do employers look down upon those who earned their bsn online?

Nursing Students Online Learning

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I was wondering if employers hire those who earn their bachelor's degree online? I was looking at University of Texas Arlington BSN online program( I didnt even know online bsn exist) and I was thinking about applying even though I live in TN. Have any of you ever earned your bsn online? Did an employer( hospital, clinic, major corporation, etc) view you differently? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

PLEASE make sure the program is accredited. There has been a lot of problems with this lately concerning online programs.

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I am a clinical instructor for traditional BSN candidates, accelerated candidates/previous BA/BS in something who end up with MSN/CNL and sit for NCLEX, and because I teach community/public health I also have RN

Here in this major metropolitan area where there are lots of highly regarded "brick & mortar" SONs, there's a ready supply of BSN grads from those type of institutions, so recruiters might have a bias. Many hospitals who aren't even magnet yet are refusing to interview ADN new grads

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I am halfway through the RN-BSN program at UT-Arlington. I found out about it throught Methodist Willowbrook here in Houston. They recommend that program so I would say no, employers do not look down on online programs. It is a good program but you have to be dedicated since it is all online. Also, they ask that you be working at least part-time as a nurse while enrolled.

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UT Arlington is University of Texas, a well known university. The RN-BSN program is for those who are already nurses who want their BSN's. There are no clinicals since you are already a nurse. There are case study type activities in different classes that pertain to your work place. It is taught by the same instructors that teach the on-campus nursing programs. The nursing courses are 5 weeks so they are fast moving. They make you do 16 weeks worth of work in 5 weeks so they will only allow you to take one nursing course at a time. The other time is spent taking Politics, History, English, Statistics, etc. If you have all of those already, then it is just nursing courses.

A woman I graduated with as an ADN just got her BSN through Chamberlain University and she got the first job she interviewed for at a magnet hospital. The difference is (she had to take the same amount of hours as I am taking) she paid 3 times the price per hour that I am paying at UT. I know because I applied to Chamberlain myself. The online colleges such as Chamberlain and Phoenix cost three times as much as a regular college but they promise financial help. I chose UT because it is a class A school and the cost is much more affordable.

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Write your state senators. The state of Texas has passed a bill to give nursing schools money to help expand their programs so that more nurses will be educated and graduate. I wrote mine (school project) to ask him to put some of that money aside to help train new nurses their first year since the hospitals do not want to spend the money to do that. We actually have hospitals that are laying off or cutting hours here in Houston and if you get hired it is because you know someone or are a BSN graduate or have experience. How do they expect us to get experience if they won't hire us? That's is where the state could come in and help with the cost. I graduated as an ADN in Dec 2009, got my first job in home health in May, 2010 and just changed to an endoscopy nurse because a friend recommended me. It's part time with no benefits but it fits with me going to school for my BSN online so it's perfect and will look good on my resume when I get my BSN next spring.

As nurses, we need to stand up and be heard, especially new nurses who have worked HARD and sacrificed to get here. I know all nurses were new at some point but it is getting harder and harder to get in as a new nurse. Like that one nurse said her hospital is going to MSNs only. I'm 53. I've been in school for 6 years already, mostly while working a full-time job. I'm ready to be out of school so that I can have a life with my family again!

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Just curious, do you plan on moving to the DFW area?

The clinicals for the UTA program are not online. They are done at local partnering hospitals.

Also, the program is intended to make nursing education more available to local people who are not able to attend classes on campus. The grant (from the state of Texas) that jump started the program was specific for this purpose.

Another interesting thing on their website is that they give preference to past graduates from UTA who are seeking a second degree. Luckily, I am in that category, although I have not been accepted yet. Still have a few prereqs to go.

I am not trying to discourage you at all. I just wanted to make sure you knew this info about the program.

yes. i plan to move to the dfw area after I receive my 1st bachelor's degree. but i plan on pursuing the academic partnership bsn for second degree students, not RN-BSN. I was just curious to know if I could get my online bsn if i didnt live in texas. I would prefer to stay in tn and work until i could afford to move to dfw area. I dont know if dfw area is expensive, but I wouldnt know how to find an apartment or a job in dfw so I might be homeless. i dont want that to happen so I need to save up first.
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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
I hope not....I start my RN-BSN progam full time this summer through liberty university online http://www.luonline.com/index.cfm?PID=14373. It is one of the top rated online schools in the nation from what I gather, and testify that their grads go on to bigger and better things in the field of nursing...... I think many RNs continue their education online due to the fact many people can't stop everything to go back to school. Nearly every school has some form of online degree completion programs to meet the needs of the RN. As I looked at graduate schools for moving onto DNP after my BSN is complete, the requirement is to have a degree from a CCNE or NLN accreditation. Liberty University Online RN-BSN and MSN program is CCNE accredited. Some graduate schools require on over the other so planned ahead and research where you would get you graduate training completed. It is at the Graduate level for Advanced Practice Nursing where you will learn your "new" skills in the clinical arena. I look forward to hearing from those who are finished with their online degree completion programs, and putting it to use in the real world. Thanks for posting this question.

