Ohio University RN-to-BSN Program

[chuckster]

Since it seems that there's quite a bit of interest, I'm attempting to start a new thread devoted exclusively to the OU on-line RN-BSN program that will hopefully build on the comments on assorted previous threads.

I'd like to ask nevergonnagiveup, mtsteelhorse and babynurse73 - all of whom (I think) are either already in the program or have applied for admission - to post about their experiences. I just sent in my application and plan to post periodically about relevant issues. If we can populate the thread with good material, it could become a very useful resource for both those considering the OU program and students already in it. Once that happens, I'd hope we could prevail upon the forum moderators to make it a sticky thread.

As indicated, I've only recently applied to the program. So far, I'm happy with the support and information I've gotten. I've been contacted by an OU "enrollment specialist" who was somewhat helpful (I suspect that they have dual roles, one being to provide basic information to prospective students and the other to follow-up with the prospects and help to fill the roster for the program). This person e-mailed me, followed up with a phone call and was able to provide some useful, if basic, information about the program. I also sent a lengthy e-mail to OU with quite a number of specific, detailed questions. This too resulted in both an e-mail and telephone response, this time from an academic advisor in the OU School of Nursing. Again I received some useful and quite helpful information. All in all, my early experience has been pretty positive.

As indicated above, I plan to post about relevant issues that come up as I work my way through the admission and evaluation process. I'd very much like to hear from others about their experience with OU and I'm sure that there will be a lot of interest by others in our collective experience with the program.

[michelemybell]

I, too, have a coworker who now cannot start until the fall (like me!) because they never received one transcript and didn't notify her(again, like me!). Boy she let them have it on the phone! Their admission process is a disgrace to say the least...."we'll get back to you in a couple of months after our review"..?????? Are they serious? I could have started somewhere else! I actually looked at Penn state last night. The only thing is that OU is sooo much more affordable.

[chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

ok latest from ut-a. they are insisting that i retake intro to psych. guess which catalog description is the one from the course i'm asking to be accepted (and that they refuse to accept) and which is the ut-a course:

psyc 1315 introduction to psychology (3-0) the fundamental methods and content of scientific psychology. concentration on the understanding of basic principles.

psy 001 - psychology of human behavior i (3 s. h.)

designed to give the student some understanding of individual behavior. consideration is given to such processes as human development, motivation, learning perception and adjustment. attention will be directed toward those insights which psychology can bring to bear on the understanding of man and his relationship to his physical and social environment, with emphasis on the social science aspects .

note: psychology i is prerequisite for all the following psychology courses. it satisfies the basic studies requirement in psychology. for psychology majors, it is the first half year of the required year course and should be followed by psychology ii.

[BrookeeLou_RN]

Chuck, what is your ultimate goal? Somewhere there has to be a better program for you.. I just see a good nurse being pushed to the limit and wasting his talents.

[chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Chuck, what is your ultimate goal? Somewhere there has to be a better program for you.. I just see a good nurse being pushed to the limit and wasting his talents.

Thanks for the support BrookeeLou - you may well be correct.

Ultimately, I want to be a FNP. The more immediate goal is to get my BSN and get some nursing experience before entering an MSN program. Money is a concern and I selected OU and UT-A primarily because of cost but also because they are brick-and-mortar schools that happen to offer on-line RN-to-BSN programs.

I got my undergraduate degree from Temple and my masters from Drexel (but I'm and ADN-RN). Both are physically close to where I live and both have on-line RN-to-BSN programs. While I wouldn't face the kind of penny-ante challenges from either school in terms of transcript evaluation, both are at least double the cost of either OU or UT-A.

At this point, I probably should seriously reasses the cost-benefit ratios involved though.

[BrookeeLou_RN]

Sometimes higher price schools offer better financial aid packages so it may make sense to look into the higher price ones. Do you know where you want to take NP classes? Try to decide and find out their requirements for entry. If any accept a 3.0GPA, WEstern Governors may be the route to go, they are reasonable, accrediated and offer BSN quickly..but this would not work if you need higher than 3.0 as to the way they work. What about Univ of Wyoming? Thomas Edison? these are both reasonable from what I have resaearched.

I am not getting into debate over online schools who have brick and mortar premises also but I think that is the area I would make the lesser of mu concerns. Each year online become more accepted and by the time you are down, I personally think it will be a non-issue. Aspen could get you the mSN and then you could just look for the NP program specific to your needs. It does not offer BSN but in the long run it may make sense especially is you need to bet DPN.

