Members are discussing the accreditation and acceptance of BSN and MSN degrees from GCU in different states, particularly focusing on the requirement of a preceptorship for BSN programs. There are concerns about certain states not accepting GCU BSN degrees, while others share experiences with the capstone course and offer tips for scholarly activities. Additionally, there is mention of GCU transitioning back to a non-profit status and the impact of this change on students.
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.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
Congratulations JRich! You must be so excited to have this behind you. Now you are a REAL nurse!!! (my employer has made it painfully clear that you do not become "real" until you get your BSN) I can't wait until March when this will all be behind me too.
OMG, is that where my old boss went?
This is how he would introduce nurses:
Boss: This is Tokmom...the charge nurse...
Boss: This is Suzy Nurse RN, BSN....
He made it painfully clear that only BSN's were the 'real nurses.' Of course he wanted all of us to obtain our MSN and be floor nurses. What a jackass.
I am still thinking about GCU and reading the posts. I know a nurse that dropped out after a few months saying it was just too much work doing a paper a week. I'm really not sure I can pull that off, week after week. Can you guys give me an estimate of how many hours you spend working on the classes?
I am still thinking about GCU and reading the posts. I know a nurse that dropped out after a few months saying it was just too much work doing a paper a week. I'm really not sure I can pull that off, week after week. Can you guys give me an estimate of how many hours you spend working on the classes?
Hi obcalifornianurse! I'm sad that your friend dropped, my friend that started with me dropped too. Your question has as many answers as the people that will reply. You will hear anything from "ridiculous amount of work" to "very doable!" Of course it all depends on you; what your job is like, what your home situation is like, what kind of grades you expect from yourself and how many hours you're willing to invest to get them. It's true, its a paper (or project) per week, and the weekly discussion questions (DQs) that require research and participation. Oh, and as you've probably already figured out if you've been reading all the posts, the instructors/professors are all different too (how they grade, how helpful they are). So, in summary, it's just like any other school environment where you essentially are driving the train. Me? I can spend as much time on a class as a second job. Seriously, I can. Do I need to? No. Am I so anal retentive that I do it anyway? Yes. I want to get my money's worth (mostly paying out of pocket now that I'm having tuition reimb issues) and if that means reading every page of every reading assignment then I do it. For me, this journey isn't about the letters, I want to BE that person that the IOM says improves a patient's outcome. We can (let's not) debate on AN if it's actually true or not, if nurses are being "forced" back to school or not, etc etc etc., no thanks. I signed up, I wanna do it, I'm half-way through, I'm not loving the amount of work it is, but it will be done before you know it, and I'll be better for it. Okay probably none of that really answered your question, but IMO you should go ahead and try the first class, see what you think and if the hours required will fit into your life. I actually do know of some people who can spend as little as 10 hours TOTAL per week on these classes, I am not one of them, but that still doesn't make me want to throw in the towel. My friend is sorry every time she talks to me, and mumbles, "I should've just stuck it out." Good luck with whatever you decide, we are all here for you for any questions or support!
I realize it will be different for everyone, just trying to see what to expect in regards to the number of hours I will need to commit. I too like to be very thorough so I already know it will take me on the longer side. I would imagine after the first few courses you get pretty good at producing papers and it may get quicker? To further complicate it, I've been our of school for 20 years! but, I do like to go to conferences and take courses for CEU's etc. Just figure it's time I buckled down and got my degree.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
Thanks so much PrismRN for all the information!
I realize it will be different for everyone, just trying to see what to expect in regards to the number of hours I will need to commit. I too like to be very thorough so I already know it will take me on the longer side. I would imagine after the first few courses you get pretty good at producing papers and it may get quicker? To further complicate it, I've been our of school for 20 years! but, I do like to go to conferences and take courses for CEU's etc. Just figure it's time I buckled down and got my degree.
Any other input is appreciated! Thanks!
HI!
I echo what Prism says. It comes down to how bad to do you want this? I think if you HAVE to have the degree I think going through any program would be awful. If you want to be a better nurse and be the nurse that the IOM says lessens sentinel events, and you enjoy learning, it probably will not be as bad as you think, lol.
