UTA Rn to BSN program

pink007 · Sep 26, 2011

I just dropped my technical writing class tonight. I feel like a quitter but was so afraid the rest of the course was going to be impossible. After reading the 2 chapters and trying to navigate through Blackboard & Epic, I could not understand how to initiate my first paper! I thought the directions were so vague... I am not sure if the online study is for me... Any advice on trying to stick to this program? How can I get through with this first class? Do any other online programs offer real lectures and offer more guidance?

FinallyRNStatus, BSN · Oct 21, 2011

Hey does anyone know if you can take UTA from another state? I live in NJ and I'm looking to their program. Also if there an option to take pathophysiology, pharmacology online at UTA or must this be completed before getting accepted? What are the pre-req requirements for their RN-BSN program?

allnurses Guide · Oct 22, 2011

Hey does anyone know if you can take UTA from another state? I live in NJ and I'm looking to their program. Also if there an option to take pathophysiology, pharmacology online at UTA or must this be completed before getting accepted? What are the pre-req requirements for their RN-BSN program?

Here you go...all the info you are asking is on their website along with how to get in touch with the school:

http://stateu.com/uta/ProgramInfo.aspx?id=228

FinallyRNStatus, BSN · Oct 23, 2011

Not.done.yet:

WOW!!!! I missed this url on the schools webiste! Their program looks awesome$. The best I've seen offered online and set up in a learning style that is so interactive. So organized. :) and CHEAP in comparison to most online RN-BSN programs . Roughly $9000 and general ed courses break down to $164/credit. AMAZING!!!!! I can't wait to be in and done with my ADN so I can begin their program. :) Best of all it appears that they have an amazing reputation.

I've *heard* some healthcare establishments scoff at the legitimacy of certain online schools. Employers prefer Nursing degrees offered from schools w/ online programs in addition to their reputable traditional-based campus. I plan on becoming an NP... so this is a big concern for me.

allnurses Guide · Oct 23, 2011

I have heard nothing but good things about this program and many of the DFW hospitals are partnered with them. I graduate with my RN in December and am starting this program in January. Deadline to apply is December 1st for a Spring start date. 13 months and I'll be done. :)

FinallyRNStatus, BSN · Oct 23, 2011

I have heard nothing but good things about this program and many of the DFW hospitals are partnered with them. I graduate with my RN in December and am starting this program in January. Deadline to apply is December 1st for a Spring start date. 13 months and I'll be done. :)

Sounds like you are in the final stretch of getting your degree. What a relief that must be!!! Congrats for all the hard work and almost being done. :cool:

You said you graduate in December and start UTA in January. The UTA website says you have to be working as an RN and show proof of licensure in order to be accepted into the program. I can't imaging you passing your NCLEX and being hired as an RN before the Jan. start date. Does UTA allow you into their program before you pass your NCLEX and are employed? Is there some sort of loophole I missed? :confused:

allnurses Guide · Oct 23, 2011

I graduate on December 9th and will likely take the NCLEX before the end of December or right at the beginning of January....results come within a few days. I have been in contact with a UTA advisor and he has not said anything to me about not being able to be accepted until then...I work now as a nurse extern at a local HCA facility and have been extended a job offer for after graduation as well. I have worked there for a year and a half as an extern and have been working with the human resources department on this...nobody has mentioned having to have my RN before applying for the program thus far and I have been encouraged to apply. I supposed if it comes about, I will start at the February start date instead of the January one, but to date the advisor I have been working with has not mentioned that I have to be an RN and working already as one, nor has my HR person. I have never heard that before or seen it in any of the info I have gotten so not sure really. The worst it would do if that is the case is that I will start in February.

ackirom · Nov 19, 2011

I started the program in Nov '10 and I gotta say, the actual nursing program is great. Workload is reasonable. I should be graduating this Dec '11, but unfortunately, I wasn't careful in looking up the schedules and such, so now I'll be graduating in May '12 =\ In my ADN program, we were assigned to classes (signed us up automatically) and we only had to attend. I forgot that this was a university, and you're responsible for signing up for yourself. Also, I had not completed the English pre-requisite and there is a hell of a lot of general courses required so that really added more workload. For instance, I'm in California, and all the political science courses I took here were invalid because the State of Texas requires college graduates from their state universities to complete Texas political science courses *shrugs*

My advice:

1) If you know what general courses you have to take, plan to take them in a community college, online if possible, cuz it is a lot easier there and they will be credited. If you decide to take them at UTA, which is what I did, just remember that it is an actual university and those course will have to be completed according to their standards.

2) Make sure to print a calendar and mark the start dates of all the nursing classes that you need to take. I learned this lesson the hard way. Some nursing courses are only given twice a year and if you miss your window, well... then you're gonna have to graduate late, like me =(

3) If you've signed up for a course, make sure you see it thru!!! Tuition fees are non-refundable after DAY 2! Gawd. I took a nursing course and had to drop, on the 4th day due to personal issues, and couldn't get a refund (a few hundred dollars gone to waste, b00!). But that was my fault for not knowing the policy. But now you know!

4) Complete your work a few hours ahead of the deadline as there are glitches in the online system sometimes. UTA is in Arlington, TX, so all the course deadlines are in Central Standard Time. It just sucks if you're behind cuz then you feel cheated, like I'm in Pacific time, so if the deadline is 11:59pm CST, it's really 9:59pm in my time.

All in all, it's a good program. I didn't really have problems with the online setting, in fact I preferred it. Nursing courses are in EPIC and general courses are mostly in Blackboard. Look at your courses a month ahead and buy those books ahead of time cuz you don't want to have to pay expedited s/h. Besides, most courses are only 5 wks long. Some nursing courses have required textbooks but you don't really need them. I barely opened my book for the Leadership and Management course and you can use any care plan book for that Health Assessment class, but you will need the other required book. Someone asked about having to complete all 3 pre-requisite before you start, and well, I had already taken intro to nurs, pharm and patho in my ADN so I didn't have to do it at UTA. I applied in this program because I wanted to be done in 13 months plus it was the cheapest. Because it's taken me almost 2 years instead of 13 months, I'm not so satisfied with it. They need to offer nursing courses year round, not just sometimes. I'm not all that happy with that part of it, plus all the general courses, so I'm just glad I'm almost done with this.

Good luck to you guys in your BSN quest! Do your research!!!

ackirom · Nov 19, 2011

Does UTA allow you into their program before you pass your NCLEX and are employed? Is there some sort of loophole I missed?

I graduated in June '10 and got my NCLEX results in July '10. I only got a job half-way in the RN-BSN program so I think UTA only verifies your licensure.

Houstina · Nov 25, 2011

Are there really no clinical requirements?? It says you need to be employed on the website. Has anyone ever done this program without working?

ackirom · Nov 28, 2011

Are there really no clinical requirements?? It says you need to be employed on the website. Has anyone ever done this program without working?

Well I know of at least 3 classes that requires it. But one of those, the Leadership and Management class, I took prior to getting a job. I asked my professor and she allowed me to take it by shadowing someone else instead of a nurse manager. It all depends on ur professor. But I think for the nursing elective as well as the final Capstone class, u hav to have one. So in the meantime, u can take courses that don't require it :)

allnurses Guide · Nov 29, 2011

Great feedback, thank you!