Cal State San Marcos online RN to BSN

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Hello everyone,

I am looking for someone who is or has attended the RN to BSN program at Cal State San Marcos. If you would share your experience I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

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I am enrolled in the rn to bsn online program. I just started their 14 month program and I'm about to finish the first two classes.

My first inquiry to this program was by calling the number on the website. I spoke to customer reps (I think that's their title) and they walked me through the process. The people at the call center are nice, but they only walk you through the initial steps of the application process. They don't know about the specifics of your application, or the website, or the class schedule, etc.

I began my application right after I got my RN license on October 2015. The school counsellors evaluated my transcripts, but they managed to miss my stats course. So, after about 4 weeks from submitting my application, they denied me entrance. I wrote to them and explained I had received an A for stats, and this got the matter cleared up. About one week later I got the official acceptance letter. So, right before thanksgiving I knew what my 2016 was going to be like!

I was given an number to access the website where I would be paying; this is basically the student portal and other important things can be seen here such as class schedules, credits needed, credits completed, etc.

I paid off my classes about one week before Christmas.

next, you are given your unique student handle/login.

Next you change your password.

Next set up an official email with the school using gmail (using a school domain, @cougars.csusm.edu).

next, access canvas through instructure....

Complete the orientation to the canvas platform.(this means reading, videos, and quizzes)... You will be required to download a test taking monitoring software/program. These steps are to confirm your computer meets the requirements for class necessities.

Once you start actual class content (about 4-5 hours worth of going back and forth with the orientation, etc), you will be familiar with canvas.

The online platform from which the program is based (canvas) is a little bit rough. Several of the 130+ Plus students in the cohort were not taking it and after 6 weeks, they are no longer complaining on the discussion boards. They either got help, or they dropped the program.

You are expected to participate in up to two discussion boards per week. These are formal, APA style entries which are referenced. They don't specify the length of the entries, but most of us are writing 500-600 words per entry in order to cover what is asked. You must also respond to two people, again, APA, references.

You are asked to complete additional group work, or additional APA style journals or reflections every week.

At this time, I am in two classes, which means that I am in two different groups, each with 6 people in it. Keeping track of people you've never met is kinda hard.

oh, and we have weekly quizzes for one class. Weekly readings can be 1 chapter, up to 3 chapters per week, plus articles.

and one research paper, 8-10 pages, again, APA

also, for these classes so far, there is not much in The way of lecture. It is mostly power points, the majority seem to be text book publisher slide shows. This was another sore point for some of the students.

i have never believed that on line classes would be easier.

One thing I wish would be a little easier is the section where students can ask teachers/students questions. The professors say this area or discussion board is where people can raise their hand, and either the staff answers or another student responds if they have the answer.

However..... This section takes a long time to load.... And it takes so long to load beacause ALL the previous questions must load before you get to the most recent questions.... To me, this is a pain. What ever happened to organizing by weeks, or subject? I dunno.

Well, I better get back to my school work. Wish me luck!

btw, I am working mostly weekends. 2-3 days per week.

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Hi UrgentLiving,

I'm right behind you in the program. 3 units for the first 8 weeks didn't seem so bad, but I'm scheduled to take 5 units in the next 8 weeks and NINE in the first 8 weeks of summer. Taking 9 units while working full time seems impossible. Were you able to complete your scheduled plan of classes outlined for you, or did you need to postpone any? Thanks so much.

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Thank you so much for putting so much effort into answering my question. How many classes at a time do you actually have to take to graduate within 14months? Did you have the language requirement to graduate from the program? It seems like the program is pretty demanding, do you think so too?

Once again thank you so much for your help.

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Hi,

Class sessions last 8 weeks.Dates below are approximate; they change a bit each year i think.

Classes scheduled (or planned) for my cohort:

Spring 1 (start january-march) - NURS 350 (2 unit), NURS 351 (1 unit) =2 classes, 3 units total

Spr 2 (start march-may) - NURS 370 (2 u), PHIL 345 (3 u) = 5 units

Sum 1 (May - june) - Nurs 310 (2), NURS 311 [lab for 310] (1 u), NURS 352 (3 u), ANTH 301 (3 U) = 4 classes, 9 units!!! yes, in 8 weeks!

