Does it matter if I get my nursing degree at Capella vs another school?

Specialties Educators Nursing Q/A

Specializes in Education.

I've been accepted at UNCW and Capella for MSN in education. UNCW won't start until June and should take a year. I can start Capella now. I did Capella FlexPath for my BSN and enjoyed it, I finished 12 courses in 48 weeks. So I'm thinking I can probably finish the MSN in under a year, so the cost would be about the same. Would I have the same chances of getting hired with Capella as I would with UNCW? They are both regionally accredited.

22 Answers

Specializes in Nurse Educator.

I got my MSN - Nursing education at Capella, through the flex path. I had no problem finding a nurse educator position. I am currently studying for the CNE exam and feel their curriculum aligned well with the CNE competency.

Specializes in ER, Tele, Education.

In my experience, it's your experience that matters most. That gets you the interview. Interview skills will get you across the finish line. I am not saying the school doesn't matter, but most employers are looking at experience and the interview more. If you had a good experience at a particular school, you probably learned more.

Be positive and objective.

It matters while you are in school. Go to a school that will help you graduate and pass the NCLEX.  That gives you a better chance of surviving nursing school. Look for a student success program. Look at student reviews. Look if the students ever sued the school for trying to keep students back unfairly. Any news in the media, any petitions circulating, especially, student posts. Once you graduate, nobody cares where you came from.

Specializes in Psychiatry.

Will it keep you from getting a job in general? No.

Will it make you less competitive for desirable jobs? Yes! I have had numerous employers tell me I was interviewed/chosen over other candidates because of the schools on my resume. In a sea of phoenix and walden graduates that are a dime a dozen, standout with a school that is known for quality versus a for-profit program. I worked for an employer that refused to allow NP students, for example, from for-profit programs such as Walden due to safety issues and poor quality. Who wants THAT on their resume!?

Specializes in Advanced Practice, Critical Care.

Does it matter where you go to grad school to obtain an educator position (especially a clinical educator), I'm going to say no. Employers do not care for the most part. I would say it matters more if you are getting an advanced degree for a clinical role such as CRNA, NP, CNM, or CNS. You would want to research the school thoroughly, find out about clinical experiences, and what is the pass rate for board certifications.

It really matters if you decide you may want to go on to a doctoral program. Transcripts will be scrutinized and if you are lacking in foundational classes/content you may not be accepted into the program OR, you will have to take a lot of extra classes before taking the core degree classes costing you precious time and money.

Specializes in oncology.
1 hour ago, DrNurseCNS said:

Does it matter where you go to grad school to obtain an educator position (especially a clinical educator), I'm going to say no. Employers do not care for the most part. I would say it matters more if you are getting an advanced degree for a clinical role such as CRNA, NP, CNM, or CNS. 

An advanced degree is a degree higher than a baccalaureate. And you don't think that those hiring someone to teach nursing students doesn't look at where the potential faculty member received their advanced degree - MSN, DNP or PhD? A college/university catalog lists the credentials of all faculty members. It is considered important in recruiting top notch students if they see impressive backgrounds of the faculty. (or that the faculty got their degree from someone who advertises on 'Judge Judy'.)

Go to the BEST place you can go....do you want to be interacting on message boards with someone who scraped through a bachelor's degree with a 2.8 GPA (in this age of grade inflation?)

A good MSN in nursing education program also includes a student teaching clinical practicum and classroom teaching experiences. Curriculum development, implementation and evaluation are a must!

On 3/5/2021 at 9:17 AM, DeLynn said:

I've been accepted at UNCW and Capella for MSN in education. UNCW won't start until June and should take a year. I can start Capella now. I did Capella FlexPath for my BSN and enjoyed it, I finished 12 courses in 48 weeks. So I'm thinking I can probably finish the MSN in under a year, so the cost would be about the same. Would I have the same chances of getting hired with Capella as I would with UNCW? They are both regionally accredited.

