. I do believe that there is a difference, and that difference needs to be made clear. If we are denying ADN-RNs promotions on the basis that they did not have the leadership/research classes of their BSN-RN equivalent, that shows me that we need to do a better job of differentiating what it means to be each type of RN.
I definitely am happy with my decision, and this has nothing to do with anyone else or their opinion.
However, BSN-prepared nurses must put in a lot of effort in nursing school that is not reflected on the NCLEX, and certain topics are not covered in ADN programs. If we are expecting BSN-prepared nurses to be the leaders in hospitals or communities, they deserve their own exam with their own standards, instead of expecting one exam to accurately determine nursing knowledge for two entirely different programs. That's one way that we can begin to give credit where credit is due, and to foster more respect for the different levels of education in the nursing world.
There's nothing wrong with an ADN nurse at all - but they are not a BSN nurse. We need to accurately reflect what people are doing with their educations and career. If ADN = BSN, then there would be no reason for nurses to continue education. I do believe that there is a difference, and that difference needs to be made clear. If we are denying ADN-RNs promotions on the basis that they did not have the leadership/research classes of their BSN-RN equivalent, that shows me that we need to do a better job of differentiating what it means to be each type of RN.
THANK YOU! I thought I was the only one to feel this way. And again there is nothing wrong with ADN but I jsut feel like I desserve the credit for going all 4 years. On name tags at hospitals have you ever seen RN-ADN and RN-BSN? Or do nurses sign things like RN-BSN? anything like that?? Plus if there wasn't any difference then why are there soooo many bridge programs for RN to BSN...why are those nurses going through all the extra work for such a small difference in pay? I don't know..it bothers me. I am so glad that I will have a Bachelors if not just for my own self-esteem..and I wouldn't change that decision for anything. And I find it extremely frustrating that the general public is like "oh you got into NS..thats nice dear." Like it's nothing...THen I'm like "YEAH I did...and I bet incredible odds to get there with 40/280 applicants getting in!" Then they are like "OH, wow you must be smart then huh?" NOOOO I just passed all those rediculous science classes with flying colors cause nurses are dumb...wow.
Maybe you can elaborate..why do others of you prefer to go for the BSN rather the RN?
I've been in patient rooms as a student where the Attending or Resident introduces medical students to patients as Dr. so-and-so. But nurses are still on a first name basis!
When I was in paramedic school I shadowed the doctors mainly and was often introduced as Dr. I was 19-20 at the time and thought it was funny. One of them told me patients will let you do more to them if they think you're a doctor or medical student. At the time I found it amusing. Oddly enough, back then I looked 30. Now that I'm there I look 20. Go figure.
None of my friends think it's easy, but it's mostly because I've made it my mission to let them know just how hard it really is to be in nursing school. I've told them that while they might be able to go out, get wasted every weekend, barely study, and miss class in college, it's not exactly an option for me.
ImThatGuy, BSN, RN
2,139 Posts
She sounds like an elementary education major, lol.