For anyone considering Capella for an MSN...

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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My Capella MSN course actually begins on Monday, July 13th. My enrollment advisor called and told me that the course actually opened up early (today, Friday-July 11th). I immediately went to the course and read the syllabus and requirements of the first assessment.

I spent about 2-4 hours searching, reviewing, and selecting articles that were in line with my thoughts for the assessment last night, and did a little more research from reputable organizations that I've worked and today, I have just finished my first paper (two whole days before the start of class)! Writing papers have never been a problem for me; I find the research to be the hardest part. I try not to begin the paper on a day that I've gathered research, just so I can give my brain a rest. ? But today, those little last-minute ideas tend to pop up sometimes and are needed to really drive home an idea.

I won't submit the paper just yet because I have a question that I want clarification on first. Once that is answered and I make revisions (if needed), I will submit it and it is on to assessment 2 of 3. I will be done with this first course, which hopefully, will be by the end of the week (long before my estimated date of completion of 07/19/2020), if the other two assessments go as easily as this appears to be going. It helps that I happen to be on vacation until July 20th, too. It will be so nice to have this course under my belt before my vacation is over. ?

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

I haven’t graduated yet. This is still a work in progress. Just started the first specialty course...took two week off from studying after completing the core courses. I just started this past July.

Thanks for the quick response! You mentioned a practicum of 100 hours...any further info on that?

Also, is it still just all papers for the assessments?

Thanks again!

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

The assessments include papers, PowerPoint, voiceover, needs assessment , and today, a Care Plan.  The 100 practicum hours are program specific. I think, not sure of the amount, that the leadership and informatics tracks requires 200 hours.

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Update: 

Well, I'm currently working on course #11, then on to #12 (shooting for a completion date of no later than December 31,2020) when this one is done. After that....CAPSTONE/PRACTICUM!!?

On 12/3/2020 at 9:34 PM, BSNbeDONE said:

Update: 

Well, I'm currently working on course #11, then on to #12 (shooting for a completion date of no later than December 31,2020) when this one is done. After that....CAPSTONE/PRACTICUM!!?

That’s wonderful! That will make it 6 months to completion, correct? Congratulations! (And only 2 paid 12 week terms, right?) did you say which MSN degree you’re getting?

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Thank you!!☺️ MSN in Care Coordination. Yes, two terms. I’m finishing up a paper this weekend, then one more to write. I can finally see the checkered flags. ?

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

!!JUST!! submitted my final paper and PowerPoint presentation and couldn’t be happier!?

From July 10th to December 29th. Capstone, here I come!

Congratulations! Thanks so much for your updates! Very motivating! How much time every day or every week did you put into the classes? Do you work full-time? Family? I just want to see if I can do it in the same time frame. Thanks!

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
12 minutes ago, momof5nurse said:

Congratulations! Thanks so much for your updates! Very motivating! How much time every day or every week did you put into the classes? Do you work full-time? Family? I just want to see if I can do it in the same time frame. Thanks!

Thank you so much!!☺️ I live alone and have always been a loner. But I do make time for my kids and grandchildren...well, I give them what’s left over?.

But basically, I did most of the work on the weekends. With every assignment, I would go ahead and create my title page, bolded topics in the body, and then my reference page and save it. I work Monday through Friday and stay in once I get in after work. For about half an hour to an hour twice a week, I’d work on the paper either by actual typing or by gathering resources. After every source, I’d go ahead and add it to the references so that once the paper is done, it’s done. It was actually more difficulty to write the shorter papers than the longer ones. But most were only 4-5 pages of substance.

Once you set your target dates for each assignment, it’s very easy to exceed your own expectations. They will allow you to be in two classes at one time. But my approach was to focus on completing one course at a time and by doing so, I completed one per week. I surprised myself when I saw how easily it could be done.

 What has made this so easy is that we already practice evidence-based nursing; so after reading the expectations of the assignments, I already knew what I wanted to say in a paper and I said it. Then I had to find the evidence to support it.

I found the assignments to be very easy, although the very last one was challenging for me because of a topic that I knew very little about. I did have to make a couple of revisions based on overlooking specific required elements. But the good thing is that I was only required to revise the area in question...not the whole paper. The instructors are extremely kind in there criticism, which I found to be shocking! The support is there if you need it. If you follow the bullet points in your paper, you will have a seamless program.

Specializes in Psychiatric/mental/behavioral/substance abuse.

Wow. Do you think the MSN in Edu will be able to be completed in such a short time also? Asking for myself.

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
11 hours ago, V.Jones BSN RN said:

Wow. Do you think the MSN in Edu will be able to be completed in such a short time also? Asking for myself.

Yes it will. I initially began the program with an MSN in Education track. The core requirements are the same except for one or two courses. Be sure to have your mind set on your desired track before you enroll because I changed my specialty BEFORE the first class ever opened and I am still living the nightmare of them trying to straighten that mess out. It was as if no one had EVER requested a change before. 

Specializes in Psychiatric/mental/behavioral/substance abuse.

Oh wow. That is very unfortunate. Have you since completed the program? Or are you still enrolled? Which particular path did you choose?

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