Was it the right move?

Nursing Students Online Learning

Published

I am an LPN wanting my RN, but also not wanting to give up my incredible job to do it. The obvious choice sounds like distance learning. My goal, ultimately, is to get my MSN, either as a Nurse Educator or FNP so going LPN to BSN or LPN to ADN to BSN is fine, either way.

My question is, for those of you who went that route, do you regret it? Do you wish you'd gone brick and mortar instead? I often try to take the 'easy' way out and end up screwed in the end, and keep thinking this is too good to be real, so am wondering about the outcomes of others.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Care, Palliative Care.

I graduated from a distance learning program, and it was NOT the easy way out. I had to continue working full-time and the traditional nursing programs in my state made it impossible to work my full-time hours due to the erratic scheduling of the classes.

I found that Distance Learning requires a lot of dedication and motivation in order to study from home. With Excelsior's LPN-ADN program, you will be taking each nursing exam at the Pearson Vue testing center, and the clinical exam at a hospital.

I don't regret at all going through a distance learning program. It was very challenging and a great learning experience. Do what works best for you, but please do not use the word "easy" to describe the accredited distance learning programs, you will be in for an unpleasant surprise at how challenging they are.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't get so defensive.... its dissapointing and frustrating that when I post here I get either very little response, a negative response, or have to word my comments specifically to be as politically correct as possible to avoid thus. =/ It is the reason that I seldom come to these boards.

In reading my question, you would realize that when I said "easy way" I am referring to wanting something that does not require me to rearrange my entire life and quit my job just to show up. Hard work is not a problem, but I have found in the past that I've been burned by online only programs in other fields and have read many horror stories on here about The College Network etc which has me VERY gun shy about this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in wound care, sub-acute, community nursing.

Hi there. I, like yourself, could not rearrange my life for a traditional LPN-RN program with a job and kids and husband that is not reliable. You don't have to go through the college network, it's just a publishing company that sells you guides for the excelsior exams, and they are very pricey. If you have had problems with online programs before you might have them again if it was due to time management issues. It's not really "online" per say. It's studying from books then when you feel ready, taking an exam. It is easier than having to actually sit in a class, but harder because your not hand fed what to study and quizzes to help you prepare for the exam. It's like signing up for a class, showing up the first day, getting the syllabus and text and then not showing up again until the final exam. You would be responible for learning "on your own" without the help of a professional really. But you'll find that lots of the material is review, as it would be in a traditional program.

Hope that helps, and hopefully you post here more often, most everyone here wants to help. Don't take it personally. She really didn't sound that rude in her reply.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't feel that her response was rude. Statements like "easy" and "too good to be true" suggest that you think it is easier than a traditional program. Having done both I can tell you that it is not. It is harder because there are no deadlines and all of the scheduling and motivation are on you. This board is awesome and if you hate to post here then don't. If you do be respectful and take your own advice about not being defensive. Hope you find what you need. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Care, Palliative Care.

I was only warning you not to go into a distance learning program with the mindset that's it's "a easy way out." It will be a waste of time and a lot of money. There have been students that enrolled in distance learning programs, studied very little expecting to pass, and end up being very disappointed when they keep failing the exams.

In reading my question, you would realize that when I said "easy way" I am referring to wanting something that does not require me to rearrange my entire life and quit my job just to show up. Hard work is not a problem, but I have found in the past that I've been burned by online only programs in other fields and have read many horror stories on here about The College Network etc which has me VERY gun shy about this.

If you would've had the above paragraph in your post, I would've responded differently. I wasn't being defensive, only was trying to be helpful.

Don't get so defensive.... its dissapointing and frustrating that when I post here I get either very little response, a negative response, or have to word my comments specifically to be as politically correct as possible to avoid thus. =/ It is the reason that I seldom come to these boards.

In reading my question, you would realize that when I said "easy way" I am referring to wanting something that does not require me to rearrange my entire life and quit my job just to show up. Hard work is not a problem, but I have found in the past that I've been burned by online only programs in other fields and have read many horror stories on here about The College Network etc which has me VERY gun shy about this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I regret it! I wish I would've gone brick and mortar, but I got anxious and jumped on board with Excelsior. Don't get me wrong, Excelsior has provided wonderful opportunities for wonderful people. However, I live in an area where there is no nursing shortage and there are several BSN programs with one ADN program locally. Many of the open RN positions post for 'prefer BSN'. I wish I would have sucked it up and done a BSN from the get go!

I struggled working a Monday-Friday job and getting home and 'self studying'. I worked for a school district and ended up doing 3 tests on my summer off and 3 tests the following summer.. So, it took me way longer than I had originally hoped. I did manage to do my remaining pre-requisites online during the school year. Don't ask me why, an online class motivated me more than a CLEP book and I could do that no problem working Monday-Friday.

For Microbiolgy, I left my job at the school district (wanted to anyways), and took it face to face. It was important to me that if I do decide to go on, I want everything to transfer. Unfortunately, I live in Michigan (one of the worst economies in the US), and it took me 3 months to get hired anywhere again as an actual LPN.

I take the CPNE soon..and toss and turn every night thinking about it. I hate the fact that one weekend will decide my fate to see if I can perform as a new RN. Not to mention, who knows what job opportunities I will have if any when I'm done. I'll cross that bridge when I get there!

I take full responsibility for my choice to go to Excelsior. I acted on impulses and once I was tied in, there was no going back. Husband doesn't understand the technicalities of nursing or how things work and insisted I continue with them.

Continue reading past posts, most people Excelsior has opened up a world of opportunity for them. It just wasn't the right decision for myself in my opinion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in wound care, sub-acute, community nursing.

Lots of people fail out of traditional programs too. I think you will be surprised once you finish the CPNE and take the boards what you can do. I live in MA and unless you want to work in Boston at Dana Farber or Mass General or Childrens you don't need a BSN. I work as a visiting nurse and the pay is great as well as the hours, esp. with 2 kids! So I plan to stay with the VNA, maybe one a day a week I'll work ona floor, but not full time. I don't think it matters HOW you get your degree, I have worked with some BSN nurses that I would never want taking care of me. Depends on your ability to criticly think as well as your bedside manner.

Good luck on the CPNE! when is your date?? Keep us posted!!!:up:

Christine

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for the thoughtful replies.

My past issue with online school was not one of time management, but it not feeling quite "right" to me, and then finding out as time went on that I should have listened to my gut instinct on it. In another field, but basically my money was more important than my education, and as long as I gave the former, I was getting the latter, whether I actually knew the material or not. In the end, nothing I learned there helped me, except to be more careful where I spent my money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment