RN to BSN (fayetteville state, ECU, others?)

U.S.A. North Carolina

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I'm currently looking into RN to BSN programs living just outside of the Fayetteville area. I graduated with a nursing diploma in 2008 (Mercy) and BS (ECU) in 2004. As an army wife, I haven't been able to gain more than a few months experience, so I am hoping this might be a way to get my foot in the door? I am not really sure. I have been applying with no luck so at this point I am just reaching to see if something will work. I also took a board refresher course in 2013 and we did have clinical hours with that but otherwise that is my most recent bedside experience.

So I guess my question is do you think getting a BSN would help me get a job? And then furthermore, has anyone attended ECU or FSU programs? Thanks!

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

Started my RN-BSN online ECU-it was horrible. I understand the 4 year program is good, and that they have changed some things, but I hated it. transferred to UNCW and I love it. in my last class this semester.

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Specializes in Surgical.

Yes, getting BSN would definitely open up more doors. I recommend looking into UNCW's RN-BSN program. It is online and only costs around $5k, so if you have to travel or relocate during the time you are completing the program, there will be less worries for you. It also has good reputation, and the entire nursing curriculum only takes a year full-time. It also seems to be easier to get into than ECU.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Stepdown, Government Nursing.

Curious. What did you hate about ECU's program? I am considering it.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

One thing they do not tell you is that you have to fulfill the clinical requirements as if you are on campus. as I figured it out, this is all out of pocket, mind you-about $1500 worth of titers and vaccinations and a 250 dollar TB blood test.

Next, all the classes were paper after paper after paper. I don't even think they read them-just looked at APA format.

The director of the program, and this is a very large university, not only did she not have a doctorate, she didn't have an MSN!

I just found them very unorganized and unprofessional. My adviser was an instructor. NO nursing background (which does not mean that she couldn't teach, but really?) I think there was on instructor that had a doctorate. At the university level, I would expect more.

I know they were transitioning from one curriculum to another, so maybe they are better now, but it was terrible. And I still get emails from financial aid office, applying for graduation, and I have not attended since Fall 2013. Just gave me a bitter taste. I am much happier at UNCW. I finish there in about 6 weeks.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Stepdown, Government Nursing.

Is UNCW's program online? I am looking for something that does not require a lot of commuting.

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I had a transcript eval at ECU. I need ethics & maybe statistics. I have a statistics course but it might not count...of course.

I am mainly concerned with the clinical hours that go along with 2 (or at least one) of the courses. She said that you complete those at your place of employment. Since I'm not working, I couldn't do that obviously. She said she would check on that & get back to me.

I would hate to spend the time & money and then not be able to finish bc of that!!

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

UNCW is totally online. No clinical per se, but just some exercises where you would need to find a place, like a senior center to reach out to. I used my kids for assessments LOL. I technically can't do anything at work for ethical reasons and I had not trouble finding ways to meet requirements.

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