Grand Canyon RN-BSN

rob4546, BSN, MSN · Aug 17, 2015

Finished my first paper in spirituality, I hit the wall hard. The wall was constructed of bricks, fortified with steel and concrete. I don't think I am going to make it through this class. Week two starts tomorrow and I have no understanding of the discussion question. I can't figure out what they want..... UUUUUGGGGHHHHHH..

I may need to take a long break...

Browneyes98 · Aug 18, 2015

Hello everyone,

I have enjoyed reading all your posts. I have decided to enter the GCU RN to BSN program, I see some of you have mentioned instructors to stay away from and ones that were excellent. But I don't see any names listed. Can someone please message me a list of recommended instructors and ones I should avoid. Also what would be helpful to do to prepare for the program. I know I will need to brush up on my APA formatting. I will use the recommended sites you have mentioned. But any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Aug 18, 2015

Hello everyone,
I have enjoyed reading all your posts. I have decided to enter the GCU RN to BSN program, I see some of you have mentioned instructors to stay away from and ones that were excellent. But I don't see any names listed. Can someone please message me a list of recommended instructors and ones I should avoid. Also what would be helpful to do to prepare for the program. I know I will need to brush up on my APA formatting. I will use the recommended sites you have mentioned. But any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

There is Grammarly....but I thought it was not that good..it catches minor issues though. I was fortunate my wife was a great proof reader!!

Discussion questions: I always did them on MS Word..then copy/pasted to the correct forum...Found it was a better spell checker...and a few times I started writing right on the forum, and somehow (accidently hit button) and my work disappeared! Actually I used PERRLA on my DQs which then automatically starts MS Word...that way easy to do my citations/reference for the DQs....

Save ur work in multiple spots is a big 1!!

Best of luck

rob4546, BSN, MSN · Aug 18, 2015

There is Grammarly....but I thought it was not that good..it catches minor issues though. I was fortunate my wife was a great proof reader!!
Discussion questions: I always did them on MS Word..then copy/pasted to the correct forum...Found it was a better spell checker...and a few times I started writing right on the forum, and somehow (accidently hit button) and my work disappeared! Actually I used PERRLA on my DQs which then automatically starts MS Word...that way easy to do my citations/reference for the DQs....
Save ur work in multiple spots is a big 1!!
Best of luck

These are really good suggestions, especially using MS Word for all your creations. You will soon find if you use internet explorer to fire up GCU it will have difficulty with formatting when you cut and paste from Word to the Forum. I found that if you use Google Chrome it has no such problems with formatting..

lanoneus · Aug 19, 2015

Hi everyone! So happy to see this thread still active, and thank you so much to everyone who contributed. I don't know how I would have ever found a school without allnurses contributors! I've decided on GCU for a lot of reasons, but the main one is they don't require employment and I can get it done quickly! I'm due to start in a couple of weeks, but just had some upfront questions. I just logged into my student account for the first time, and it shows 17 classes! Is that because they haven't done my transcript evaluations? I was really only budgeting for the 12, and I already have my ADN and a BofA in another field.

Second, my recruiter said that I won't know who I have for classes until a couple of days beforehand.Has that been true for most of you? I know some have mentioned waiting several weeks to take a class to get a specific professor--how did you know when they would be teaching?

Finally, how do you know the good and the bad ones? Are the online professors on ratemyprofessor? I'm an online only student. I don't have 15 posts yet, so I can't message anyone, but if anyone wants to message me ones to take/ones to avoid, that would be awesome (please).

Anyways, thanks again to everyone who has already posted their experiences!

Browneyes98 · Aug 19, 2015

Thank you Flames, I will check out PERRLA and Grammarly. Using Microsft word Is a great suggestion.

Browneyes98 · Aug 19, 2015

Thank you rob, I have had trouble with Internet Explorer in the past, I use Chrome most most of the time.

PrismRN · Aug 19, 2015

I've decided on GCU for a lot of reasons, but the main one is they don't require employment and I can get it done quickly!

... and don't forget... NO CLINICALS! yippee!

DISCLAIMER: These are my opinions and my experiences only:

I just logged into my student account for the first time, and it shows 17 classes! Is that because they haven't done my transcript evaluations? I was really only budgeting for the 12, and I already have my ADN and a BofA in another field.

