Grand Canyon RN-BSN

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Is there any updated information? I have been in heavy contact with them and am looking at taking their RN-BSN program. I work with a GCU grad and she has nothing but positive things to say, but I want more opinions. ?

Any pro's and cons? Thankfully the only class I'm missing is stats and that is offered in the actual BSN program. I'm a bit nervous as my algebra skills are way old. If anyone took this class, do you have any advice?

How is your guy's experience with Grand Canyon's Online program? I'm looking into applying but I don't know anyone that has attended GCU Online. Is there A LOT of writing? It looks like there is a ton of writing, which I don't excel in.

I need to know if I'm going into GCU soon since classes are about to start.

Just finished the RN to BSN program! It is all writing! Each week you have 2 discussion questions to make. 1 due Wednesday, and the other Friday! And then you have to respond to a minimum of 6 other posters! And then each week there is usually 1 paper due. Some times 2 papers are due. Papers vary in length, some as short as 500 words, soem as high as 2000..most I would say are in the 1000-1500 word length! And then for a fair # of the classes one has group projects! Which is normally putting together a PowerPoint presentation! But it is pretty much all writing!

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
How is your guy's experience with Grand Canyon's Online program? I'm looking into applying but I don't know anyone that has attended GCU Online. Is there A LOT of writing? It looks like there is a ton of writing, which I don't excel in.

I need to know if I'm going into GCU soon since classes are about to start.

You'll be fine if and when you decide to start. For the record, they have rolling enrollment, so if you need to take time to learn how to do a power point, APA etc.. then learn it ahead of time. There are writing tutorials on GCU writing lab, and many of us used PEERLA for APA help. I had both PEERLA and grammarly to help me, but others did find without the latter.

I graduated over a year ago and hadn't been to school in over 20 years. :)

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You'll be fine if and when you decide to start. For the record, they have rolling enrollment, so if you need to take time to learn how to do a power point, APA etc.. then learn it ahead of time. There are writing tutorials on GCU writing lab, and many of us used PEERLA for APA help. I had both PEERLA and grammarly to help me, but others did find without the latter.

I graduated over a year ago and hadn't been to school in over 20 years. :)

Yes..Tokmom is correct...there are a lot of recources one has to better their writing skills! 1 gal that I became very good friends with....met her in the 1st class..she had never used PowerPoint in her life......Didn't take long for her to figure it out. Many online tutorials.....even online tutors! Majority of assignments have a rubric that lays out what is expected...follow that! As sometimes not all is included in the main instructions! Papers are written in APA format for the most part...PERRLA...APA PERRLA software helps students properly format papers in APA style and create citations and references - PERRLA.com helps with setting up the paper...as wel with the citations and references....and they have GREAT customer support! What helped me a great deal was starting up my own Facebook group.....asked the prof if I could post about it, and used the group as a study group! The DQs are fairly easy to answer...Papers take longer, but you soon get a feel for them!!

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pookie1035

I am just finishing my last week of this program (YAY!) and have actually enjoyed most of it. If you look back at some of the posts, you may see some of us complaining about this or that, but I don't know if a perfect program exists! About the writing-that is what I dreaded the most because I felt like you did. They will start you out easy with a few short papers first. Really, it is not that bad at all. Soon, you will be writing up to the required word limit and then be upset with yourself because you still have so much left to say! Be sure to use PERRLA and I used Write Check to check for plaigurism and grammar errors, which made me feel more at ease before I actually submitted it to turn it in. The program can be challenging if you are working, but it is doable. I think most of us are working and feel the same. One of the reasons I decided to go with GCU was because of this forum. It has been a great help for questions and inspiration!! Best of luck to you in your decision!

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Specializes in Cath Lab, Case Management.
Best wishes Winter. I hope you love where you are. Moving is so much work. I don't know envy you! LOL

I'm sure it's Groundhog Day here everyday. The kitchen is still not done. I start cross orienting to PACU tomorrow and Endo in two weeks. If it's not done by then know the reason I'm not on will not be because slug speed internet but because I've been placed in a pretty white jacket. :sneaky:

Lol

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Specializes in Cath Lab, Case Management.
pookie1035

I am just finishing my last week of this program (YAY!) and have actually enjoyed most of it. If you look back at some of the posts, you may see some of us complaining about this or that, but I don't know if a perfect program exists! About the writing-that is what I dreaded the most because I felt like you did. They will start you out easy with a few short papers first. Really, it is not that bad at all. Soon, you will be writing up to the required word limit and then be upset with yourself because you still have so much left to say! Be sure to use PERRLA and I used Write Check to check for plaigurism and grammar errors, which made me feel more at ease before I actually submitted it to turn it in. The program can be challenging if you are working, but it is doable. I think most of us are working and feel the same. One of the reasons I decided to go with GCU was because of this forum. It has been a great help for questions and inspiration!! Best of luck to you in your decision!

