American Sentinel University

U.S.A. Colorado

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Has anyone have any information on American Sentinel University's nursing program?

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Has anyone have any information on American Sentinel University's nursing program?

Hi LadieRN,

I am Jim K and I graduated from American Sentinel University's Master of Science in Nursing education program on November 30, 2010, Summa Cum Laude.

American Sentinel University (ASU) offers the RN to BSN, RN to MSN, and the BSN to MSN with 5 specialty concentrations (management and organizational leadership, education, case management, nursing informatics, and infection prevention and control).

I truly enjoyed my studies and because ASU's nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Distance Education and Training Council a U.S. Department of education approved accreditind agency. The CCNE accreditation provided a type of additional quality assurance for me and because of this assurance I had no trouble when I applied to a post-master's clinical nurse specialist and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) program from other CCNE accredited schools.

The courses are designed to be completed in a eight (8) week format. The MSN student is required to submit a weekly assignment and to submit a response to a discussion board posting. The MSN program is challenging, yet rewarding. I received a great education that has equipped me with the needed skills and/or tools to go into the for-profit or non-profit nursing classroom and help the perspective nursing students meet his or her goals of becoming a future LPN/LVN or RN. I started my program in March 2009 and completed the program on November 30, 2010, while working full-time. And to prove that I am a real person, I have provided a link to the schools announcement section, as I was selected as student of the month for October 2010. I have recently received several offers to teach asynchronous and synchronous nursing courses and have accepted one of the offers.

Jim K ASU student of the month link: http://www.americansentinel.edu/content/content.php?id=446

The admissions and financial aid process was easy and well laid out. No obstacles or high pressure tactics from staff. I have had ten (10) fantastic, yet fair instructors/professor and one bad professor that no longer teaches at the school. ASU values the input of its students and goes out of their way to find ways to improve student satisfaction, while increasing the quality of the education that each student receives.

Please feel free to contact me by phone or private massage/email to address additional concerns on the ASU master's level nursing degree program.

Regards,

Jim K, RN, MBA, MSHS, MSN, LNC

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Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.

I have never heard of this school. I checked out DORA for the CO board of nursing, and can't find them anywhere under approved education programs.

http://www.dora.state.co.us/nursing/education/RN.html

This school may have CCNE accreditation, but why is it not approved by the state? This would concern me if I was looking into this as a school option. Good luck where ever you decide to go, just be sure to check all the facts so you can make an informed decision.

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the colorado board of nursing does not have a category for schools offering only post-licensure programs, and american sentinel's nursing program offerings begin with the bachelor of science nursing. students must already possess a current rn license to be accepted into the program. also, in addition to ccne accreditation, american sentinel university is a candidate for nlnac accreditation.

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I have never heard of this school. I checked out DORA for the CO board of nursing, and can't find them anywhere under approved education programs.

http://www.dora.state.co.us/nursing/education/RN.html

This school may have CCNE accreditation, but why is it not approved by the state? This would concern me if I was looking into this as a school option. Good luck where ever you decide to go, just be sure to check all the facts so you can make an informed decision.

Hi Jason,

I previously posted the following in another forum some time ago.

Yes, the school is CCNE accredited. I think that you are overlooking the fact that the school does not offer a "direct entry" program of study leading to the "initial" RN licensure. The program is geared towards the licensed RN, hence forth the RN to BSN, RN to MSN requirement. CCNE and the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) accreditation serve as the "gold" standard for nursing program accreditation. I would not attend a school that does not have either.

Please see bottom of page #2 "Recognized nursing accrediting Commissions: National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)." http://www.dora.state.co.us/nursing/education/RNprograms.pd

DORA Link: http://www.dora.state.co.us/nursing/education/RNprograms.pdf or http://www.dora.state.co.us/nursing/education/RNassociateprograms.pdf or http://www.dora.state.co.us/nursing/education/LPNprograms.pdf All of the programs listed on the DORA site offer associates and/or bachelor's programs that lead to "initial" LPN/LVN or RN licensure.

I did plenty of research prior to enrolling with ASU, as I checked the U.S Department of Education (DOE) website (http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) website (http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp), the CCNE website (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CCNE/reports/rptAccreditedPrograms_New.asp?sort=state), and finally the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (http://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/Colleges/privateaccredited.asp) as ALL four (4) of them have American Sentinel University listed as accredited and/or approved. I was satisfied with the results I found!!!

Regards,

Jim K, RN, MBA, MSHS, MSN, LNC

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the colorado board of nursing does not have a category for schools offering only post-licensure programs, and american sentinel's nursing program offerings begin with the bachelor of science nursing. students must already possess a current rn license to be accepted into the program. also, in addition to ccne accreditation, american sentinel university is a candidate for nlnac accreditation.

hi community manager,

thank you!! i was creating a response to the post and "you beat me to the punch."

regards,

jim k, rn, mba, mshs, msn, lnc

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Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.
the colorado board of nursing does not have a category for schools offering only post-licensure programs

i didn't know this, thank you for the information.

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Thank you for the information. I had never heard of this school either. I noticed that in many of

the online msn programs there is a practicum and capstone requirement. American Sentinel does not

have a practicum but a capstone is part of the curriculum. I am still researching other schools and I

haven't decided as of yet which one I will be attending.:uhoh3:

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They don't have regional accreditation and nursing programs without practicums don't seem very beneficial. i would like to hear from someone else who has graduated and if they felt it was worth the time and money.

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Specializes in ONC,IV,HC,ER,Rad,SN, Global nursing.

Desertflower 100,

ASU is an excellent school I am in the program as I write (literally :) ...What I would have to say is different strokes for different folks...if practicum/clinical is what you will need then you perhaps should not attend this school .... for me its great....I had to do community service and conduct a community assessment and develop a program....I was able to do that no problem...I felt empowered to know I could do that with little more that forum discussions online, input from the instructor and my book......so its not all sitting behind the computer....you are expected to seek info from peers at work and assess patients and make references to your findings and daily job happenings....etc...

I am in the Masters Program as Jim K and will graduate in December if I keep up the pace I am at right now...

I could not say enough about the instructors who I feel are highly qualified and are still active participants in the profession and up until now I have only had one that I reported and got excellent feedback from the powers that be there....?? if she was fired reprimanded etc...but I was not the only one who had a problem with her....I have not had one since....

last CCNE is an excellent accrediting agency....you do not require BOTH to be 'fully accredited' or recognized....why would ASU need NLN when they are not strictly a higher education accreditation....I would find them to be not as equipped and perhaps even lenient to evaluate higher levels.....(just my opinion...)

bottom line it fits my schedule it fits my goals as a nurse and the education is challenging and rewarding....

good luck with your endeavors!

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Regional accreditation isn't nursing accreditation. Thanks for the info.

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Specializes in ONC,IV,HC,ER,Rad,SN, Global nursing.

Yes I agree...but I have heard no problems with this school and it satisfies criteria and has excellent teachers...(by credentials) FAAN etc....

A regional school may not accept transfer ...but dont fool yourself..they will do that not because of the education being 'less' of what is needed but a way to make you retake classes so you have to pay for them and contribute to their income....employers will take it no problem...I have never heard of an employer not taking a nurse based on Regional/national evidence

Buy a diamond for your wife for 1000 buy the SAME at Tiffany for 10,000....a diamond is a diamond....but you are purchasing the name :)

M

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