Diploma Programs in Central Va. ?

UVA Grad Nursing · Jan 28, 2009

Lynchburg General Hospital, Southside Regional Hospital in Petersburg and Bon Secours - St. Mary's are three diploma programs in central Virignia. There are also diplom programs in Virginia Beach, Danville, and Newport News.

msrae2966 · Jun 20, 2009

hey UVA Grad Nursing...do you feel that you have more classroom experience vs hands-on experience having gone the BSN route????

UVA Grad Nursing · Jun 20, 2009

Nani:

Both classroom knowledge and hands-on practical experiences are important. Key factors to consider are how the clinical experiences are structured (1:1 preceptorships. 10:1 clinical groups, etc). Another thing to consider is what you want to do when you "grow up" --- do you see yourself progressing beyond the entry level? and to what level? Lastly, you should consider your approach to nursing --- it is a "job" where the salary and job security is important, or are you a "member of a profession" where you are focused on making things (the profession, the life experiences of patients, your healthcare system, etc) better.

Hospital diploma programs provide a low-cost approach to become an entry-level nurse and usually include about 700-1000 hours of grouped clinicals (10:1 or 8:1). Since these diploma programs are not at colleges, there is no credit to "transfer" to another program. Accelerated BSN programs will provide on average 400+ hours of grouped clinicals and about 250 hours of 1:1 practica. BSN programs also provide classroom education on research, pathophysiology, leadership, and other elements that are regarded as important to the profession. Our Direct Entry MSN program at UVa has 1000 hours of precepted clinical (all 1:1) -- more individualized clinical attention than any other program in the Commonwealth -- this explains why our NCLEX passrate is the highest in VA (100% in 2007, over 96% in 2008).

All four possible options (diploma, AD, BSN, and MSN) are good ways to become a nurse. But what kind of nurse do you want to be?

elkpark · Jun 21, 2009

Since these diploma programs are not at colleges, there is no credit to "transfer" to another program.

This is not necessarily true -- many (most?) diploma programs now have arrangements with a local college so that many (if not all) of the courses are transferable college credits. Even back in the early '80s, when I attended my hospital-based diploma program, all of the courses except the actual nursing courses (A&P, organic chemistry, Micro, gen Soc, gen Psych, pharm, nutrition, English comp, intro to nursing theory) were taught through a local college and were fully transferable college credits.

My diploma program also emphasized our entering a profession, and encouraged us from day one to plan on continuing our education in the future. I also received a much better education in legal/ethical issues, professionalism, leadership, critical thinking, etc., than I did in the BSN-completion program I later attended in order to be able to attend graduate school. My diploma program was certainly not "task-oriented," a semi-slur which I often hear thrown at diploma programs, although I graduated extremely well-prepared for clinical practice, and I received a much better general nursing education there than that offered in the ADN or BSN programs in which I've taught (sad to say ...)

UVA Grad Nursing · Jun 21, 2009

Elkpark:

Let me clarify. Yes, many of the diploma programs have affiliations with community colleges here in Virginia; those credits that are transcripted on the community college records will indeed transfer to many of the 4-year programs. I meant to indicate that the classes taken in the diploma programs that did not appear on community college transcripts might not transfer to a BSN program.

Diploma grads make great nurses too. Many diploma students have more clinical experiences that AD or BSN students. And for many individuals who want to become nurses, a diploma program will usually be the most affordable way.

aztova · Aug 17, 2009

Actually, universities accept diploma graduates into their RN-BSN programs as well in VA. VCU is one university that will accept diploma nurses as long as the school is accredited with the VA board of nursing and NLNAC. I have been looking into a diploma program because I need a non-traditional schedule. I had been planning on applying to VCU ABSN program as I have a bachelor's degree but I live too far away to commute everyday not to mention daycare issues.

The diploma option isn't necessarily cheaper either. The tuition is the same whether you are in or out of state, about $20K where in state at VCU would be about $15K. I would much rather have a BSN than a diploma but I also just want a feasible way to become a nurse. Once family and children are involved sometimes one has to make choices and take the long way around. I can always go back to complete my BSN through a RN-BSN program which will allow me to work full-time as well. :)

elkpark · Aug 17, 2009

Actually, universities accept diploma graduates into their RN-BSN programs as well in VA. VCU is one university that will accept diploma nurses as long as the school is accredited with the VA board of nursing and NLNAC. I have been looking into a diploma program because I need a non-traditional schedule. I had been planning on applying to VCU ABSN program as I have a bachelor's degree but I live too far away to commute everyday not to mention daycare issues.
The diploma option isn't necessarily cheaper either. The tuition is the same whether you are in or out of state, about $20K where in state at VCU would be about $15K. I would much rather have a BSN than a diploma but I also just want a feasible way to become a nurse. Once family and children are involved sometimes one has to make choices and take the long way around. I can always go back to complete my BSN through a RN-BSN program which will allow me to work full-time as well. :)

Yes, most BSN completion programs are set up to accept either ADN or diploma grads. I went from a diploma program to a state university BSN completion program (years later) with no problem. I have also received many comments over the years, in all kinds of settings, about how well-prepared I was/am (as a diploma grad) and v. positive comments about diploma grads in general. Although I basically just stumbled into it at the time, without the perspective that I have now, I have always been v. glad that I happened to end up attending a diploma program, and, the longer I've been out of school, the more I've appreciated what an excellent basic nursing education I got there (granted, there are variations among diploma schools, some great, some mediocre, some poor, just like with anything else).

(BTW, FWIW, at the time I was trying to decide which nursing program in my city I wanted to attend, my parents, a physician and a nurse, both strongly encouraged me to go the diploma school route.)

aztova · Aug 17, 2009

That is great to know as I am having to make this decision very soon! :)