Grand Canyon RN-BSN

Nursing Students Online Learning

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Is there any updated information? I have been in heavy contact with them and am looking at taking their RN-BSN program. I work with a GCU grad and she has nothing but positive things to say, but I want more opinions. ?

Any pro's and cons? Thankfully the only class I'm missing is stats and that is offered in the actual BSN program. I'm a bit nervous as my algebra skills are way old. If anyone took this class, do you have any advice?

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Any updates from GCU buddies? I just finished Community health. Wow, the group project was a rough one. Glad it's over! Next will be the dreaded stats class.. Gulp.

My advisor said there is suppose to be an online video made by RN-BSN stats students. I cannot seem to find it though. Four classes down and only 8 more to go! :yes:

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Your response is much appreciated Tokmom. So, you are going to be starting Applied Stats for Health Care Professionals in a few more weeks. Please keep me updated on how this class is. The word STATS scares me. It's been approx. 5 years since I took a stats class. Did you only have to take the 12 core nursing classes? How are the online books (I think it's through elsevere) working for you. Have you had any surprises or let downs regarding GCU so far? What state do you reside in? Have you had in tests, quizzes, or mid-terms if so how were they? What is your overall thought on GCU online RN to BSN program so far??

Thanks again

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

If you took stats once you should be ok, if it's only been 5 years, but check.

Yes, only 12 core classes for me.

There are no papers or quizzes (except stats from what I have been told) or midterms. The program is based on reading, papers, power points and group projects. Lots and lots of writing and reading. There are also discussion questions that you have to write and also answer to other members for a total of 6 substantive posts a week.The dq's are due on Wed and Fri.

Typically you have 2 papers and a group project in a class. However my previous class had a paper due every weekend.

Surprises: I was told I was going to be spending 10-14 hours a week on homework. I easily spend 20 a week on papers, DQ or reading. I don't have much of a social life about now.

I have gone through three advisors since I have been at GCU. It doesn't matter to me, because everyone I have dealt with knows their stuff and have been helpful. If you know of anyone starting GCU or you hook up with a another student, GCU will keep you together. it's nice to have support and have a back up with a buddy system when you get a slacker in your group project.

Books: Ok, a bias here, but I like paper books. I'm old school. The website works just fine, never a problem. The plus is having to do a search and have it high lighted for you so it is an easy find. That's nice.

No let downs so far. I just had one instructor that was more hands off in the process. Not great at answering questions posted to her in a timely fashion. On the other hand, I had one that thought calling me would answer my questions in a more thorough manner. All the others have been ok.

Don't let anyone tell you this is a diploma mill. You will work for your grade. I have a 4.0 but not a perfect score. I have been dinged for what others call stupid mistakes, such as headings and writing errors. They just don't pass you because you paid the tuition, in my opinion.

Group project. Even brick and mortar schools have them. My first group had two ESL students that knew there stuff, but expressing it was difficult. I pretty much did the power point for the class. It was a nightmare. The other projects were ok with everyone pitching in. I was forewarned of the dreaded group project and others were right. Totally a pain in the butt. But I have them to do and will continue dealing with them.

No drama with GCU. I do my thing and go to the next class. I recommend it. Just remember it is more work than what they say it would be. A friend of mine is roughly a year or so out of school and she said GCU is more work then her ADN program was.

Would I do it again? Yes, I would and with GCU. It's been smooth sailing for my buddy and me. It's been challenging and I feel like I have learned a lot.

Any other things I can help with, let me know. PM me if you want more info and I will send you my email address. :)

Oh, I'm from WA

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Hi casiegarcia - Like tokmom, I am also scheduled to start taking the stats class. Nervous? Scared? Shaking? Heck yeah! But, I keep hearing that many nurses who have felt just like me, have made it out alive, so I'm going along with that theory, lol!

If you took stats only 5 years ago, maybe you will be exempt from having to take it. In my case, I am doing the 12 core nursing classes. As far as online books go, I don't like it, but I manage with it. For stats for example, I have already borrowed the same book from the library. That is always an option if you absolutely hate e-books.

So far GCU has been great. I'm not a fan of the busy work, but I think any RN-BSN program is going to make you work for it. Every class so far (just finished the 4th) has had a group project. Either a PowerPoint presentation, or a group paper. 100% is online, so that is a big plus for me. No test, quizzes, or mid-terms that I know of.

