ACCELERATED BSN FOR NON-NURSE: VIRTUAL vs. TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM

Rodiger · Apr 7, 2008

I'm not a nurse, but I am considering an advanced program like yourself and was advised to ask the nursing advisors at my university for their NCLEX examination pass-rates within the past 5 years. Supposedly if the rate is high, then so is the quality of education. Hope that helps or sparks a response of support :)

Best of luck.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2008

You should be getting the same coursework as those who are attending a classroom live in person. So really it depends on you if your the type that can learn independently without immediate feedback because the material is going to be the same.

The clinical component sounds like it's the same as the other students, with an instructor and a group of students at the clinical sites.

Good luck.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2008

My suggestion is to look at each option closely with an eye towards what kind of learner you are. Also, remember that there is a 30+year history now of accelerated BSN 2nd degree programs...not so much of a track record for electronic programs. That doesn't make them bad, just new.

I'm an accelerated 2nd degree BSN...and I really needed the classroom contact. If you can do as well online and it is easier/more convenient, that's great. I'm just thrilled there are more options now than in my day.

Good luck!

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 7, 2008

I'm not a nurse, but I am considering an advanced program like yourself and was advised to ask the nursing advisors at my university for their NCLEX examination pass-rates within the past 5 years. Supposedly if the rate is high, then so is the quality of education. Hope that helps or sparks a response of support :)
Best of luck.

That's a good question to ask ... but you also need to ask "How many students start the program and don't graduate?" A lot of schools boost their NCLEX pass rates by flunking students out (or pressuring them out). The students pay tuition for a couple of semesters, the school makes money, but then the student doesn't graduate for one reason or another. They don't take the NCLEX and don't therefore, the hurt the school's pass rate.

By "getting rid of" the students unlikely to pass the NCLEX on the first try rather then helping them learn, the school ends up having a good pass rate -- but is still a lousy school.

So be sure you always get the full story and don't just look at the pass rate. The pass rate can be manipulated -- at the expense of the students.

geekchick · Apr 7, 2008

WOW, thanks for all your comments! They're all definitely helpful :)

geekchick · Apr 7, 2008

That's a good question to ask ... but you also need to ask "How many students start the program and don't graduate?" A lot of schools boost their NCLEX pass rates by flunking students out (or pressuring them out). The students pay tuition for a couple of semesters, the school makes money, but then the student doesn't graduate for one reason or another. They don't take the NCLEX and don't therefore, the hurt the school's pass rate.
By "getting rid of" the students unlikely to pass the NCLEX on the first try rather then helping them learn, the school ends up having a good pass rate -- but is still a lousy school.
So be sure you always get the full story and don't just look at the pass rate. The pass rate can be manipulated -- at the expense of the students.

After reading the above posting, out of curiousity, I researched on the University of Oklahoma's NCLEX Pass Rate for the year 2007 on Oklahoma's Board of Nursing website. Based on the report, the University of Oklahoma's "Internet Campus" (I'm assuming this is their San Diego extension campus), NCLEX 1st time pass rate is 100% with 3 candidates...ONLY 3 CANDIDATES??? :bugeyes: thats definitely suspicious! so i just sent out an email of inquiry to U of O & asked the number of students who started their program in 2006. I'll post the #s once I get their response back. :)

carlyfry · Apr 7, 2008

After reading the above posting, out of curiousity, I researched on the University of Oklahoma's NCLEX Pass Rate for the year 2007 on Oklahoma's Board of Nursing website. Based on the report, the University of Oklahoma's "Internet Campus" (I'm assuming this is their San Diego extension campus), NCLEX 1st time pass rate is 100% with 3 candidates...ONLY 3 CANDIDATES??? thats definitely suspicious! so i just sent out an email of inquiry to U of O & asked the number of students who started their program in 2006. I'll post the #s once I get their response back. :)

The san diego program just started last summer so theres no graduates from the san diego campus yet. the pass rate is referring to their oklahoma campus.

labcat01, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2008

NCLEX 1st time pass rate is 100% with 3 candidates...ONLY 3 CANDIDATES???

Also keep in mind that their drop out rates could also be due to the students and not the program. I think a lot of people mistakenly believe that a virtual campus will be easy and they underestimate the amount of work and the motivation needed to do it. There are a lot of factors to consider here. Good luck with your research and your application process.

mauxtav8r · Apr 7, 2008

llg is correct. Check the total numbers, also check out (if you can) how many students are currently in each class.

For example, if they told you they had Sophomores 125, Juniors 85, Seniors 75, grads this year 70, what is going on? Either they are growing the program rapidly or people leave for one reason or another.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Apr 8, 2008

I just graduated from an LVN program where we went to school from 7:30am to 1:30pm between 2 -5 days a week and I feel we wasted so much time in that classroom. Time just had to be filled so we watched movies and did homework at times or did worksheets. We would have to get into groups and make up a poster and present it to the class. It was boring and ridiculous. I think my time would have been better spent teaching myself online.

I'm just saying that sometimes classroom learning is not all that it's cracked up to be.

Good luck whatever you decide. :)

clarity8828 · Jul 8, 2008

Wow, I wish I'd known this before. This is what is happening at my husband's accelerated program. They take in more students in the beginning and then handpick a few to "drop out". I wish there was a way to expose this whole scam.