Question about Walden University

iseeyou · Apr 29, 2009

I am not familiar with Walden University, but a close friend is finishing her PhD with

University of Phoenix and loved it. She completed her adn to bsn and then bsn to msn.

I am in the process of completing my acceptance to UofP. The completion date is

18 mos. and cost right at $20,000.00 total and student loans are available.

I hope this helps you.

PJ rn · Apr 29, 2009

Hello,

I have completed my BSN online with Oklahoma Panhandle State University. I completed a portfolio for my BSN clinicals.

I have also done UoP and found it more difficult, more papers, etc. I have not checked into the doctoral program, is it 18 months or is that the MSN?

Graceland University in MO is good, I have also researched Winona State, St Louis University and Ball State. If you are getting a MSN Aspen University in CO is accredited and manageable.

Thanks pj rn

Agrippa · Apr 30, 2009

I am generally very wary of most all online only universities. This doesn't mean classes from established brick and mortar universities that are just offered online. But places like U of Phoenix, Walden, and dozens of others I see ads for are something I think people should really look into before going into such large debt. Personally, if I saw someone with a degree from an online university vs. someone with a degree from an established university, you bet the latter is going to get hired.

Make sure that these places are certified and better yet, make sure the degree is worth something. Simply put, Im not, nor would I expect any HR rep to take any such degree seriously.

I am really concerned that these businesses are really taking advantage of people who just don't know better and plunging them into debt. There really needs to be better oversight of this.

Penguin67 · Apr 30, 2009

I know a colleague who was working on a PhD from Walden. She was able to "design" her own major and pretty much dictate her curriculum. It sounded *very* watered down as compared to the established nononline nursing PhD programs that I am familiar with. We convinced her that she'd get a better education elsewhere, and she dropped out of Walden when she was accepted at nononline PhD program. Here's the kicker...what transferred from Walden? Nothing. That says alot to me. Just my two cents here.

PJ rn · Apr 30, 2009

If you are talking about general degrees, maybe. However, the ANA and other bodies that accredit nursing programs have standards that must be met both in content and clinical areas. If a college has met these standards then graduates from their programs should receive the same consideration as others. Students should not be penalized for using what is offered.

The reason many schools such as Rush, George Washington and others offer online or distance training is to meet the needs of students who cannot get to their university campus. I for one am glad that schools are trying to meet the needs of adult students. I went to a 'brick and mortar' program for my first degree and found that the standards and requirements for distance training far exceed the requirements for interaction with instructors and other students than the traditional program.

iseeyou · Apr 30, 2009

Wow, so many good inputs on this topic. I regret to hear that an online college such as U of P that is nationally accredited and CCNE accredited would not be taken seriously by some. Yes these online programs are expensive but I put a pencil to the cost of commuting 90 miles a day as I did for my BSN and lunches out everyday, hotel expenses for my clinicals, upkeep of white uniforms and shoes, supplies, and cost of projects and I can say they are very much the same. This didn't even take into account the lost wages because I didn't have time to work. Online courses require discipline and fortitude, things I would consider to be quite admirable in a prospective applicant. My family was virtually put on hold during my attendance to a traditional "brick and mortar" program, online courses allows me to manage my day around the needs of my family. I am grateful these programs are available and regret that anyone would look down on me for making a conscious decision to be self starter, motivator and creative manager of my time. This is the future! Embrace my fellow sisters. Embrace.

Agrippa · Apr 30, 2009

I smell a troll. Maybe its initially "cheaper" than a brick and mortar school when you take into consideration the other costs, but in the end, no matter how cheap it was to get the degree, its not going to be worth much if it isnt respected by...anyone.

You sure u dont work for U of P?

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Apr 30, 2009

I have experienced both traditional and online education - both as a student and instructor. As an educator, I believe that the delivery method/media should not impact the quality of the educational process. And it really doesn't have to. Well-designed online experiences are comparable to classroom instruction. The key is in the design - which needs to incorporate the underlying socialization needed to support educational outcomes, particularly for graduate education.

I also have serious misgivings about the 'for profit' educational companies that seem to be popping up all over the place, no matter what their delivery format. Their absence of a "scholarly" mission and academic rigor is most pronounced in graduate programs. The type of faculty that are attracted to these organizations does not remotely compare to 'bricks and mortar' institutions. Essentially, the faculty are treated as 'temporary' or contract workers - a completely different culture that is not really satisfying to serious academicians.

I do acknowledge that student-centered education - which takes into account the needs of adults - is the wave of the future. But one does not have to compromise. Most well-regarded universities now have online options. The resulting degree does not specify which delivery method (classroom or online) was used - and is much more attractive to potential employers than the commercial schools.

Saifudin · Apr 30, 2009

I'm doing a masters in health care administration from TUI in California. I searched for several years before deciding. They do not have nursing degrees and since I am working overseas I wasn't sure if I could do clinicals so I settled on this degree.

At 52 and with my particular background and experiences its working for me. Online is essentially self-taught so you get out what you put in. I have found the program I am in quite robust and I have benefited by it. I did go through a bit of 'crisis' two courses back and again frantically searched online BSN progams. Given a choice, I would have preferred the BSN completion to MSN program but now that I will finish 28 of 40 credits by June, it would be too costly and time consuming to switch.

TUI is reasonable for anyone interested. 4 credits is $1,380 with all materials supplied by course CD. Semesters are 12 weeks each with 5 modules and two written assignments per module. One thing I didn't like is no statistics pre-req. I took a research methodology course and really struggled w/o stats. Should be mandatory. The school is regionally accredited.

I looked into Phoenix and was 'advised' to take the RN-BSN-MSN/MHA which is over 50 credits and costs 27,000 dollars!! Besides this 'advice', I didn't like the accelerated pace of 6 wk courses. I don't think you can learn or absorb much belting out the classes and its cohort so your dependent on others. I like working alone. As a self-payer and not involved in interest I cannot afford the tuition and even if I could, I wouldn't spend it for that type of program.

I was told by an American nurse in Saudi Aramco health center in saudi arabia (I work in a government hosp in Saudi) that the University of Dundee in Scotland has a completion BSN that is accepted by the NLN. i have not confirmed that but I might pursue that after i finish the masters if its true. I will likely work in the Gulf for some years to come and now looking to get into health related businesses so this option will work.

Depending on where one is in their life and career, online can be advantageous but I would not prejudice my opinion of nurse with an online degree, not after knowing now what takes to do well online and of course, a well structured interview will tell more about a person then their degree status.

iseeyou · May 1, 2009

Thank you for the input.

palpep · May 13, 2009

Just withdrew from Walden after 1 week of class. Found out they do not award MSN, so may not award BSN, either. It is an M.S. degree. Wish I had asked the right questions, so my advice to you is to get connected with an advisor and find out what degree you will be awarded upon completion.

Hope this helps.

P.S. I liked the two instructors that I had. They seemed to genuinely care and want to help me expand my knowledge and be a success.