Reply With QuoteWelcome to the site. Sorry can't help you with your survey.
Hello all!
I am kind of in a crunch for time and I need a bachelor level nurse (BSN) to interview for a paper I am writing.
The questions are:
1. Degree – degree earned, year, university.
2. Why did you decide to pursue a higher degree?
3. Describe your nursing education? (experience, how you progressed, etc)
4. Now that you have earned the degree (specify which if more than one), describe four benefits it has provided to you as a professional.
5. What is your advice to nurses pursuing higher degrees today?
Plus any other information you would like to share with me for my paper.
I would also like to thank each and every nurse looking at this for your care and enthusiasm for helping people.
Nurses RULE!!!
Thanks, Rachael Hollifield, ASN, RN
Welcome to the site. Sorry can't help you with your survey.
Hi Rachel
Good luck on your paper - here are some answers for you:
1) Earned my ADN in 1987 and completed by BSN in 12/2006 at Colorado Mesa University
2) Decided to pursue a higher degree to advance my opportunities for more responsibilities within the hospital setting I was working at the time, ended up leaving that hospital after graduation wtih my BSN.
3) My education progressed from an ADN to a BSN, I am now pursuing my MSN
4) 4 benefits my advanced degree have provided me: the ability to work in leadership positons, higher earning potential at the hospitals that "reward" their nurses for advanced degrees, stability in the specialty area that I work in (maternal child health), and personal satisfaction.
5) My advice is to continue to learn, in whatever capacity that is - either seeking further degrees or just learning opportunities
Take care!
Rachael,
I graduated from The University of South Alabama in May of 1984 with my BSN. I had previously attended Old Dominion University from 1969 to 1972. Their school of nursing was on the "block" system. I fell short about 3 courses from graduating when I left school. I was going through a divorse! I moved to Mississippi. The schools in that area where not on the "block" system in nursing, so my nursing courses would not transfer. I tried for years to find a college in my area who was still on the "block" system. In 1980, I started attending the University of South Alabama. Their school of nursing was not on the "block" system, either, so I started out majoring in psychology, philosophy and English. I finally graduated with a BA in English and a minor in philosophy. I began working on my masters in English and after a couple of semesters, I had heard that the University's School of Nursing had returned to the "block" system. They allowed me to challenge my nursing courses, which I did, and passed all of them. I graduated with my BSN in 1984. At my graduation, I was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a Second LT. I was going to be stationed in Ohio 6 months from graduation. So, in the meantime, I moved to Asheville, NC, where my oldest sister lived. I began my first fulltime job at a psychiatric hospital on the substance abuse unit. That is where I met my husband to be. He was a retired from the Air Force and we wanted to get married. With his help, I got out of the Air Force and we married. I stayed working in substance abuse for several years, then decided to try occupational health. My job involved human relations and I helped the employees, at the plant where I was working, with substance abuse problems. I later tried home health and then went back into substance abuse for several more years. Then I really switched and worked with an insurance company working with their workers' compensation unit for several years. Substance abuse was also involved in that area. Next, I tried the family practice and orthopaedics. I even tried working with the Dept. of Juvenile Detention!! WOW! What that a different experience!!
I feel with my BSN, I was allowed to experience a lot of different areas of nursing in more depth. I feel my education was stronger with all the courses offered in the BSN program. The program makes you think and use your knowledge to make better decisions. It is more than just skill. I value my BSN and my BA and I highly recommend the BSN program to any nurse who wants to better themselves. I was always put in charge at each of my jobs and I finally made it to an assistant director of nursing position! I did what I had set out to do......manage!
Best of luck to you!!!
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