Sum 2 (July - august) - NURS 312 (4 u), BIOL16 (3 u) = 2 classes, 7 units

Fall 1 (sept - oct) - NURS 480 (2 u), NURS 442 (2 u) = 2 classes, 4 units

Fall 2 (oct - dec) - NURS 440 (3 u), NURS 445 (3 u) = 2 classes, 6 units*

Spring 1 2017 (jan-march 2017) - NURS 450 (3 u), NURS 451 (2 u) = 2 classes, 5 units*

* For these sessions you will be required to design projects in community health for one class, and a leadership project for another class. So you will need to collaborate with a local organization or your workplace to validate your efforts (or something like that... will update in a several months if you are still interested)

You do need a language requirement. I believe 3 semesters of college level language classes see: LOTER Home

If you're a native speaker of another language, you need to pass a certain level of proficiency exam, and you won't need the 3 semesters.

This program is demanding. All work must be completed, even if it's past the deadline and you are doing it for no points, otherwise they say you will fail the class (or at least not allowed to pass to the next). To me this is different because in a regular setting, missing out on a quizz or assignment means that you loose points, but not here.

If you want to drop a class, then you have to determine when it will be taught again. This could mean taking it the next session of classes... or wait for a couple sessions... it all depends on the ongoing co-horts.

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Thank you UrgentLivening that was very helpful.

Since you have taken now a couple classes would you recommend the program?

How many hours do you spend each week per for a 2unit class?

Thank you so much again, I appreciate any information you could give me.

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Hi UrgentLiving,

Do you recommend the program? The program sounds great but I am hesitant about discussions per week in APA format. Sounds like a lot of busy work! Do you wish you would have taken another program if you had the chance?

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Hi,

I do recommend program. For a two unit class I usually spend 5.5-6 hours.

There have been weeks where I just go to the assignment requirements and focus on that only, and I am able to complete the assignment in about 2.5.

After taking 9 units this past summer, I realized I couldn't complete all the readings all the time ( one week I one class they assigned 7 chapters in pathophys/pharm.)

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hi happy_nurse26,

Yes, I would recommend the program. At times, I do wish there was that little bit of extra insight from professors during a live class. However, I also think there are some concepts that sink in better, I think this is due to the fact I am learning as I reflect upon my nursing experience as opposed to an oral lecture (perhaps biased at that).

Doing the APA is busy work, however, I find that most instructors/TAs are not APA police.

-There are many people who still don't have the best use of it. We even get group emails reminding us to use APA, so I assume some groups are lacking a lot in the APA area. In my rush to get my 2-3 paragraphs done, I have myself left out references and citing: (ref, 2015) which I was knocked off points.

-At times, I have been corrected erroneously (points taken off) but I don't argue and just do as they expect for the duration of that class. Example: how to cite direct quotes.

-also, I use of shortcuts with APA- reference your books and keep a list (simply modify chapter that was referenced and pages as you go along). For new articles, simply search article in cinhal database and use the "cite" info to copy and paste the APA style.

if I had the time, 5 years ago (2011) when I got my LVN license I would have chosen to fulfill all the requirements needed to go to the UCLA bsn program while I worked as an LVN. UCLA does not offer rn-bsn anymore, so I couldn't choose that program last year when I became an RN.

It took me 4 years to get from LVN to RN while working as an LVN.

Now it will have taken me 14 months to complete BSN, while working as an RN. So I think I made the right choice by choosing this school.

I have yet to complete the last two sessions, which I hear are the hardest, so if I have anything different to say I will comeback to this post.

wish you well wherever you decide to go.

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UrgentLiving,

I'm considering CSUSM too, Thanks for the info :up:

Don't really care for busy work but I kinda want that PHN cert...well, still have many months to decide...the Ohio Uni is my other alternative.

Good luck to you.

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