Oh no, no, no, Call your recruiter STAT. If they really want you to take 17 classes, honestly, I would take a pass. Don't pay anything until they send you a guaranteed number of classes (not that temporary "probably" lineup that they reserve the right to change down the road). That's what the transcript people are for - you need an absolute guaranteed number before you sign the final dotted line. Tell them you have 3 other schools waiting in the wings that have already accepted you ...

my recruiter said that I won't know who I have for classes until a couple of days beforehand.Has that been true for most of you? I know some have mentioned waiting several weeks to take a class to get a specific professor--how did you know when they would be teaching?

This is, for the most part, a true statement. There is a place that shows all your scheduled classes and the instructors that the computer has randomly assigned you for each class. BUT, and this is important, they change! AUUGH. You can think you're set for Prof A because that's what it says, but 2 days beforehand you check again and it says Prof B. Once you get past the recruiter stage, they will pass you off to your SA (student advisor) that is your go-to person for all questions and issues. If you don't get a good one (i.e. someone who just gives you taglines or says no to everything), you can request another. Their purpose is to make you happy and keep you enrolled. Mine went above and beyond, and even listened to me cry a few times. If I was assigned to an instructor I had heard was a no-no, I'd call him and get other names of other Profs teaching that class in the same general window of time. They can switch you and "code" it in their computer that you canNOT be removed/bumped from that class. Are you self-pay or financial aid? I ask because the SA's tend to be more forgiving if you're self-pay (in my experience). They don't like it when you say, "It's my education and if you can't accommodate me I'd be happy to transfer my credits and spend my money at Univ of Phx". If you're financial aid, they kind of have you on the hook and don't want to bend a whole bunch.

Finally, how do you know the good and the bad ones? Are the online professors on ratemyprofessor?

Mostly just here, sometimes they are PM'd to each other (no no no names or even initials out here on the public board, that's just rude LOL). Sadly, sometimes someone has to take one for the team on an unknown and then report back if it was a goody or a nightmare. And yes, I google'd the heck out of all the potential names my SA gave me; I tried ratemyprof and several others, and just plain Google (some of them have very interesting FB pages!). Then I'd call him back and say "I'll take that one" and hope for the best. Honestly though, the majority are just your average Teach, and as most of us can attest, winging it on an unknown has sometimes turned out to be the best experience you could hope for.

PrismRN · Aug 19, 2015

These are really good suggestions, especially using MS Word for all your creations. You will soon find if you use internet explorer to fire up GCU it will have difficulty with formatting when you cut and paste from Word to the Forum. I found that if you use Google Chrome it has no such problems with formatting..

And, this is for the newbies, the GCU IT tech people are the most awesomest people ever. I've had computer issues that turned out to be nothing remotely related to the GCU program and they still fixed it. No question is a stupid one to them, and they never made me feel like a dork. Don't bother with the instant messaging/chat feature, jsut call them. They're the bomb (as are the GCU librarians, but that's another topic).

BTW, here is GCU's IT FB page: https://www.facebook.com/gcutechsupport

If you're having issues of any kind it's good to check here first to see if they have any announcements or planned downtimes (for those of you who wait `til the last minute to sumbit assignments...) They'll even put a ticket # on the page if you need to report it back to your Prof. The page also has hints & tips on programs, etc. Bookmark this one for sure, and check it often.

lanoneus · Aug 19, 2015

Thank you PrismRN! Yeah, I just got assigned my advisor today, I'm still working with the recruiter, who's been great. So how do I know when the class list is final vs. tentative?

Also, for anyone that did or did not get statistics waived--I took it 20 years ago(!) and got a C--anyone with similar background get theirs waived?

I'm paying out of pocket for the most part. Thanks again!

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Aug 19, 2015

and when u get a prof that u want..keep checking and make sure they do't switch it. I got 1 I requested, and then on the friday before the class start, for some reason i had been assigned another prof....simply emailed my adviser, and she was able to switch it back.....and when the course starts, if ur not happy with something..do NOT post anywhere in the classroom, otherwise u lose 25% if u decide to leave that class.

mcas · Aug 19, 2015