RPN to RN program -- is US the best option for IENs?

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Hello,

I am currently a RPN in Ontario (I am a RN back home with 4 years of BScN education) and will take the OSCE next year. Just planning ahead of time -- if ever I will have gaps in OSCE, I am thinking of just studying in US thru distance learning. I saw a website:

Accredited Online RN to BSN Degree Program- Advance Your Education

I am thinking what if I just study here and let CNO assess my credentials again, do you think that this is a better option (coz it will only take you 10 months) than go to York University (for almost two years) just to have a BScN degree?

Your thoughts are very well appreciated. Thank you so much!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I would suggest talking to CNO and ask them if it will be accepted before paying to do it

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I would suggest talking to CNO and ask them if it will be accepted before paying to do it

I would second that suggestion. American Sentinel U is a proprietary "diploma mill"-type school that gives college credit for "life experience" (always a big red flag ...) and has problematic US academic accreditation (it's not accredited by any of the agencies that accredit "regular" colleges and universities in the US, which means it does not meet the same standards as "regular" colleges and universities and its academic credits are unlikely to be recognized by other, more legitimate schools. Somehow, it has managed to get CCNE and ACEN accreditation, though.

Remember the old adage that, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Best wishes!

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Specializes in Public Health.
I would second that suggestion. American Sentinel U is a proprietary "diploma mill"-type school that gives college credit for "life experience" (always a big red flag ...) and has problematic US academic accreditation (it's not accredited by any of the agencies that accredit "regular" colleges and universities in the US, which means it does not meet the same standards as "regular" colleges and universities and its academic credits are unlikely to be recognized by other, more legitimate schools. Somehow, it has managed to get CCNE and ACEN accreditation, though.

Remember the old adage that, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Best wishes!

Based on this I would say it is unlikely the CNO would accept this as being equivalent.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

If you plan on working in Canada then a bridging program in Canada is your best option.

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So were you told that you had to go back to school before you even took the OSCE? How old is your BSN degree?

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Specializes in Oncology, critical care.

I agree with the others, contact CNO and find out for sure -- better yet, get it in writing. You don't want to hear second-hand that CNO accepts that kind of education, go ahead and do it, only to find out that not only do they not accept it, you have to do the Canadian bridging anyway.

Two years sucks but out of your whole life, it's not that long. It will fly by and you'll get on with your life. Don't cheat yourself looking for shortcuts! ;)

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Looked at this thread, since it showed up with a new post, and clicked on the American Sentinel link again just out of curiosity. I notice that the school website now says that, as of 6/30/16, it is a candidate for HLC (Higher Learning Commission) accreditation, which is the "legit" regional accreditation organization for the central part of the US (inc. CO). So they are at least on the path to getting regional accreditation.

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Doesn't matter where you study if it's outside of Canada... it will still take the same amount of time to get your US education assessed by NNAS. You will probably have to take the OSCE again going for that route.

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