Nursing school was not my original plan. I had always been expected to get a bachelor's degree, principally because my father was in higher education and neither my older brother or sister finished a four year degree. I wanted to be the one who actually did get a four year degree, I sort of felt my father deserved that. But I originally had planned political science or history, most certainly not nursing.

But I needed a job while going to school, one that would accomodate my school schedule. there was a nursing home down the street from my parents house that perpetually had ads in the paper for nursing assistants and I knew that they would have off hour shifts that could accomodate that. I figured that I could do anything for the time I needed the job. It wasn't the cream of the crop as far as nursing homes go, the smell of old urine was prevalent upon opening the doors, but it was close and they needed workers. They asked me if could work that night, even though I had not one lick of experience with patients. I did.

I worked there for about a week before I realized that this actually was pretty fun.I worked initially under an LPN who was smart and had good common sense, and watched her skillfully handle the 48 patients and their treatments and their medications and still keep smiling. I watched her make a difference in those patient's lives, though sometimes the difference was as small as the right position for their back, or the medication to relieve their discomfort. I asked her one day what kind of education she had had for this job, and was startled to find out that it was a couple of pre requisites and nine months of school with clinicals.

Since my father was a big advocate of vocational education, I thought this would be something that he was okay with. I did not think my changing horses in midstream would upset him much. My future job possibilities would certainly be more numerous than with political science. So I started investigating schools in the area and found there was a program very close. So I made the call to my parents to tell them what I had decided. I was right, they were okay with it. I think my dad thought it was a good idea, he never really said, but I know that when he had open heart surgey many years later he had a newfound respect for his youngest, because that was what I was doing at the time.

There are varying levels of nursing degrees. One can Be a LPN/LVN in Texas (licensed practical urse or licensed vocational nurse), an ADN (associate degree in nursing) Registered nurse, a BSN (bachelor's degree), and then I believe there are a select few three years hospital based programs still in existence. Now let's just forget the advanced degrees right now....MSN,PHD, And Nurse Practitioner.

I have an associates degree in nursing, i did eventually complete my bachelor's degree in nutrition and community health, but have elected not to pursue a further nursing degree at this point. I can only see my going on for further degrees to teach, that would be the only reason that comes to mind. I work in a critical care unit that does 600 plus open heart surgeries a year and we handle pretty much everything else that comes in the door. There is no difference in the duties of those of us with bachelor's degrees and those of us with associates'. We handle the same loads, the same patients. Skill level is the differentiator.

I have eleven years of ICU experience now. I am one of the old hands. I have had physicians tell me they do not worry about their patients when I am their nurse. This makes me feel good. But it took multiple encounters and sometimes years of working with them to get to that point. My education is not a factor here.

But that is me. There are some that are driven to get the bachelor's in nursing. Excellent...go for it. You will be able to have access to more doors that way. Go as far in education as your drive takes you. An more educated workforce promotes a more professional appearance to what we do. The ANA (American Nurses Association) for years has been advocating all nurses get your bachelor's. Hospitals frequently post positions as BSN preferred.

But remember this, a piece of paper does not make you a good nurse. Experience and assimilation of those experiences does.