GCU says the average time spent no homework, if I recall, is 12-14 ish hours a week. However, like Prism, I was very anal about my work and OCD how my papers and power points looked. I didn't go through this program to just get the degree, I went through this program to learn something. Some skip the reading all together, some skim and some read everything.
Your friend didn't give herself long enough, IMO. I really didn't feel like I had a routine until the 4th class. I honestly felt overwhelmed and crazed for the first few classes. I then got into a groove and was ok. I always, always, worked ahead because I don't work well under pressure.
The homework eventually turned into a routine. I would get into the classroom on Friday and have a rough draft on the Monday when the classroom opened. The papers did become easier, and I knew what the instructor wanted for the most part.
If it makes you feel better, I left school in 1989 and hadn't been back since. That was before computers, APA, Word and online classrooms. Papers had footnotes, and I sucked at grammar. Anyway, I did it with the help of my kids. They taught me Word and power points. The APA, I perused Owl Purdue, APA websites and bought the book and started reading. Was I perfect? Heck No, however, the instructors appear to be a little more forgiving in the first class. If you ever need help with APA, there are plenty of us that can take a peek at your papers. :)
Lastly, I want to add that I'm a full time worker, with 5 kids at home. One is special needs and requires a lot of my attention, and my husband has some health issues. I had severe food poisoning in ethics that knocked me on my butt for 2 weeks. My papers weren't stellar, but I passed, lol.
My work requires not only my 36 hours of 3, twelve hour shifts, but union negotiations, and committee work. It isn't uncommon for me to put in over 50 hours a week for regular work and the extras.
Did I have my moments when I was sick of school? Yup! Did I want to pull my hair out in frustration? Yup!, but I did it. I finished the program and am very proud of my efforts. I learned so much in the process too. :)
I realize it will be different for everyone, just trying to see what to expect in regards to the number of hours I will need to commit. I too like to be very thorough so I already know it will take me on the longer side.
I would conservatively say 20-25 hrs/week? When I first called GCU to inquire, my enrollment counselor gave me the usual pitch "our program is geared toward the working nurse", and "most of my students tell me they spend between 10-15 hrs/wk". Okay then, I guess I'm just not part of the "most", because I can spend twice that on one PAPER. There are people on this (and another GCU thread) that can whip out a paper in a couple hours on a Saturday.
I hate them LOL :hlk:
I would imagine after the first few courses you get pretty good at producing papers and it may get quicker?
Nope! Again, just not me. Yes, one gets good at the formatting and APA and whatnot, but for me, it's the paper-writing experience in it's entirety that takes my time. The ideas, the research, the paraphrasing, the organizing, the editing, the rewriting the edited parts, etc. Since every subject matter (paper) is different, the process tends to be the same for each one I do. I guess I developed overkill habits on that first one, got an A, and never tweaked my process for fear the next one wouldn't turn out as well? I really don't mind though, because at the end of it, I read back on it and am kinda proud of what I was able to come up with, and I know I gave 110%.
To further complicate it, I've been our of school for 20 years!
Well, :grpwlcm:! My ADN was also 20 yrs before GCU, and I believe tokmom (who started the other famous fun thread) was right in that same "era" ! I had literally never heard of APA formatting when I stared frighteningly at my first assignment in my first class... :sstrs: There are all ages here, all specialties, all levels of care, and I love reading everyone's experiences!
I'm interested in other peoples' opinions - hey everyone, how many hours do YOU spend on GCU per week?
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
Prism, you are having waaay to much fun with those cute avatars, lol.
I spent about 20 ish a week. But I have a tendency to edit and edit and edit and edit...Like Prism though, I'm proud of many of my papers. I certainly notice a difference from my very first paper to my capstone in writing ability and quality! :yelclap:
Congrats! This means it's official!! Whatcha going to do with it? ( I need to find mine, lol).
tokmom, BSN, RN
4,568 Posts
OMG, is that where my old boss went?
This is how he would introduce nurses:
Boss: This is Tokmom...the charge nurse...
Boss: This is Suzy Nurse RN, BSN....
He made it painfully clear that only BSN's were the 'real nurses.' Of course he wanted all of us to obtain our MSN and be floor nurses. What a jackass.