Deaconess College Of Nursing

[sunnyjohn]

I have been doing some research and have some across the program at Deaconess College of Nursing, based in St. Louis, MO.

Aside from it being rather expensive, this online program seems great for someone who cannot get into a traditional program, needs greater flexibility than a brick-and-mortar program will allow or does not have the appropriate clinical experience for Excelsior College.

Here are the facts I have gathered from the threads here and from the college website:

1.Tuition is $435 per credit hour (plus fees)

2. Financial aid is available

3. The program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)

4. Students can transfer in classes taken at other colleges.

5. Students must line up a clinical instructor(s) at a hospital in their community.

6.Students spend about 5 days in St. Louis per semester to complete testing and skill assessment.

7.The ASN program is 72 hours

My questions:

1. Will Deaconess assist you with finding a clinical site?

2. How accessible are the online instructors?

3. Has anyone completed the ASN and attempted to finish a BSN in a traditional setting at another schools?

4. Has anyone run into any trouble (outside of NY and CA) getting approval from the BON?

5. Has anyone ever been turned down for a nursing job because of the Deaconess degree?

I am familiar with the comments others have posted regarding past difficulties with DCN. Have they been resolved?

I have recently become a big fan of non-traditional forms of learning. Not to long ago I would have turned my nose up at such a thing. I then realized I learn so much more when I am allowed to read and study on my own.

This program would really be a great fit for me over a traditional program.

Can anyone offer any information or answer any of my questions.

Thank you....

Agape.....

[sunnyjohn]

bump... so folks can see it on the front page

[fry.girl]

You organized your information well and from my point of view, it is accurate.

To answer at least two of your questions...

Will Deaconess assist you with finding a clinical site?

While the responsibility to find a facility willing to offer you precepted support lies on you, DCN has a clinical liason who works with you to put everything in motion. The liason gave me advise on who to talk to and what to say, DCN provided information regarding the program to give to the facility, and they did all the contract paperwork and negotiation that was needed to finalize everything.

Then some of my classmates that could not find clinical support in their local area, flew out to St Louis to complete it there...so that is an option too.

How accessible are the online instructors?

As with a traditional program it is different from one professor to the other. Some prefer a phone call, while others like to communicate by email. So far I have not had been in a position where I could not get the answers that I needed. We have time at the beginning and end of each weekly chat to go over questions. We have a webboard for posting questions to everyone, and then email to direct questions to specific people. So far all of my professors have given us their phone number at home too.

I hope this is helpful!

Cheri

Soon to be a 3rd Semester DCN Online Student