Online BSN programs

catlady, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

I don't know if there are specific written criteria, but I'd be evaluating the following considerations:

1) Cost. Cost per credit hour, number of credit hours, cost of those cute little fees they like to tack on, cost of books and supplies. With some programs running over $500 per credit hour, this can be a huge consideration. Do they charge more, less, or the same for being an online program?

2) Calendar. How many classes are you going to have to take at one time? Are you basically on independent study or do you follow a class schedule with a cohort? And which style do you prefer? How much actual teaching vs. self-learning is going on? I registered for a class once where they sent me a textbook and an assignment to write a paper. That was the entire class. (I dropped it like a hot potato.) How many clinicals will you have to arrange?

3) Curriculum. How much of your program is new knowledge, and how much is going to be repeating the courses you took in your original program? Can you test out of material you already know? Will it provide you with a solid foundation for followup work?

4) Accreditation. Is it NLN and/or CCNE accredited? Is it regionally accredited?

5) Portability. If you decide halfway through your program that you found a better one, will your credits easily transfer?

6) Support. What kind of clinical, educational, and technical assistance are they prepared to provide you, given that you may be thousands of miles from them?

I'm sure there are other considerations, and maybe someone has a written evaluation tool, but these are my thoughts on first glance.

(Golly, it's hard to type with a cat on my arm.)