I am currently researching to find a program that will work for me... Does this school require clinicals, statistics, or chemistry?

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Specializes in Tele,PACU,ICU,CCU,ER,Home Care.
Write your state senators. The state of Texas has passed a bill to give nursing schools money to help expand their programs so that more nurses will be educated and graduate. I wrote mine (school project) to ask him to put some of that money aside to help train new nurses their first year since the hospitals do not want to spend the money to do that. We actually have hospitals that are laying off or cutting hours here in Houston and if you get hired it is because you know someone or are a BSN graduate or have experience. How do they expect us to get experience if they won't hire us? That's is where the state could come in and help with the cost. I graduated as an ADN in Dec 2009, got my first job in home health in May, 2010 and just changed to an endoscopy nurse because a friend recommended me. It's part time with no benefits but it fits with me going to school for my BSN online so it's perfect and will look good on my resume when I get my BSN next spring.

As nurses, we need to stand up and be heard, especially new nurses who have worked HARD and sacrificed to get here. I know all nurses were new at some point but it is getting harder and harder to get in as a new nurse. Like that one nurse said her hospital is going to MSNs only. I'm 53. I've been in school for 6 years already, mostly while working a full-time job. I'm ready to be out of school so that I can have a life with my family again!

Oh I so agree that nurses need to stand up and be heard. So tired of the "well I should be lucky to have a job attitude". What nursing shortage? Old nurse here that has worked HARD and sacrificed too, can only get a job paying $5.00 an hour more than when I was a GN 20 years ago. Nurses are not valued, underpaid, and overworked in most settings. ANA, on please. It's all about the $$$ and reimbursement. Just venting. I get a little worked up when I realize that I have busted my butt for so long, now have to go into debt, get a BSN, to only be able to do the same job I have been doing for 20 years!!!

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Specializes in med surg home care PEDS.
I hope not....I start my RN-BSN progam full time this summer through liberty university online http://www.luonline.com/index.cfm?PID=14373. It is one of the top rated online schools in the nation from what I gather, and testify that their grads go on to bigger and better things in the field of nursing...... I think many RNs continue their education online due to the fact many people can't stop everything to go back to school. Nearly every school has some form of online degree completion programs to meet the needs of the RN. As I looked at graduate schools for moving onto DNP after my BSN is complete, the requirement is to have a degree from a CCNE or NLN accreditation. Liberty University Online RN-BSN and MSN program is CCNE accredited. Some graduate schools require on over the other so planned ahead and research where you would get you graduate training completed. It is at the Graduate level for Advanced Practice Nursing where you will learn your "new" skills in the clinical arena. I look forward to hearing from those who are finished with their online degree completion programs, and putting it to use in the real world. Thanks for posting this question.

Is this the same Liberty University founded by Jerry Falwell in Lynchburg TN, be very careful I know there reputation is not the greatest, they have a very christian agenda, and teach young earth creationism,which is fine if you chose to believe in creationism however they are not the greatest when it comes to biological sciences.. I have a relative who attended thier law school and admits himself it was well below standard, just be careful about any claims they make about thier nursing school, I am very suspicious of this school.

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I am currently researching to find a program that will work for me... Does this school require clinicals, statistics, or chemistry?

Sorry for the delay....I am starting back on my RN-BSN at LUOnline this summer and will finish Spring 12'. I was accepted at a local University here in So. Illinois, but decided that Liberty was by far more user friendly and economical for my family. No mandatory log in times, very professional staff, the most helpful admission and counseling personell I have ever had the pleasure of speaking to. The program is no cake walk, and takes discipline to manage your time as the classes are 8 weeks in duration with weekly assignments, papers, and projects due at the end of each week, buy very doable. They are a very Veteran friendly school FYI as well, and offer a discount to veterans, active duty military, and thier spouses. Their is a Statistics (Math 201) that can be done in the program. Chemistry is a pre-req that was fulfilled by my Nursing School pre reqs ie (Bio, Chem, etc).

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