Published Jan 5, 2009
ArmyBoy04
1 Post
Hey everyone I stumbled across this website while trying to find a way to complete a nursing degree while serving as an active duty Army soldier. I am having one heck of a time trying to find either an associates or bachelors degree in nursing that I can complete online or at night. All of the online nursing degrees I have come across so far are only partially online and still require you to come in for some classes on a campus. This would be fine except most of the good schools are nowhere close to where I am and during the day I'll be on duty in the Army. What I am looking for is some way to complete a nursing degree, either associate or bachelors(I plan on a bachelor degree eventually, however its fine if I can only get an associates for the time being), that I can complete online, or at a campus near Fort Benning(Columbus, GA) in the evening or even on weekends if that's all I can get. I'm currently at Ft Bragg, NC and will be moving to GA this week or next. My military occupational specialty is Infantry so I do not believe they will be flexible as far as trying to squeeze in a day class here and there. Also I have 50 quarter hour credits from Ohio State University that I hope I can get some credit for, I'm not certain if that will be a factor in finding a school or not. Any help would be appreciated and I apologize if you get a ton of posts like this every day but I'm not having much luck finding what I need right now. Also I'm an NCO with a vehicle so I will be living off post, if someone happens to know a good school that is able to meet my needs in the area let me know and I'll try to live close to it. Thanks =)
UVA Grad Nursing
1,068 Posts
It will be tough to find a nursing program with online classes and clinicals that will work around your regular military job. The US Army has an excellent program (Green to Gold) that sends qualified
jens619
19 Posts
Columbus State University in GA which is near Ft. Benning. They have a nursing program not far from the base. I don't know if they are online and it will be hard since you are active duty. I was stationed at Ft. Gillem/Ft. Mac after Korea and lived there in Benning with the hubby now ex after I got out and he was still in. That is the only school recommendation I can give you. I'm sure they still have their nursing program there. You might be able to fulfill classes but not much when the clinicals come around.
doh123
3 Posts
that sounds like it will be quite hard to do... you really just cant do an all or even mostly online nursing degree, as its way too hands on.... you can get an ASN (though it would almost impossible to fit around your work schedule), then many ASN to BSN programs are almost entirely online.... as for georgia, I am in Alabama, and I know a few people here in my program that come from Georgia, because they said the waiting lists are so long in Georgia at most places, they were looking at a year or two wait to get in a program... if you have a really high GPA and test scores, it would probably be faster than that... I'm currently in a ASN program, and I'm not sure how I would hope to do this and work full time, let alone the Military which wont be very flexible with your time. ASN programs (at least mine) push you a lot harder, like I'm almost the second week into my med/surg class, and next week we have to take a Medication administration test and check off, we pass it all, or we are gone from the class to try again next semester... 2 weeks of class, and pass or fail, no second chances. I have been studying and practicing about 10 hours a day, I'd be dead if i was working full time. (of course you may be smarter than me, I don't learn super quick :-P )
FLmomof5
1,530 Posts
How close are you to your DOS? Why do I ask? Currently you will be the beneficiary of the NEW GI BILL. And that is a TON of money! Next, you contact your local NG unit. Enlist in the NG "College First" Program. You cannot deploy for your first 2 yrs....AND the NG will pay all your tuition/books/fees, give LARGE bonus *and* you can STILL (double dip) get your GI Bill money! Isn't that too cool?
SusanneCollins13
440 Posts
I just noticed your dilemma. I am also an Active Duty Soldier and I simply applied with the ARMY for the AECP program. This way, you have school option and you are able to complete the last two years of your nursing program for the BSN at any school of your choosing. Further, your only obligation as an active soldier is to go to school and pass your PT test every six month. Well, aside of passing your courses of course. The program is really great and they are very supportive. Also, you may want to find out before you go to any nursing school what their Hesi Exit Exam scores are to graduate from nursing. Columbus State Univeristy in GA requires a 900 and so far I have been unsuccessful and rather frustrated. The Army has given me this summer to pass this hesi exam so I can then transfer to become an Army Nurse. Cross your fingers for me!!
Oh, contact me if you need more information about the program or about how the school goes about selection under this name. Please send me an e-mail through my profile page, send me a private message with your contact information, or leave a message on my profile page.
I would be more then happy to let you in on the details and help you out. Just place in the subject box ....Nursing School. So I wont delete accidently the Email with the junk mail :)
astarrh34
25 Posts
The reason why you arent able to find a completely online nursing program is because it doesnt exist. Unless of course you are already a RN working toward your BSN. This is because of the amount of clinical time involved. There is simply no way to get clinical experience in an online spectrum. I am a full time mom with 3 children, and do not work outside the home, and I just completed the last quarter of my first year of nursing school. Clinicals started the third week of our very first quarter. The clinical hours were not excessive, but they required a commitment. I wish you the best of luck in your search, and thanks for all you do as a member of the Armed Forces.