Can anyone talk to me re: Stevenson RN-BSN online option?

U.S.A. Maryland

Updated:   Published

I was told the classes have no tests, only papers? Is this true? Is this true of all RN to BSN programs? Do they have any financial aid available? Was it just going through the motions or did it really make you a better nurse?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I know a couple of people that have done Stevenson's online program and other than the high cost they loved it! I'm not sure if there is financial aid because they paid out of pocket. As I recall hearing most classes do not have exams but a lot of papers and projects. To me as you progress in your education its more about becoming comfortable other resources available which will make you a better nurse than learning to be a nurse. Imo I became the nurse I am from my LPN and ADN programs so my bachelors work is just the cherry on top.

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Hi,

I have my BSN from Stevenson. I loved it! The faculty is great, the support people are great as well. You will never be left without help. I would defenetly recommend it.

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I would like to enroll in Stevenson's RN to BSN program. I have heard great things, but their NCLEX pass rates concern me. I have already passed NCLEX, but I wonder about the quality of education I would receive. Altough Stevenson/VJC has had an improvement over the past two years, they typically fall below the average pass rate for BSN programs in Maryland, and they have fallen below the required pass rate a few times. According to the 2001-2009 stats available on the MBON, ADN programs on average have had an overall higher NCLEX pass rate compared to BSN, which may make Stevenson look worse than it is. You also have to consider each program on an indivial basis, which I honestly have not done yet, and some students are more successful at NCLEX based on which prep course they have taken, etc. Basically my questions is, do you think their pass rate trends are any indication of the actual quality of education one will receive?

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I am in the BSN program... I will tell you this, the RN-BSN program is completely separated from the students that are pursuing BSNs. You have to make sure you are evaluating the right program.

MissBrittany- The NCLEX rates are an indication of the BSN program, not the program you'd be entering.

I honestly don't know much about the RN-BSN program other than the fact that it is completely separate from the BSN.

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I am in the BSN program... I will tell you this, the RN-BSN program is completely separated from the students that are pursuing BSNs. You have to make sure you are evaluating the right program.

MissBrittany- The NCLEX rates are an indication of the BSN program, not the program you'd be entering.

I honestly don't know much about the RN-BSN program other than the fact that it is completely separate from the BSN.

Thank you SnoopysAunt. That basically answered my question. I was aware that those NCLEX rates apply to a different program at the same school, and of course I want to be sure to evaluate the correct program, but I was not sure if those rates indicate that the BSN program was a poor program, and if so, is that an indication that the RN to BSN program is poor as well. Not that I want to label either program at Stevenson in a negative way. It has a great rep, and I hope to attend in the future, but this is just part of my research process I guess. But thanks for answering my question, I now realize that they are completely separated, and not just one program with a little variance depending on if it is your initial nursing license, or an advancing degree. And best wishes to you during the remainder of your program!

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I have a prof who is a graduate of the RN-BSN program and she said she LOVED it.

The BSN progam is a completely different story. Curriculum changes combined with a young faculty = not a happy student here. But I've heard raves about the RN BSN.

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Great, thanks again! Sorry about your experience :-(

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I got my BSN from there when it was called Villa Julie--and I think I have two takes on the school, I did the night/weekend option, so many of my classes were online, while I think they were supportive and helpful. They were there for the students that were doing well--if you started doing poorly, there was no support there for you. The school was pricey when I was there, although they maintained that they were the cheapest private school around. I'm not sure if they still use that line or not. And if you did poorly enough that you had to or chose to repeat a class, then you were black balled for the rest of your time there. I was in one of the first classes that the passing rates started to decline, and work with another nurse who graduated a year or so after me, although she did the Day program, and she felt as though her program was run the same way. They were great if they saw potential in passing for you, however, if they thought you weren't going to pull up that pass rate, they pushed you to the wayside, which is kinda backwards? Just my opinion...I'm glad to be done, and I'm sure all schools have their pros and cons, and if you are a student that can work well independently all the time, then it's probably not going to be an issue for you.

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Thanks Nicole. I am primarily interested in the traditional face-to-face option. Did you think that participating in the online option required you to do extra unnecessary assignments that were not required for traditional students? I have taken a few classes online through the community college. My friends in the traditional class felt that they did much less work than I, yet learned the same, and vice versa when I took traditional courses that friends took online.

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The only thing that I felt was different between the online and face to face was the online discussions--where the teacher would post a question and all of the class would have to go online and post their answer and then you would have to respond to two other students answers. The online classes I do remember feeling like were "bird" courses. I think my physical assessment class was online, we did all of the book work online, and then met on Saturday mornings in the lab to learn how to take blood pressure and listen to heart and lung sounds, etc. I think I also took research online, and it was a bunch of "discussion questions" and analyzing research papers. I think we had to write one or two research papers, but no tests. I remember the other nurses that I work with when they were taking research, them having a really hard time with it, and wondering why--because my class was a joke, I don't know if that's because my teacher was a joke, or because I did it online. I hope that helps...

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Nicole109, I am starting the RN to BSN online course in January 2010 and was wondering if you think that it is a good idea to do it online in your experience? I am glad to hear that there are no tests, however you mentioned research papers and I was curoius if you remember how many and how long did they have to be? I will be leaving the are soon due to the military which is why I am doing it online and also wanted to ask you how would I be able to complete the lab that you were talking about where we show that we know how to listen to lungs, hearts and all that jazz? I appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks.

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