23rd International Conference on Global Nursing Education & Research

23rd International Conference on Global Nursing Education & Research

Differences between my MSN and BSN experience

I am resuming my MSN this fall and there’s a stark difference between my undergrad experience vs my grad school experience. If you’re thinking about continuing your education, but aren’t sure what to expect, here’s a rundown of my first impressions. Note that this is relevant to the school I intend and doesn’t necessarily reflect all MSN or BSN programs.

It’s way less terrifying

I remember sitting through my BSN orientation, hearing all the horror stories from the faculty about how this program was going to take over my life, how I could never wear nail polish again, how I better wear underwear underneath my white scrubs pants (seriously) and how we would be disciplined or even expelled for not adhering to the strict code of conduct.

Fast foward nine years later and I’m sitting in my MSN orientation which is SO MUCH more relaxed. Same school, some of the same professors, and a totally different attitude. While it may seem like BSN programs are touting an “only the strong survive” mentality, at my MSN program it’s more of a “thank you for being here” vibe. The reason? Nursing programs are in dire need of faculty and the nursing profession as a whole is in dire need of leadership…nurse educators, clinical nurse specialists, administrators and researchers. So while they tried to scare the pants off us first semester, they now are welcoming us with open arms and even an open invitation to use the staff kitchen. For real.

Conference brochure: https://nursingeducation.conferenceseries.com/conference-brochure.php

Your professors are your colleagues

Now that we’re all colleagues, there’s none of this “Dr. so and so” business. We are on a first-name basis, y’all. While it may seem like a small thing, it actually goes a long way toward promoting collegiality and a sense of equality. Sure, these men and women are far more educated and experienced, but they are here as your partners in academia. Knowing some of these faculty during my BSN has made it difficult to make the transition to a more casual style of address, but I’m giving it the ol’ college try. So far so good.

They actually try to HELP you succeed

My grad school orientation includes resources for using the library effectively, how to log on and navigate the Canvas LMS, and they’re even bringing in the IT folks to make sure our computers are set up properly and that we have no glitches with any of the technology. With this much hand-holding, I might start to feel a little bit spoiled. Considering that my first semester Med/Surg class was mostly self-taught…I’ll take it.

No exams

Say what? No exams? No NCLEX-style test questions? No staying up until all hours of the night reviewing material in order to regurgitate it the next day? In my MSN program there are no exams…just loads and loads of papers and projects. And since I came from a career as a professional writer, this is the single-most dynamic factor in making my MSN experience much easier than my BSN education. Now if you don’t have a lot of experience with writing or just absolutely dread it, this could be the single-most dynamic factor in making you loathe your MSN experience. Give me the opportunity to take a test vs. write a paper, I’ll take the paper every day of the week.

The program is mostly online

My BSN program required my presence for most lectures, not to mention skills lab and clinical hours. I was at the school ALL THE TIME. My MSN program is a hybrid-style program. My first semester met face-to-face every two weeks, while my current semester meets face-to-face just a few times and it’s mostly all done online. This means I can stay in my jammies and save all that commute time. Win-win!

More flexible

Remember how your BSN program was so rigid you didn’t even register for your own classes? You were on a single trajectory that started with first semester and didn’t veer off course at all until you crossed that stage at graduation. With my MSN program, I can choose to finish in two years, four years or anything in between. I can even take a break if I need to (and I did!).

To learn more please visit https://nursingeducation.conferenceseries.com/

What’s been your experience with your MSN education? How has it compared to getting your undergrad? Let us know in the comments below!

Why I Became a Nurse and Not a Doctor

Nursing Education Summit 2019 | Nursing Research Summit 2019

Why I Became a Nurse and Not a Doctor

As many of you probably don't know, my mother passed away in late April after 3 weeks on hospice. I finally got Kaiser to make the referral! But that's a story for another day. 

Mom lived with us during her last 3 years of life and it was often a struggle for all of us. But in those last few hours I was afforded the opportunity to share with her why I had become a nurse. She never understood why I wouldn't want to be a doctor instead. Her (much older) cousin had indeed been one of the first women doctors in the U.S. and my mother had considered medicine herself, but after a social life ended her first stint at college with very poor grades, she returned and focused on journalism. It was a decision I think she often regretted. I was always surprised that she didn't pursue nursing. It wouldn't have been looked on with disapproval from family.

 

Nursing Education Summit 2019: https://nursingeducation.conferenceseries.com/about-us.php

I tried so many times over the years to explain my reasons to her and she acknowledged them, but always with a hint that someday I would change my mind. In those last hours when I sat at her bedside and the only person talking was me, I had the chance to show her why.

She had had a series of TIAs and strokes and was now unable to talk and required total care. Her body was shutting down. Her arthritis had riddled her body with awkward stiffness and pain. Her heart had caused her multiple syncopal episodes that left her fatigued and eventually her existence was bed to chair.

 

Nursing Research Summit 2019: 
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In the final days the haldol finally eased the terminal agitation and hallucinations. She was no longer frantically trying to climb out of bed. Nor was she ordering me to stand in the bathroom and see why the house was flooding and the house was going to break apart! I tried to play along, but that only made her more adamant and angry! I tried so hard not to laugh because she was soooo confused and angry. It was just silly.  I had talked so many families down from this as their loved ones transitioned. These would be the longest and perhaps most challenging hours of our lives; and yet the shortest!

It finally made sense that the oxygen concentrator bubbles sounded like water slowly flowing around her. The previous concentrator had been so noisy you couldn't hear the gentle sound of the water bubbling. Reluctantly, with her "You're always right," attitude she calmed down. But I knew she was bracing herself for the flood, the house to crack and the "I told you so" moment to arrive!! 

 

23^rd International Conference on Global Nursing Education & Research

That final stroke left her unable to move any extremity but her hands were no longer stiff. They were soft and relaxed. She required morphine and haldol to ease her transition. That last night she stared at me with her beautiful bright blue eyes and I knew she wanted to know what was happening to her and why?

I was moistening her lips and feeding her a very few ice chips just to ease the dryness in her mouth. (She chewed the toothettes and spit them!!!) I applied some Vaseline lip ointment that she hated, but I knew it worked on her.  I rubbed her legs because they hurt despite all the pain meds --just tired of being in bed.  I starred back into her eyes and told her it would be OK now. Her body was shutting down after 3 strokes and a possible MI, but we would do everything possible to keep her comfortable! I would see to that!!! That had been her end-of-life wish.

And then I held her hand and looked at her and said, "you know Mom THIS is why I became a nurse! Because nurses sit and hold your hand and tell you the truth. They tell you it's OK to go now. They wipe your eyes, and moisten your lips and pad your sunken cheeks from the oxygen tubing. They make sure you get your medication to keep you comfortable. Doctors don't have the time nor the artful skill set to just be with patients. That's why I did NOT want to be a doctor. I only wanted to be a NURSE!!!"

 

Nursing Education Brochure:
https://nursingeducation.conferenceseries.com/conference-brochure.php

She stared harder like she was trying to say something. Her face softened and she smiled ever so slightly and closed her eyes. I think she finally knew what I meant and it was finally OK with her. And now she knew what was happening to her. A few hours later she was gone.