Grand Canyon University RN to BSN Reviews

Howdy all, I bit the bullet and after much research, I decided on Grand Canyon! Wow, I did not expect BSN schools to be like used car salesmen--hounding me by emails and phone calls. Rather impressed on how Grand Canyon sort of left me alone, but at the same time kept in touch.

Commence my first class Sept 30th, excited, yet very nervous, as I'm not a big fan of school, LOL! I did extremely well on my Associate degree, graduated back in 2009 from Northern Virginia Community College. We shall see.

Would love to hear from past and present Grand Canyon RN to BSN students.

[Vegan_RN]

Just finished week 1 of my Capstone. Oh my gosh they weren't kidding about not waiting until the last minute! I must have worked 16 hours on school over the weekend. I just can't wait to finish, just four more weeks!

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Coffee, Zantac, being able to check off "another one bites the dust" after only 5 weeks (those 5 weeks would have gone by anyway...), and, of course, our AN buddies who are in the same flailing rowboat out on the rough seas. Did I mention coffee and Zantac?

LoL. That's exactly what I did. Zantac and Starbucks chai tea, lol.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Just finished week 1 of my Capstone. Oh my gosh they weren't kidding about not waiting until the last minute! I must have worked 16 hours on school over the weekend. I just can't wait to finish, just four more weeks!

Did you get your articles ahead of time?

Yeah, working ahead is paramount of you want to keep your sanity.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the welcome!

My DQ answers were at least 3 or 4 well written paragraphs with a citation and everybody else was posting these measly 4 sentence responses with no citation! My responses to other people's posts were thoughtful and of course substantive (haha). I also pose a question to the person I am responding to so it keeps the discussion going.

Well, then our instructor posts that people are not being substantive enough and to look at the posts that she gave the little ribbon symbols to and lo and behold people started copying the style of my posts and my DQ answers! Kind of a compliment to me but frustrating because I feel like I busted my butt and now when I read other people's posts and answers, I am reading work similar to mine. Oh well....

Only one week into this program and I am so over it! Plus, it is a lot of work. I have always been a good student but I question whether I can keep this up with so many papers and the dreaded group projects.

How do you guys stay motivated?

It is a lot of work and it will get busier. I hate to tell you that, lol.

I was a crazed person through the fourth class and then I went into auto pilot.

Like Prism, I came to AN, and I was fortunate to meet a person on these threads and go through the program with her.

Your life will be different for a few months. Less fun stuff and more school work. I missed family events to write papers, and my kids thought I was glued to the couch. However I still worked full time and raised my family.

You have to keep your eyes on the brass ring. How bad do you want this? Knowing there is an end near makes it tolerable, lol.

Seeing my diploma in the mail made it worthwhile. It sure is pretty. :)

[ro2878, ADN, BSN]

Coke Zero and chained chewed 100 pieces of Double Bubble bubblegum this fabulous first week!

Umm, where is this magical "list of good instructors?!! Who wants to be my new bestie and send?

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Coke Zero and chained chewed 100 pieces of Double Bubble bubblegum this fabulous first week!

Umm, where is this magical "list of good instructors?!! Who wants to be my new bestie and send?

Here is the thing with this supposed list....Some instructors that were on the good list seem to go crazy at times, so it's not a guarantee.

I never had a list because I was the pioneer, so to speak. Pandora and I got savvy and checked the announcements on the Friday before class started. If someone sounded outrageous we backed out of the classroom and switched instructors.

[Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Thanks for the welcome!

My DQ answers were at least 3 or 4 well written paragraphs with a citation and everybody else was posting these measly 4 sentence responses with no citation! My responses to other people's posts were thoughtful and of course substantive (haha). I also pose a question to the person I am responding to so it keeps the discussion going.

Well, then our instructor posts that people are not being substantive enough and to look at the posts that she gave the little ribbon symbols to and lo and behold people started copying the style of my posts and my DQ answers! Kind of a compliment to me but frustrating because I feel like I busted my butt and now when I read other people's posts and answers, I am reading work similar to mine. Oh well....

