Diploma RN to BSN programs??

U.S.A. Maryland

Published

Specializes in Emergency.

Hello! I am a diploma RN, with over 25 years of experience (Yikes! I don't feel that old!) Now that my son is graduating high school I think I finally have the time to get my BSN. It has always aggravated me that my 3 year diploma makes it so difficult to go on and get my BSN. I'm currently looking into RN to BSN programs at College of Notre Dame, Excellsior, U of Towson. Does anyone have any experience with Diploma to BSN?? I'm curious how many prereq. I'll have to do? I'm concerned about both the time and the cost of getting this done. I look forward to the advanced nursing classes but not to repeating things or re-learning things that don't directly apply to my nursing practice.

Thanks!

Specializes in Med-Surg.

http://www.utmem.edu/nursing/bsn/index.php

Keep an eye on this program. I know they will be diploma friendly because the program I just graduated from with a diploma is becoming part of this program. They came and spoke to us and made it sound very easy. You need to get some college hours behind you-at any school-and then you take the nursing courses through them online (I know it doesn't say online, but they told us it was).

Originally posted by Bikechicky

Hello! I am a diploma RN, with over 25 years of experience (Yikes! I don't feel that old!) Now that my son is graduating high school I think I finally have the time to get my BSN. It has always aggravated me that my 3 year diploma makes it so difficult to go on and get my BSN. I'm currently looking into RN to BSN programs at College of Notre Dame, Excellsior, U of Towson. Does anyone have any experience with Diploma to BSN?? I'm curious how many prereq. I'll have to do? I'm concerned about both the time and the cost of getting this done. I look forward to the advanced nursing classes but not to repeating things or re-learning things that don't directly apply to my nursing practice.

Thanks!

The good news is that there are many online choices now that you are not limited to your local area. With so many choices you can shop around to see who gives the most credits for your diploma and nursing experience. Some may allow portfolios to demonstrate experiences that you may have gained. Most colleges accept proficiency examinations and CLEP is the most well known. I always encourage nurses to use this option. Diploma nurses through experience may have picked up knowledge in some areas like sociology, psychology, biology, etc.

As I mentioned in my book, a psyc. tech. that I worked with took 3 CLEPs. He passed 1 and failed 2. He studied and re-took the 2 he failed and passed them on the second try. He started his college career with 9 credits. A nurse that I worked with was in an LPN/RN program. In her last semester she found she was shy 1 sociology course and would not graduate with her class. She took a CLEP exam, passed, and was able to graduate with her class. Even if you have to review and study before the exam, they are inexpensive and you do not need to do assignments, only take one test. Be sure to check if colleges will accept and what score they expect. Good luck.

University of Phoenix is an excellent program for diploma-BSN. It is very student directed. Usually class is once a week, and you do a lot of writing and studying on your own. For me, it was a great program, and allowed me to work and go to school .

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