I am new to this site and I really like it. I do feel the need to get something off my chest. I read a lot of different opinions about independent study and I find some of it insulting. I got my RN thru Excelsior college using the Rue RN Program. I consider myself to be an intelligent person yet some of the post imply that my degree might somehow be less. I Loved the Rue Program!!!! I have 3 very active children and I work fulltime so my time is limited. I wanted my RN forever and I worked really hard to get it. Rue researches the exams, then they streamline their program and take out all the fluff. They kept me focused on the info I needed to know to pass those tests and that saved me a ton of time! Rue also includes in everyone of their workbooks, a very accurate practice exam that really helped me know when I was ready to test. After all the questions in their workbooks they tell you what textbook the answer is in and exactly what page. Think about it...why do I need to look from textbook to textbook to find the answers? It is a waste of my time. It took me almost 18 months of hard work, but I didn't have to leave my kids or quit my job to go back to school. With the nursing shortage as bad as it is we should be thankful for every nurse we have. I was very happy with the RUE program and I they really helped me acheive my goal. This is my way of saying thanks to them for all they did. Check it out yourself. http://www.rueed.com

Congrats on your RN!! I agree that the online courses are very good (at least the ones that I have seen and heard about from the nurses where I work). Taking time off, for most people, to get their degree is difficult, if not impossible, for people with families to support. Here's a "good luck" wish for anyone who is pursuing their degree, no matter where you are doing it!!!!!

Originally posted by arlyne

I am new to this site and I really like it. I do feel the need to get something off my chest. I read a lot of different opinions about independent study and I find some of it insulting. I got my RN thru Excelsior college using the Rue RN Program. I consider myself to be an intelligent person yet some of the post imply that my degree might somehow be less. I Loved the Rue Program!!!! I have 3 very active children and I work fulltime so my time is limited. I wanted my RN forever and I worked really hard to get it. Rue researches the exams, then they streamline their program and take out all the fluff. They kept me focused on the info I needed to know to pass those tests and that saved me a ton of time! Rue also includes in everyone of their workbooks, a very accurate practice exam that really helped me know when I was ready to test. After all the questions in their workbooks they tell you what textbook the answer is in and exactly what page. Think about it...why do I need to look from textbook to textbook to find the answers? It is a waste of my time. It took me almost 18 months of hard work, but I didn't have to leave my kids or quit my job to go back to school. With the nursing shortage as bad as it is we should be thankful for every nurse we have. I was very happy with the RUE program and I they really helped me acheive my goal. This is my way of saying thanks to them for all they did. Check it out yourself. http://www.rueed.com

ummm...how much are you being paid to post these ads?

i should add that i am seriously considering the excelsior program...it just strikes me as odd that this person who has never posted before, makes 2 posts on the exact same topic..but no posts on ant other topic...just sounds like an advertisement...

Arlyne,

I think your accomplishments speak for themselves. If this program got you through the program and through the board exam that's great. I agree that searching through text books is a royal PITA and a total waste of time. The key points to each subject are the most critical. I did an accounting course in much the same way as you did nursing, I found it to be much more difficult since you had to be very disciplined in your studies and have no classmates or teacher to help you.

I am taking my last year of a RN program at a community college in Canada and find it to be much easier than my previous accounting courses. Don't pay any attention to other people's opinion of YOUR program, remember they probably either didn't take it or were involved in some administrative snafoo and really don't know what they are talking about.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and believe they are a dime a dozen on this board!!

Mito

with the realization that the program you finished (and this is great)is not for everyone (me in particular), there are negative and postive in no matter what program you get a degree from and each, single, individual will view each success or failure as such.

with that said, :balloons: congratulations and a job well done!:balloons: look forward to sharing on other threads with you.

i agree that people can get really uncomfortable (and dare i say a little ignorant too--no one on this group, though, just a general statement) about things they don't understand and don't know. i am in the excelsior program and can guarantee you it is not easy! all the info that you learn in a traditional school is compressed into 7 nsg courses...no class notes, no real support, no group work to help solidify the concepts, no feedback as to how well you are studying except for the grade you get when you take the course. this is not an easy way to learn. and the clinical requires a GREAT DEAL of self-discipline, determination and stress management. i am telling you, if i could i would recommend this program to people i know, but i know that most would not be able to handle the isolation of self-study.

to tell you the truth, i personally don't like rue that much. i have bought a second hand guide off another student and was frustrated that i paid good money for passive learning and still had to go searching out all the info myself. i preferred the other guides like chancellor's or college network, pds, that really help you focus the study. that's just my preference--it's an individual choice. mind you, the first 3 exams i did without the help of any guides--it took me a while but i still got straight a's! so there you go!!:)

bye!