Only one week into this program and I am so over it! Plus, it is a lot of work. I have always been a good student but I question whether I can keep this up with so many papers and the dreaded group projects.

How do you guys stay motivated?

Play the game! Way I look at it,lol My DQ's are usually 1000 words..I start off each DQ with a bit about me..what I have been up to..make it a bit more interesting.....Then hit the DQ...Always have multiple resources....Even if I can find the info on 1....Like to have at least 3......And When I reply to a DQ.....find that 1 tidbit....go off of that--with 1 or 2 references.....And then u will find profs that don't care about references.......I tend not to worry about what others do...as if I did..i would start my posts off with---such a good point...so good...very interesting....not my style,lol

And to make things easier for urself....End ur DQ with a question...so it makes people respond..and u can respond back!

As well I have made up my own question--on top of the DQ....so that others respond to it and again, u can respond back! Best of luck

[ro2878, ADN, BSN]

Ah, gotcha - that was smart thinking. How long did you have to wait from when backed out of a class until the next one and what excuse do you give your advisor since mine said you can't pick and choose instructors.

i guess this is no different than nursing school in that you can kiss goodbye to your life! But at least in nursing school it was more interesting than this stuff and I was like a sponge sucking up all the new knowledge. Plus, I would rather take a test than write these papers.

Just gotta suck it up I guess and like everyone says "keep my eye on the prize."

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Play the game! Way I look at it,lol My DQ's are usually 1000 words..I start off each DQ with a bit about me..what I have been up to..make it a bit more interesting.....Then hit the DQ...Always have multiple resources....Even if I can find the info on 1....Like to have at least 3......And When I reply to a DQ.....find that 1 tidbit....go off of that--with 1 or 2 references.....And then u will find profs that don't care about references.......I tend not to worry about what others do...as if I did..i would start my posts off with---such a good point...so good...very interesting....not my style,lol

And to make things easier for urself....End ur DQ with a question...so it makes people respond..and u can respond back!

As well I have made up my own question--on top of the DQ....so that others respond to it and again, u can respond back! Best of luck

Oh I don't know. It depends on the prof. I had one that was really picky about the references.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Ah, gotcha - that was smart thinking. How long did you have to wait from when backed out of a class until the next one and what excuse do you give your advisor since mine said you can't pick and choose instructors.

i guess this is no different than nursing school in that you can kiss goodbye to your life! But at least in nursing school it was more interesting than this stuff and I was like a sponge sucking up all the new knowledge. Plus, I would rather take a test than write these papers.

Just gotta suck it up I guess and like everyone says "keep my eye on the prize."

I got in immediately, so there was no waiting. I would tell them that it wasn't a good fit, and the advisor would switch us. We were never told no. However, from what I gather her, some of this seems to be changing. I can't blame them really. It takes a lot of work and added confusion to have hundreds of people play musical instructor.

You may be surprised on what you learn. I thought I knew a lot about nursing, because I have dabbled in middle management and have been a nurse since dinosaurs roamed the earth. I learned a lot and took something away from every class. Heck, I even learned a lot about myself. :)

[Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Oh I don't know. It depends on the prof. I had one that was really picky about the references.

I use valid references..easy to find in the school library, journal section

[rob4546, ADN, BSN, MSN]

How long should my DQ answer be? (word count?) I ask because, I thought I would get ahead for my 1st DQ, was ready to post today and the 1st post was like 450 words...

So, read read read those Instructor Announcements! :)

Like others have said, most of my original discussion posts are 800-1000 words with at least 2-6 references. Some here have scolded me ...... Prism...... and told me that I am over doing it. These people are 100% correct, but I just can't seem to shake it. I feel it is more important to answer diligently rather than sleep at night, but if the instructor only wants 250-350 words than only give them 250-350 words.

One week last class I took Prism's advice and my two original discussion posts were under 400 words and I got the full 4 point credit.... I need to take her advice. What you are doing great with is having the discussion posts ready ahead of time. I had all of mine finished before Monday and am the first to post all the time. When people are scrambling at the last minute I am not even checking the forum.