University of Wyoming

Jo Dirt · Jul 27, 2005

I'm wanting to start their BSN program as soon as I finish the ADN program at Excelsior (I'm supposed to graduate from there November 18).

I'm in study mode and I can't wait.

medicrnohio, RN · Jul 27, 2005

I start the Univ. of Wyoming BSN program next month. Other than them being slow at returning calls/emails during the summer I have had great experiences with them.

zacarias, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2005

I too am seriously considering the U of Wyoming. It seems like a good school and the price for distant ed. can't be beat.

I'm thinking of spring of next year as I'm starting a new job now and plus it's too late to get in for fall. I would, however, like to take pre- or co-requisites in the meanwhile to use my time efficiently. Go through a CC the best bet?

NNPStudent · Jul 28, 2005

I graduated from U. Wyoming's online BSN completion program. I am glad I did it and am now enrolled in an online MSN program at another school. They can be a little slow to get back to you during the summer months, and the "administrative" side is always a little slow (at any time of year) but once you are enrolled, the actual instructors/advisors are usually much better about getting back to you and answering your questions in a timely fashion.

Let me know if I can be of any help :)

zacarias, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2005

I noticed UW is CCNE accredited...not NLNAC. Does that matter? Will any graduate school have a problem if it's not accredited specifically by the NLNAC?

NNPStudent · Jul 28, 2005

Duke and Columbia are also accredited by CCNE but not NLNAC. I'd say that's pretty good company.

Re: your question --- It depends on the individual graduate school. Most will accept either NLNAC or CCNE, since both are well-respected accreditation bodies which are specific to nursing programs. I have noticed that more and more schools seem to be choosing CCNE accreditation over NLNAC.

My advise would be to check with the graduate school(s) you are most interested in attending. I looked at quite a few other graduate schools before I made my decision and every single one of them accepted both CCNE and NLNAC.

:)

zacarias, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2005

Thanks NNP student, are you going to school to be a Neonatal NP?

To me, the BSN is just a means to an end. I only want/need it because I want to go to graduate school to be an NP. I thought about CRNA but I really like the idea of managing general and emergent care for patients and I don't know how fulfilled I would be as a CRNA. If NPs made six figures, the decision would be so much easier ;-)

I'll keep you in mind should I have any questions about the UW program.

willtm · Jul 28, 2005

Have you considered looking for a graduate school that you can do without getting the BSN first? I haven't looking into it too much so far, but I surfed Vanderbilt's site the other day and they offer an asn to nurse practitioner via distance education. It's a little pricey, 800 a credit hour but it said 2 semesters for the bsn and 3 for the NP, soesn't sound so bad:) I'm sure there are others, just a metter of finding them.

Thanks NNP student, are you going to school to be a Neonatal NP?
To me, the BSN is just a means to an end. I only want/need it because I want to go to graduate school to be an NP. I thought about CRNA but I really like the idea of managing general and emergent care for patients and I don't know how fulfilled I would be as a CRNA. If NPs made six figures, the decision would be so much easier ;-)
I'll keep you in mind should I have any questions about the UW program.

NNPStudent · Jul 28, 2005

Thanks NNP student, are you going to school to be a Neonatal NP?
To me, the BSN is just a means to an end. I only want/need it because I want to go to graduate school to be an NP. I thought about CRNA but I really like the idea of managing general and emergent care for patients and I don't know how fulfilled I would be as a CRNA. If NPs made six figures, the decision would be so much easier ;-)
I'll keep you in mind should I have any questions about the UW program.

Yes, I am in the Neonatal NP program at the University of South Alabama (also a distance program). I considered CRNA as well and almost went that route, but decided on Neonatal NP. If NPs earned what CRNAs earn, I agree with you - it would have been a much easier decision. Ultimately, I have grown a bit too attached to my lifestyle of working and attending classes when it is convenient for me to give it up for the tremendous time commitment of anesthesia school. However, it will still be there as a post-masters option if I change my mind somewhere down the road. :)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2005

I noticed UW is CCNE accredited...not NLNAC. Does that matter? Will any graduate school have a problem if it's not accredited specifically by the NLNAC?

Be sure and check with the school/s you're interested in. I know here the Uuniv. of South Florida here in Tampa on accepts BSNs from NLNAC schools.

Good luck.

NNPStudent · Jul 29, 2005

Have you considered looking for a graduate school that you can do without getting the BSN first? I haven't looking into it too much so far, but I surfed Vanderbilt's site the other day and they offer an asn to nurse practitioner via distance education. It's a little pricey, 800 a credit hour but it said 2 semesters for the bsn and 3 for the NP, soesn't sound so bad:) I'm sure there are others, just a metter of finding them.

I checked out that program as well, and almost had a stroke when I did the math! The total number of hours for their RN-to-MSN is 65. Multiplied by $800 per credit hour, that adds up to $52,000 just for tuition, not fees, travel to campus and hotel expenses for the time you are there (which IS required for Vandy's program), books, the required PDA (for the NNP program), or anything else. The tuition alone alone is 3.5 times the cost of my BSN completion and my MSN programs put together! By the time you add in the other expenses.... :eek:

I would loved to have done Vandy's program, but not having a money tree in my back yard, I had to opt for something more affordable. It would have been different if I could demand a higher salary upon graduation because I had attended an expensive private school, but that is not the way things work in nursing...advanced practice or otherwise.