I am sorry you and your school are being bashed so mercilessly. Admission criteria and payment plans are not the ultimate test of program quality. The finished product is. If a program is properly credentialed and given a green light by the board of nursing, it is good to go.

Specializes in Advanced Practice, Critical Care.
14 hours ago, londonflo said:

An advanced degree is a degree higher than a baccalaureate. And you don't think that those hiring someone to teach nursing students doesn't look at where the potential faculty member received their advanced degree - MSN, DNP or PhD? A college/university catalog lists the credentials of all faculty members. It is considered important in recruiting top notch students if they see impressive backgrounds of the faculty. (or that the faculty got their degree from someone who advertises on 'Judge Judy'.) ...

A good MSN in nursing education program also includes a student teaching clinical practicum and classroom teaching experiences. Curriculum development, implementation and evaluation are a must!

I did specify in my answer advanced degree in a clinical role. I could have been more specific in saying a role that requires 500 or more hours of practicum. Educator degrees from some schools require a teaching project or a "practicum" but I assure you it is no where near 500 hours in a clinical setting.

I have an MSN in nursing education and administration as well as a post- MSN APN certificate and a doctorate so I think I am well versed in what is an advanced degree. I have also worked in clinical education in hospitals and I know they do not care where the degree is from as long as you have a diploma with MSN on it (and many accept a BSN). 

I agree faculty positions are a different animal. In academia, where I have also held positions, the school and program certainly do matter. Transcripts are submitted and reviewed when applying for faculty positions (tenure and non-tenure) and should include the things you listed in the last paragraph.

Agreed, go to the school with the best program you can afford for the degree you seek. You want to be proud of where you went to school and you want your degree to mean something.

 

Specializes in oncology.
DrNurseCNS said:

I have an MSN in nursing education and administration as well as a post- MSN APN certificate and a doctorate so I think I am well versed in what is an advanced degree.

I too have multiple credentials:  MSN in Nursing Education and an MSN CNS. 

DrNurseCNS said:

I agree faculty positions are a different animal. In academia, where I have also held positions, the school and program certainly do matter. Transcripts are submitted and reviewed when applying for faculty positions (tenure and non-tenure) and should include the things you listed in the last paragraph.

I have been on hiring committees for college faculty positions and am very familiar with the variations we see on courses completed in different MSN (Nursing Education) programs. 

I reread the OP's initial comment and the program she/he was interested in was for preparation for a Nurse Educator in a Hospital. She/he seems to have been successful in completing an MSN program and has acquired the job she desired.

Specializes in oncology.
5 minutes ago, DrNurseCNS said:

"Does it matter where you go to grad school to obtain an educator position (especially a clinical educator), I'm going to say no.

Yes, the OP became a nurse educator....not a nurse faculty.

7 minutes ago, DrNurseCNS said:

Since the OP is already employed in academia

Quote

The world of colleges and universities is academia.

But glad the outcome for the OP was what was desired.

Specializes in Education.
On 1/5/2022 at 4:39 PM, MrsC16 said:

I got my MSN - Nursing education at Capella, through the flex path. I had no problem finding a nurse educator position. I am currently studying for the CNE exam and feel their curriculum aligned well with the CNE competency.

I ended up going to Capella and just accepted a position as a nurse educator for 17 physician office. I also want to take the CNE.

Specializes in Education.
MentalKlarity said:

Will it keep you from getting a job in general? No.

Will it make you less competitive for desirable jobs? Yes! I have had numerous employers tell me I was interviewed/chosen over other candidates because of the schools on my resume. In a sea of phoenix and walden graduates that are a dime a dozen, standout with a school that is known for quality versus a for-profit program. I worked for an employer that refused to allow NP students, for example, from for-profit programs such as Walden due to safety issues and poor quality. Who wants THAT on their resume!?

I didn't have an issue with my Capella degree with any of the positions I applied to and ended up with a very "desirable" job making much more than I was, with a lot of autonomy, room for creativity, and a great schedule as a Nurse Educator ?

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