You are almost there!!! Yay that is the best week!

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.

Anyone remember what to study for the Spirituality Class first week quiz? No real indication on what it covers in the class announcements and I wanted to work on it tomorrow in preparation for the first week.

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It is basically on the first week assigned reading. Look through lecture and chapters in the book. You will be fine. It is only 10 questions. I was only confused about one question, and I got it wrong, so have 9 out of 10 points ;)

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

It's interesting how much they change up the curriculum.

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Specializes in PCU/ Pediatric CVICU.

Finally starting my BSN after 5 years off from school. After looking at several different programs I finally settled on Grand Canyon RN to BSN which I will start next Monday. Anyone else starting next week as well? Would love to hear any tips on what the most challenging classes were or instructors to avoid. Excited to get started, but wondering how I will balance work, school, and family over the next 15 months.

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Finally starting my BSN after 5 years off from school. After looking at several different programs I finally settled on Grand Canyon RN to BSN which I will start next Monday. Anyone else starting next week as well? Would love to hear any tips on what the most challenging classes were or instructors to avoid. Excited to get started, but wondering how I will balance work, school, and family over the next 15 months.

Biggest tip..read the RUBRIC!! In a few occasions, not all that 1 has to cover in the assignement is in the instructions.....but it is in the Rubric!!

for APA format: PERRLA is ur friend, it is like $30, but it formats ur paper, does ur citations and ur reference page. As well it saves ur references, and now its even saved up in the cloud!

Back up everything!! Save ur work in multiple spots....back up often!! If ur computer is going to crash..it will happen at the worst possible time!

U will get the feel for the Discussion questions.....some profs are very max relaxed about them....others not so much.....

Ask the profs about the word count on papers...some don't care, well others are strict about the word count.

Group Projects: They can be very easy with a good group..or a complete nightmare! I swear they put in 1 moron to see how you react to him/her,lol I always recommend you take the lead! Otherwise nothing may happen for a few days! For group projects, one has to write up a contract...very easy to do...it lays down who does what...And it lays down what happens if they do not live up to the expectations....1 should be fairly specific.....If someone doesn't make the deadline..their work sucks.....if u goto the prof, they may do something about it...or they may say, "well, what does ur contract say?" And to cover ur butt..keep all discussions on the group (colour) forum! That way the prof can see whats going on, who is participating, and who is not! I posted often,lol Yes you will come across others that write very poorly....don't join the group until a week later once it opens......never communicate....complain.....useless...You would think at this level, they would care, and most do, but it only takes 1 in a group to be a pain,lol So take the lead, and get the ball rolling!!! Many will also say to be the 1 that proof reads it....as you will be surprised on what some people write! And how some think that copy/pasting from an article is the way to go...which of course is plagiarism!

For the most part I had fine groups, just some were very slow in joining the group and doing their work! In 1 class, 1 gal did nothing....but was to our benefit that she did nothing!!

Don't be afraid to ask the GCU Librarians for research help! They are online, and u can email them as well! I found that if I emailed them, I got more info,lol

Look over the weeks assignments early in the week and come up with a game plan.....that way u can ask the prof questions early....as some profs take awhile to answer them!!

I think the class that many fear is Stats, but if ur a #person, it is probably 1 of the easier classes. And if ur not a #'s person, there are many resources. GCU has tutors and https://www.thinkingstorm.com/student/Default.aspx Many books, find a local tutor...

Best of luck, I'm sure others wil chime in.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
Finally starting my BSN after 5 years off from school. After looking at several different programs I finally settled on Grand Canyon RN to BSN which I will start next Monday. Anyone else starting next week as well? Would love to hear any tips on what the most challenging classes were or instructors to avoid. Excited to get started, but wondering how I will balance work, school, and family over the next 15 months.

Become familiar with power points if you don't know how to use the program. There is almost a power point in every class.

Spirituality was one of the heavier paper classes. My Prof was a huge stickler for everything APA and formatting. I had an A- by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin.

The program will start with small papers (750 words), and eventually be close to 2000. The first four classes was the steep learning curve for ME. I hadn't been in school since women had big, over-sprayed hair, so anything that involved writing was new to me. Once I had those four classes under my belt and a routine, I was able to feel like I was on top of things.

Is the program easy? Meh.. it isn't rocket science. After all, we are learning about things we already know, just more in depth. Is it challenging? Yes, it is. Will you learn new things that'll change the way you view nursing? Yep!

Once you are comfortable, start thinking of your capstone paper.

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