Grand Canyon RN-BSN

Nursing Students Online Learning

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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?

Specializes in UR/CM, Managed Care.
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.

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Specializes in UR/CM, Managed Care.
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.

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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!

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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.

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Specializes in PCU/ Pediatric CVICU.

Thank goodness I already took Stats 5 years ago and they accepted it!

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.

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).

There are lists floating around but I have found that they can be somewhat subjective. I have had many instructors that are not on any list but were acceptable. The instructors are not anything like classroom instructors. They are more facilitators and do very little instructing. In fact I have had only one that I felt was amazing and a good example of a dedicated instructor. Most of the rest were merely acceptable and usually distant (uninvolved). I haven't had a problem with this because there are many resources for information that can be found.

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 would hate to retake statistics if you have already taken it. But if you do have to retake it don't stress too much. It isn't a full statistics class, just an intro class. I didn't have any troubles and if have taken it before I believe that it will come back quick. I would get to the bottom of the class thing. You should only have 12 classes, no more from what I understand. More than that would not make them competitive with other schools.

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I had a prof that on the "bad" list and she was fine.....She didn't participate much...but I was fine with that. Agree with Rob, they really are not "teachers" for the most part...the school lays out the program and they are just their for guidance....Some do provide a great deal of extra feedback and go the extra mile......Never had much luck finding info on ratemyprofessor.....usually here or facebook group pages work great for that....I have had great profs back in my ADN program..yet on rateyourprofessor, they were horrible....they just expected student to do work..imagine that,lol....

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.
I have had great profs back in my ADN program..yet on rateyourprofessor, they were horrible....they just expected student to do work..imagine that,lol....

I have very specific feelings about this. I too had wonderful, but strict, instructors while going through my ADN program. Most of my class couldn't stand them and would have rated them poorly but 90% of us pass the NCLEX on the first try. The current class had the same feelings about the same instructors but 100% of them passed the NCLEX the first time. This proves a valid point about the way people rate instructors.

I just hate the ones that are bat-crap crazy and are about as organized as... well as a hoarder.... No offense to hoarders...... ;)

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.

Ah, the Spirituality Personhood Chart Assignment. Well I thought it wasn't that bad, just a little vague. I simple stated the belief that each group has on the questions "what it is like to be human." May not be entirely correct but it is also only worth 10 points. One third of the chart is my own views so I am guaranteed at least 3.33 points, Right? ;)

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Specializes in UR/CM, Managed Care.
One third of the chart is my own views so I am guaranteed at least 3.33 points, Right? ;)

Unless your instructor says you should have cited or referenced more...

(rob4546, intrapersonal communication, August 20, 2015)

:roflmao:

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.
Unless your instructor says you should have cited or referenced more...

(rob4546, intrapersonal communication, August 20, 2015)

:roflmao:

Might happen!!! Thank God it was just a table not a paper. I assumed I didn't have to cite anything. Maybe I should......

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