ADN to BSN-- Advice on good programs?

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 21, 2012

My advice would be to only consider fully accredited schools with both national (CCNE, NLNAC) and regional (one of the six, such as Middle States, Western, etc) accreditation. Nearly all brick-and-mortar schools with on-line programs have these and some of the for-profits (Phoenix, Strayer) also do but many do not. Not having full accreditation could present problems further down the road, especially if you want to get an MSN.

Penn State, U Wyoming, Kent State, Temple, Thomas Edison, U Texas- Arlington, Ft Hayes State, Jacksonville, Drexel and Ohio U are some fully accredited schools with on-line RN-BSN programs. Some are expensive (Drexel), others are quite reasonable (Ohio, UT-A, Wyoming) and others are in between. This is also far from a comprehensive list - an on-line search will likely turn up quite a few more.

incredibleme · Mar 21, 2012

I will be graduating from the Ohio U Online RN-BSN program in June. I completed in 4 quarters! I could have been done sooner time wise but took last summer off bc my kids were out of school and I wanted to do fun stuff! They have 5 week courses, it is time consuming but doable! I was pregnant and worked full time while doing it!

UVA Grad Nursing · Mar 24, 2012

As an admissions dean, let me toss out one thing to consider if you are considering a graduate program after you are done with your BSN.

If you are considering MSN or doctoral study, you will need an academic letter of recommendation from someone in your BSN program. I read hundreds of these letters each year. All too often, the letters of recommendation from faculty in online programs are not as detailed/helpful to an admissions committee as letters from faculty that you have worked closely with over a longer period of time (some online classes last 4-6 weeks). This is especially true from online programs that employ mostly adjunct faculty.

Regardless where you go, get to know your faculty.

RN Zeke · Mar 26, 2012

Do all colleges, brick and mortar/on-line require clinicals for ADN to BSN????

happyinillinois · Mar 26, 2012

Look at Western Governors University. Search the threads, you will find many happy grads. It is also the cheapest. PM for more information if you like.

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 26, 2012

UVA Grad Nursing made an excellent point. I suggest everyone re-read post #3.

In addition: I have precepted a lot of staff members at my hospital doing projects for online programs. They are often quite frustrated in that they "don't know exactly what their faculty member wants" because they have minimal communication with that faculty person. I see their lack of a relationship and regular contact compromising their learning as well as not leading to any relationship that includes mentoring or a strong faculty reference later. The education they receive is often "cookie cutter" in nature and not really in-depth. "Do a project, particpate in some online discussions, pay your money ... get a degree."

That said ... I also teach part time in an online program. But the course I teach is a full semester in length and involves video streamed live lectures with 2-way communication as well as a required committment for me to respond to any student e-mail with 48 hours. I also talk to students a lot on the phone.

My advice is to choose a program with the possibility to develop decent relationships with faculty members one way or the other. That is probably not going to happen at a school that uses large numbers of adjunct faculty spread out all over the country following the same outline as they teach multiple sections of the same course. If possible, choose one within easy driving distance so that you can go to the campus and meet with the faculty person if necessary. If possible, choose one in which the same faculty person teaches the same course for a couple of years in a row -- where the faculty positions are not a revolving door of people "picking up a few bucks supervising a few students online" - but where they are invested in the quality of the educational program and the learning of the students.

You are most likely to find that potential for relationship and for faculty invested in the quality of the program in a brick and mortar school -- even if the particular classes you are taking are online. They use local faculty who talk to one another and coordinate their teaching efforts. They are emotionally invested in the school and in the students -- and committed to maintaining high quality. And they will be available to meet with you if you would like to talk face to face.

SurrenderDorothy · Mar 27, 2012

Fort Hays State University.

muesli · Mar 28, 2012

UMass Boston has an online program. However, they recently increased their community service learning clinical to 84 hours. This is something you coordinate in your own community. There are mandatory online classes once a week which are essentially a chat room with headphones. Probably like most other online programs, it is mostly writing based although one or two semesters may have an open book test. There are group projects too, which you don't have to meet to complete. There is one time the first semester where, unless you live in another state, you must come in to present a book report. Out of state folks would communicate online via the classroom (honestly I would have preferred that but I lived too close). If I had to choose again, I would probably look for something with less clinical requirement - they doubled the requirement when I was halfway through the program.

I do know someone who went to U. of Phoenix for a non-nursing course, and mentioned that it was hard getting the support from faculty like you would in a traditional program. I liked some teachers more than others, and some were definitely more helpful than others, but I knew there was always someone there with an office and a phone number I could call.

MonyRNcali · Mar 30, 2012

I am starting the search as well for a RN to BSN program in California. The budget cuts here have alot of the CSU schools in limbo about admitting for Spring 2013. I am really wanting to go to a class room based program to network and really expand my knowledge in my nursing career, but I am starting to consider online programs. I hear about how expensive the University of Phoenix is and National University and now I am just as confused as before. I would love to hear any experiences anyone has had with online programs and in class programs. I have the motivation to start working on my BSN but choosing a program is more difficult than I thought it would be!

BeentheredonethatRN · Jun 9, 2012

I just have to say- I LOVE ONLINE classes ! So many of my friends are taking online classes ,and many show advertisements on this site! Best thing next to the invention of the wheel. Just have a good laptop with all the newest software,Android phone,super fast internet access, and you are golden.