Does it matter where you get your ABSN degree from? What about online vs in-person programs?

verene, MSN · Jul 11, 2019

In terms of reputation: Go to a solid well-regionally/locally respected program. It doesn't need to be Ivy league, but you want a program that is known for churning out well-prepared new graduates who are ready to launch into residency programs, and from which the hospitals you want to work at like to hire from. Often times a public university offers a good combination of solid education and reasonable cost with good local reputation. If your goal is CRNA what you are looking for is program that will set you up for ICU/CCU residency at graduation, as it will be the combination of good grades + critical care experience that will get you into a CRNA program.

To the best of my knowledge ABSN programs are not available mostly online. Even though some may advertise as hybrid programs, what this most often means is "flipped classroom" with online lecture and in-class time being utilized for practical exercises. By the time you complete labs/simulation, clinical, and in-person exercises and exams the majority of the program is in-person so there may not be much if any advantage compared to a traditional in-person system.

coco1320 · Jul 12, 2019

@verene this is perfectly said!