NDSU: LPN to BSN? Anyone know anything about it?

magn1jes · Jul 29, 2012

Anyone?

studentnursemn913 · Aug 1, 2012

Hello! Yes I am currently in the LPN to BSN program at NDSU! It is a great program you only have to go to the campus to take the entrance exams otherwise the program is online, you can do clinicals in your area. Yes, it has an excellent reputation and I really like it! Karla Haug is the program director and she is really nice!! The program is 2 years including summers and starts in the spring! Let me know if you have any other questions!

magn1jes · Aug 1, 2012

Hello! Yes I am currently in the LPN to BSN program at NDSU! It is a great program you only have to go to the campus to take the entrance exams otherwise the program is online, you can do clinicals in your area. Yes, it has an excellent reputation and I really like it! Karla Haug is the program director and she is really nice!! The program is 2 years including summers and starts in the spring! Let me know if you have any other questions!

Thank you so much for your response!! I appreciate it!

Do you find the workload to be manageable? We have a part-time program where I live, but it is still a ton of work and not much different than the full-time program. How do you arrange clinicals in your area? Can you do clinicals in Fargo? I didn't know it starts in the spring, so that is good info!

Thanks again!

studentnursemn913 · Aug 1, 2012

Thank you so much for your response!! I appreciate it!
Do you find the workload to be manageable? We have a part-time program where I live, but it is still a ton of work and not much different than the full-time program. How do you arrange clinicals in your area? Can you do clinicals in Fargo? I didn't know it starts in the spring, so that is good info!
Thanks again!

Of course!! Yes I do think the work load is manageable and I am working full time while in the program. All the professors are very nice and helpful and want you to succeed!! You coordinate clinicals with Karla who is in charge of the program. I have a friend who is doing some of her clinicals in iowa so they definitely work with you!! You can also do clinicals in Fargo! The only thing about not being in Fargo is having to video tape some lab skills and getting a proctor for that but it's not difficult to do and they walk you through that process as well!! Do you already have your Lpn?

magn1jes · Aug 1, 2012

Of course!! Yes I do think the work load is manageable and I am working full time while in the program. All the professors are very nice and helpful and want you to succeed!! You coordinate clinicals with Karla who is in charge of the program. I have a friend who is doing some of her clinicals in iowa so they definitely work with you!! You can also do clinicals in Fargo! The only thing about not being in Fargo is having to video tape some lab skills and getting a proctor for that but it's not difficult to do and they walk you through that process as well!! Do you already have your Lpn?

You are making me really excited! Thanks again for all of the great info! I just graduated from an LPN program but have yet to take my boards (I am waiting on my ATT number). I live 2.5 hours from Fargo so it wouldn't be a huge thing if I have to drive there for a day or two here and there.

I'm glad to hear that the workload is doable. The online program through the school here is 3 (bigger) semesters and then I would have to attend a university after that for my BSN, so either way I am looking at 6 semesters. I am just hoping that tuition is comparable.

nd deb · Aug 8, 2012

I am an associate degree RN that is currently in that program to obtain a BSN and I haven't been very impressed with it. For the Lpn to Bsn it maybe a good program but for the Rn they don't seem to acknowledge you as an RN nor your past RN work and school experiences. The classes so far have been pretty similar as to what I had taken in my 2 yr rn program. They have 3 classes that supposely can be challenged by RN's but I get the impression they try to discourage people from doing that. I have been told I have to take some general classes that I had taken before. Have been told more then once that some of my past generals from NDSU aren't enough because they aren't jr and sr level classes.. I often feel like I am putting alot of time and effort into these classes for pretty much what I already have had. You would think it would be easy then.. but from my experience it hasn't been easy. I have been working anywheres from 24 to 40 hours or more a wk.. The more hours I work, the harder it is to get the assignments ect.. done... and/or to do well on them and the exams.

fa/lpnMN09 · Aug 21, 2012

I enrolled in the NDSU LPN to BSN program two years ago. I had no problems passing the entrance exams using two NCLEX-RN books to study. I was so excited about the program and as I had taken numerous courses via distance learning from the U of M I knew I was capable of staying on-track and doing the work. I will say I thought the classes were pretty easy, but the program was in my opinion very poorly organized. The only instructors I had were Falk and McDermott. We were required to videotape ourselves doing skills and assessments and send them to Fargo. That would've been fine except we were required to purchase our own otoscopes and ophthalmoscopes prior to filming. When some of us questioned this, we were told to go to our doctor's office and borrow theirs. The instructor wouldn't answer questions posted on the discussion board until it was too late to be helpful and when she did she was kind of nasty.

I wouldn't recommend the program and several of us quit and moved on to other programs (U of Mary and Excelsior). The turnover rate of program coordinators was really high and there seemed to be some difficulty with communication both within the department and between faculty and students. Overall I thought the work load was reasonable. At the time we were required to do our clinicals in Fargo and I believe that has changed. Unfortunately there are very few LPN to BSN options. I had dropped out of NDSU as a Sr. and this seemed to be the easiest option for me, but I have a low threshold for incompetence and I was disappointed with the quality of the program. Good Luck, this is an option that will work if you don't expect too much.

studentnursemn913 · Aug 21, 2012

The program has definitely changed since two years ago. We have a ton of different instructors and I think they have all been excellent, including their responses to our questions in a timely manner. I don't know if they had this when you were in it, but now there are lectures online that you can listen too which I think really helps. Also you can do clinicals anywhere that you live and there is an option to video tape your skills and buy that stuff but it is not very expensive if you get a cheaper one on amazon, I bought mine for $100 for a kit with both. They also let you come to campus to test out of skills.

Also they are revamping their RN to BSN program, it is not an option to join it right now, only the LPN to BSN and the regular BSN program that NDSU offers are available right now.

I definitely think this program is getting better compared to what you said, I went in to test out of the skills because I thought it would be difficult to do via video. Anyways just some more info for whoever wants to know :-)

magn1jes · Aug 21, 2012

Thanks again for all of the responses! I am certainly hearing mixed opinions about this program and it is making me question whether or not to look into it more.

@ fa/lpnMN09 - do you have any LPN to BSN programs that you WOULD recommend?

fa/lpnMN09 · Aug 23, 2012

Unfortunately other than Presentation College I am unaware of any LPN/BSN programs that are primarily online. The NDSU program wasn't for me, but it has its place and if you have reasonable expectations it will help you achieve your longterm goal of becoming a BSN.

carmie91 · Oct 13, 2017

Hello, I am currently waiting for my application for the PN to BSN program at NDSU. I'd love to hear more about your own personal experience!