GCU RN to BSN capstone course

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jun 1, 2017

If u check out the 2 large GCU threads on this page, there is at least 1 that is on the new capstone format, might PM them.....In the old format ( I finished in 2015) you didnt need a "mentor" just a BSN or higher to read and "sign off" on it..... https://allnurses.com/nursing-online-distance/rn-to-bsn-854234-page236.html Lindsayloo is in the 10 week class.... I would reach out to the prof and ask for advice..... GL

4mranch · Jun 3, 2017

I am in week 6 of the Capstone, and yes, there is a lot of extra documentation. I did not have too many issues about acquiring a mentor. My facility had an agreement with GCU in the MSN program, but I did have to get approved for the BSN program. Once you get past the first couple of weeks is gets easier. As a forewarning, the first two weeks have a lot of documentation. You will need to do a weekly journal, keep track of your immersion hours, assignments, and sometime throughout the 10 week class you need to participate in a scholarly activity and write about it (this gets turned in on week 10). I attended an eight hour trauma seminar for my activity. It is different than the previous 5 week class, but doable. Good luck.

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jun 5, 2017

I am in week 6 of the Capstone, and yes, there is a lot of extra documentation. I did not have too many issues about acquiring a mentor. My facility had an agreement with GCU in the MSN program, but I did have to get approved for the BSN program. Once you get past the first couple of weeks is gets easier. As a forewarning, the first two weeks have a lot of documentation. You will need to do a weekly journal, keep track of your immersion hours, assignments, and sometime throughout the 10 week class you need to participate in a scholarly activity and write about it (this gets turned in on week 10). I attended an eight hour trauma seminar for my activity. It is different than the previous 5 week class, but doable. Good luck.

Is the paper itself still like 20-40 pages in length? The old 5 week capstone seems like a cake walk in compared to this new 10 week class

4mranch · Jun 7, 2017

Hi Flames. No, it shouldn't be that long. We have a 1250 - 1500 word count limit on the final project. That seems pretty small doesn't it? Our lit review was over 8 research articles. It is still a compilation of all the work you do through the class, but you certainly can not copy and paste or you are going to be seriously over the word count. My current instructor said he is not strict on the word count, but he will be if it contains a lot of redundant material. Even though the paper is not as large there are plenty of other projects we need to turn in the final week so it pretty much evens out.

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jun 7, 2017

The new capstone class sure does not sound user friendly....not sure I could have completed it living abroad. Good luck

nps07 · Sep 23, 2017

i am actually in the same boat as you! i finished all my classess with A's and one B+.

my practicum was scheduled for august and 1st contact about getting a site AND mentor was done in eatly june... so about 2 months before the class.

after turning in all the documents for the site and mentor, im being told that the approval process could take 2 weeks to... wait for it... 6 MONTHS ...

extremely frusterated... I have been calling and emailing them everyday so that they speed up the process... this really throws students that are online under the bus...

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Sep 24, 2017

I have had a few ask about GCU....I no longer really point them in the direction of GCU because of this new capstone class and affiliation requirement.....sounds like a real mess. My last adviser was pretty much useless as it was..can't imagine her trying to sort something like this out. good luck..squeaky wheel gets the grease!!

knight05 · Oct 2, 2017

Flames 9 RN

I am in the same position. I no longer introduce anyone to GCU. This capstone project is too much. I have been so discouraged with the menotorship, finding a location, no one returning calls. My job no affilated and I am at a loss. Was to start in April and I have been so discourage it is now October. If I never needed this BSN, I would just stop. Was gonna do my MSN with them but I won't.

4mranch · Oct 3, 2017

knight05,

Sorry to hear that your Capstone experience has been such a nightmare. I too had to receive site approval. It took about 4 weeks to get the final approval, and during that time I was able to continue the Capstone class with a letter from my mentor stating that it had been approved by my facility to continue my project while awaiting final site approval. This new Capstone format appears to be a work in progress, and it saddens me to see the individuals having so much difficulty with the class - mainly, it appears, through a lack of clarification and guidance from their instructors. I agree that the format and some of the assignments can be confusing, but it was not something that would make me not recommend GCU for future RN to BSN students. Maybe i just had a real good instructor, or maybe it was the plethora of questions and clarifications that I sent to my instructor :).

I would definitely still recommend the school. Throughout the whole program I did not have a single instructor that did not respond to a question that I had - some where more timely than others, but all responded. My adviser was great, and never once let me down. She was able to help clarify any questions or concerns I had, and was able to help me navigate through that final site approval.

It appears that some of us have had very different experiences. Maybe I have just been lucky. Even with the group projects (yuck), and the new Capstone format, I feel that GCU is still an excellent choice, and would recommend the program to future students.

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Oct 3, 2017

I never had many issues with the group projects.....most of the issues centered on people not joining the group right away and getting off to a slow start....of course had 1 girl not do anything, but that worked to our advantage,lol I had multiple advisors, the last 1 was useless....I needed 2 anything classes and she couldnt even tell me which classes qualified...she told me to just send me classes and she would look into it,lol This new Capstone class does not sound organized at all, I'm sure over time it will improve.....I comepleted this course while living abroad....not sure I would have been able to compelete the Capstone from S. America. I guess my concern is that many students started this program and were probably not made aware of the new Capstone requirements. Good luck to all

Ilikeletters · Oct 11, 2017

I didn't find the Mentor/Site Affiliation to be awful. I don't currently work, so I asked someone where I plan to work next year to be my mentor. I had to get her resume and provide a copy of her license and she had to sign something. From there, my advisor contacted the site and sent me an email with everything that needed to be filled out. From the time I turned everything in, I got my clearance about a week later, definitely not more than 2 weeks.

I will say that I find the assignments to be vague and some we aren't provided with rubrics despite it being graded on a rubric. It hasn't been an issue for me in my grades so far, though, it just creates a lot of stress.

I imagine that international students could still get it done, so long as they have scanners and a contact in the US that would agree to be their mentor. I am not quite sure why they require that we get clearance with the mentor's facility since they don't require actual clinical time and time spent with the mentor isn't included in practice immersion hours. Really, the mentor is simply to bounce ideas off of and get feedback if you want it.