I live in the Chicago area, but you will encounter classmates from all over the place. CA, NY, NJ, FL, GA, WA, etc. etc.

Come join us! :yes:

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Thank you sooooo much Tokmom for all the useful information. I wish I had a buddy to start with me but I don't :-( So how much weekly reading would you say that you have encountered, more that 25pgs??? Have you ever taken a stats class before. I will ask my enrollment advisor if I have to take it. I thought it was just part of the core curriculum. Are you using any programs for the APA format?

Thanks again

BTW: I'm from CA

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Hi pandorasbox- thanks for your post. I am extremely nervous about starting the online BSN program, but I have made up my mind and will be enrolling with GCU. So far, I have been very happy with my enrollment advisor, Adrian. I hope I keep her throughout the program. Have you had the same experience as tokmom with having your advisors changed several times?? I don't have any experience with power point; I hope this will not be a problem for me.

Thanks so much for taking time to respond to my post.... Good luck with stats and please keep me posted on how the class is.......

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Hi pandorasbox- thanks for your post. I am extremely nervous about starting the online BSN program, but I have made up my mind and will be enrolling with GCU. So far, I have been very happy with my enrollment advisor, Adrian. I hope I keep her throughout the program. Have you had the same experience as tokmom with having your advisors changed several times?? I don't have any experience with power point; I hope this will not be a problem for me.

Thanks so much for taking time to respond to my post.... Good luck with stats and please keep me posted on how the class is.......

Don't feel too nervous. You'll learn to navigate the system very quickly and it will become 2nd nature to you. My enrollment counselor has stayed the same, but my academic adviser changed even before I started the program, so it really has been seamless for me.

If you don't have experience with PowerPoint, just play around with it now. It's not that difficult, but you probably don't want to have to teach yourself in the middle of class, and when you feel under pressure.

I agree with tokmom. Count on spending a bit more time on school related stuff than they tell you. Unless you are fast on doing research and able to whip out papers quickly.

Do find out about stats. If you don't have to take it, you may have to substitute with another class of your choice. I believe the reason for that is because you are still required to fulfill X amount of hours in order to graduate. Good luck! When do you plan on starting?

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Hey, i had never done a power point in my life, lol. Now i whip them out like a pro. Pandora has wise words. Play with the program or find a kid/teen that does. My 13 yr old helped me on the first one. Also if you are not familiar with APA sixth edition, do so.

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Don't feel too nervous. You'll learn to navigate the system very quickly and it will become 2nd nature to you. My enrollment counselor has stayed the same, but my academic adviser changed even before I started the program, so it really has been seamless for me.

If you don't have experience with PowerPoint, just play around with it now. It's not that difficult, but you probably don't want to have to teach yourself in the middle of class, and when you feel under pressure.

I agree with tokmom. Count on spending a bit more time on school related stuff than they tell you. Unless you are fast on doing research and able to whip out papers quickly.

Do find out about stats. If you don't have to take it, you may have to substitute with another class of your choice. I believe the reason for that is because you are still required to fulfill X amount of hours in order to graduate. Good luck! When do you plan on starting?

I plan on starting July 29th. Thanks for the encouragement...

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Hey, i had never done a power point in my life, lol. Now i whip them out like a pro. Pandora has wise words. Play with the program or find a kid/teen that does. My 13 yr old helped me on the first one. Also if YOUUUUUU are not familiar with APA sixth edition, do so.

Thanks for the advise.... :-) I heard that there is a program called PERRLA that formats your papers into APA style. Have you heard of it?

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Yeah,I use it. It does the references and citations, but it doesnt do your headings. Well the running head and such it does. I like it and recommend it. I also use grammarly, which helps with grammar and plageriasm. Again, not foolproof, but but i really like it

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Another great source is Owl Purdue. It is what was recommended when I was in nursing school...and we had some instructors that were real sticklers when it came to APA. You will have to format manually, but it is not that bad. I cheat a little because I re-use my previous papers as a template. :D

There's another resource I found not too long that has also helped me with my formatting:

http://www.xavier.edu/library/help/apa_paper_setup.pdf (for Windows 2007)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

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