Graceland University Online RN to BSN/MSN

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Specializes in ER and family advanced nursing practice.

I have received several questions regarding the program I am in now. I thought I would post about it in light of the recent EC developments.

After graduation from EC, it became apparent to me that I was going to need to continue on with my education because my wife and I were considering moving to another state, and my EC degree was going to be a problem because at the time I didn't have enough work hours as a nurse under my belt.

I looked at several RN to BSN options and decided to go with Graceland University's RN to MSN/FNP program. They are very familiar with EC and worked with me to transition to their program. What they did for me was after I took a certain number of courses they gave me credit for their equivalent of the nursing courses I took at EC. So on my transcripts the EC courses don't show up. Instead, they show up as Graceland classes:

NURS2420 Nursing for the 21st Century 4.00 cr

NURS3120 Therapeutic Interventions 3.00 cr

NURS3250 Adult Health Care I 4.00 cr

NURS3260 Adult Health Care II 4.00 cr

NURS3270 Psychosoc Aspects of Client 4.00 cr

NURS4220 Maternity and Women's Health 4.00 cr

NURS4240 Child and Family Health 4.00 cr

They are fairly well organized. As with any school there is room for improvement. You save some time by going from an associates to masters because they let you skip some course work if it is duplicated at the masters level. For example my masters level clinicals replace my senior practicum, and my masters pharm replaced my undergrad pharm. I did have to take some additional gen ed classes like stats which was no fun, but oh well, what are you going to do?. The bulk of the classes are online, but there are "focus" sessions where you have to go to the campus for 4 days. This happens 2 to 3 times over 2- 3 years depending on what you are studying and your course load. The online classes are structured, and you have students and an instructor that you interact with. There is a lot of writing, but I don't mind so much now. I have learned a lot. I have one year left, and I can't wait. When I graduate I will receive my BSN and MSN on the same day.

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Thank you!!! I want to be a FNP and was looking into their program.. I love how they can make the EC classes transform into their own... From an AS, it is taking you 3 years of study? Full time for the MSN?

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Specializes in ER and family advanced nursing practice.
Thank you!!! I want to be a FNP and was looking into their program.. I love how they can make the EC classes transform into their own... From an AS, it is taking you 3 years of study? Full time for the MSN?

Yes, for me it was three years because I had to take some additional gen ed classes: stats, intro to organic and biochem (not nearly as bad as it sounds), intercultural communications, interpersonal communications, and advanced comp: technical report writing. So depending on what you have under your belt your time could be more or less.

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Hey Ivan I posted to you a while back about Graceland University...Well I am in and just starting up with the classes. I was wondering if you had any pointers on where I should be focusing my studying so I can produce the more detailed answers that the instructors want and not just the overall structure. I just looking for a little guidance if you have the time to post, before I study too hard in the wrong direction.

I was trying to get ahold of you some other way but I just don't know how yet.

Thanks

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Specializes in ER and family advanced nursing practice.
Hey Ivan I posted to you a while back about Graceland University...Well I am in and just starting up with the classes. I was wondering if you had any pointers on where I should be focusing my studying so I can produce the more detailed answers that the instructors want and not just the overall structure. I just looking for a little guidance if you have the time to post, before I study too hard in the wrong direction.

I was trying to get ahold of you some other way but I just don't know how yet.

Thanks

Not entirely sure how to answer this. Use your texts and most definitely you will be using the library databases. They really want you to use the databases so you can get use to 1) using current data and 2) doing research. They are preparing you for your scholarly project class. The vast bulk of my sources were found on CINAHL. I was lucky enough while at Graceland to have access to UpToDate.com. It is a GREAT peer reviewed source that is frequently updated. However, it is expensive if you don't have free access (I had access through my employer). Learn you APA cold. I had a running MS Word file that I would copy all of my APA references to so if I used them again I could just copy and paste them. That saved me a lot of time. I am now back in school working on my DNP, and I am finding that my Graceland experience has really prepared me for my current courses.

Hope that helps. If not let me know and I will try again.

Ivan

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Hey Ivan,

it sounds like you have a lot of experience with Graceland University. I will be graduating this May with my ADN and want to apply for the RN-MSN FNP program. Will my lack of actual nursing experience (and license at the time application deadline) keep me from getting into this program? Just looking for opinions at this point....Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in ER and family advanced nursing practice.

Not sure. Many programs want you to have your RN license at some point, but not necessarily at the time of application. However, you will be doing clinicals during the transition year, and those classes definitely need you to have a license.

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Hello Ivan I will be starting the program April 30, 2012. Still waiting to get all the information and details about the program so very nervous right now. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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