I have followed you on this thread and I feel you have the patience of a saint with dealing with this. Many others would have punted. I admire your dedication. Just hope you can get accepted and get on with your classes.

Best of luck to you and to the others in the same boat waiting on a college. Maybe it is great once you get in but I would never tolerate being treated that way as a paying student!

[mtsteelhorse]

I have to agree here. Is the BSN really worth all this hassle??? I went down a similar road and have chosen Aspen. You can get the MSN in an uplifting, supportive environment then go on for post masters certification as an NP. It's worth considering. Aspen is wonderful!!! It will run you about $7200 for the bridge-MSN program...buy used books on line. No monkeying around, straightforward, classes start twice a month and you could be up and running by mid June. You are far more patient than I! And I'll bet you're a great nurse. Keep us posted.

[chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Thanks again BrookeeLou_RN and mtsteelhorse for the suggestions and support.

Cost is a much bigger issue for me than you might imagine. I make too much money to qualify for any kind of financial aid and I'm presently paying off loans I've taken out to put my 2 children through college. That limits my options considerably, though it's possible that either Thomas Edison or Wyoming may be affordable. Right now, I'm not employable as a ADN-RN (with 23 nursing schools in my area turning out at least 2,000 new RN's each year into a stagnant job market, very few new nurses are being hired). My chances for nursing employment, though still slim, go up considerably as a BSN. I don't think going directly for the MSN is viable, not to mention affordable. My goal is FNP, which will require a significant amount of clinical time and so makes on-line difficult, if not impossible. My thought that with a BSN, my job prospects would be improved and my new employer would hopefully pick up some, if not all of the cost for the MSN.

With UT-A now ruled out, I just need to be patient and see what the OU evaluation brings. The nursing advisor at UT-A was really a shallow, thin-skinned person who did not like anyone questioning her judgment, personalized the argument and refused to objectively consider things. Hopefully that will not be case with the OU advisor. When I look at the OU RN-BSN program listing, I really think I've satisfied all of the non-nursing requirements.

[BrookeeLou_RN]

mtsteelhorse has explained how Aspen tuition is less than any MSN program around and also BSN programs.. You could end up with MSN in less time then getting BSN, and they have payments worked several ways. MSN would allow you tom work while figuring out your NP program. For NP I suggest you do the thing with government where they forgive parts of loan in you work in underserved areas. It would be worth it in my opinion and I am told many areas are undeserved, like every inner city etc. Nice thing with aspen is your RN ASN degree gets you in, no prereqs and they starts every month!!!!

But maybe OU willl come thru. I wish you all the best

:)

[chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Thanks again. Aspen is certainly worth a look but I think may also be difficult to work out relative to FNP.

I had a chance to check out the U Wyoming program and have to say that I wish I knew about this program before I applied to either OU or UT-A. The first impressive thing is that you can actually pick up the phone and speak to someone at the school who is knowledgeable about the program - unlike the other 2 schools where you can't get through to the nursing office at all and have to talk to an "enrollment advisor". It was also pretty impressive that the person on the other end of the line was honest and sincere, not just knowledgeable. And a bonus: The cost is less than either OU or UT-A.

The only wrinkle is that if I wait to hear back from OU, I'll miss the UW deadline. I'm going to search through the archives here on AN to see what others are saying about UW but it certainly seems that it's worth applying there.

[evieinco]

Hi all!

New here, looking at future programs and OU is on my list. Glad I found this list, looks like I should start the process now, since it's taking so long. I have an anticipated graduation date of Dec. 2011 from my ADN program. Hoping to pass my NCLEX soon there after and start my RN to BSN in Summer/Fall 2012.

Chuckster- U of WY is on my list (inexpensive is the top priority right now), but the only thing holding me back is the 120 hr. clinical aspect. Ideally, I would like a program that does not have a clinical component.

Others on my list are: U of CO, Colorado Springs (hearing the same about admissions as OU, I have some friends applying there), Fort Hayes, Mesa State (Grand Junction, CO), and U of West Florida.

Decisions, decisions!

[deltaroxxy2]

Anyone take Family or Legal Nursing at OU? If so, how did you prepare of the midterm/final exams?

Thanks

[Sl1011]

It might have been said in the post somewhere, but I read through several pages and didn't see...

Is this school Nationally AND Regionally accredited?