When I was researching RN-BSN online programs there was very little info about Capella's RN-BSN Flexpath program. It just started in Jan 2016. So, I thought I would share my experience with the program for others who are researching now that I'm finished.
Why I choose it-As an Excelsior ADN graduate I did not have labs with my Micro and A&P so I would have to take these over with many of the schools. I did not have to with Capella. How their program works for pre-reqs is cores. So, they have a math/science core, humanities core etc. They don't require specific courses, just enough credits in each core. So, I only needed one more course in Humanities to fulfil all the cores. I also did not choose the local college because they required a language, history etc. With Capella, I only needed the 11 Nursing courses and Ethics. I took Bio-Ethics, which I thought was fairly easy and interesting.
Cost-I finished the program in 48 weeks, so I paid a total of $10,000. You pay $2500 every 12 weeks. They do not charge a graduation fee, etc. I finished a course every three to four weeks. I worked part-time mostly, except for six weeks of orientation at a new job and I also moved twice in that time period.
Pros-NO DISCUSSION BOARDS-I really disliked discussions boards with Excelsior. I thought they were a waste of time and stressed me out trying to get to them on time. With Capella Flexpath you only write papers/powerpoints. They tell you exactly what content they are looking for. Most courses were four papers/powerpoints, one was six and some were five. Each paper is usually 3-4 pages long, with a few longer. The program is completely self-paced. They want something submitted every week, but if you can't you just explain why and submit that.
Cons-Sometimes the required content was vague or I didn't understand exactly what they were asking, they have tutors, but I found I had already moved on by time they answered my questions. But you have three opportunities to improve your paper, so it wasn't really an issue. Most times my papers had APA issues, not content issues. I received a 4.0.
I hope this helps. I know a lot of people go with WGU, which is similar. However, at the time they were not accepting North Carolina students, and I would have had to take the science courses over due to labs.
I did try to join just now and have to be approved. For the most part, I do know how to do citations, as that was a huge part of my ADN program. I just felt that my writing was not up to par, as some of the other students who were right out of school. I assume that as long as you meet the rubric everything should be okay?
Yes, focus on the scoring guide (rubric) and work on your citations/APA formatting et al. Many of us use PERRLA from perrla.com to help. Also use a thesarsus to help with paraphrasing.
I am strongly considering the rn to bsn flexpath but am hesitant. My concern is that I will have no direction as to gaining the knowledge needed to write the papers. Can you relay to me your experience? How did you come to acquire the information demanded in the assignments? Was information provided or were to you research all content independently? If so, was the research very difficult?
I learned how to write APA-based papers in my ADN program. There's the APA manual and plenty of APA youtube videos. I didn't have to purchase any books, all "current" (within 5 years) scholarly-based, peer-reviewed research can be done via the online Capella Library. Each assessment (escept for in the very last course -- the BSN capstone) provides suggested resources but it is easy to find more current resources on your own (i.e. research independently). There's a RN to BSN support group that can provide some help, but we are all adults and capable.
I am less concerned with APA format and more concerned with obtaining the information required. How many sources or articles were you reliant on for each given assignment?
I am less concerned with APA format and more concerned with obtaining the information required. How many sources or articles were you reliant on for each given assignment?
I'm sure the school must have an online library with librarians that can provide help
That may very well be the case. That is what I'm trying to determine from individuals who have done, or are currently doing the program. I'm looking to know what their experience was like and how they found themselves able to perform the requirements.
For those of you having issues with APA, just use the PERRLA formatting software by downloading it to your computer. I graduated from Capella last year, RN-BSN Magna cum laude.
hello- can you give an update on your progress with Capella? did you like it? did everything go smoothly? Are the negative reviews at all associated with the RN Program
Hello @neonurse97 did you have any issues with the program at all? would you reccomend it? I am just concerned with all the negative reviews i have seen on various websites.
LHC123
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I did try to join just now and have to be approved. For the most part, I do know how to do citations, as that was a huge part of my ADN program. I just felt that my writing was not up to par, as some of the other students who were right out of school. I assume that as long as you meet the rubric everything should be okay?