Grand Canyon University RN to BSN Capstone new format

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Hi! I am wondering if there is anyone here that has completed the GCU new capstone that requires 100 hours of onsite clinical with a preceptor? I am having a very difficult time wrapping my head around the requirements and am thinking of switching programs before I get too deep into GCU . Any experience would be so wonderful. Thank you!

I'm in Southern California and I have been stuck unable to finish with one course left. I have searched and called and emailed so many places trying to find a clinical site and no one responds or they just say no we can't accommodate you or tell me they have no idea why I'm calling them about a preceptorship and that the schools normally set it up not a student. I have been out of school since mid-July of 2023 and have been calling places and searching for sites since September of 2022, but because I finished all the classes except this stupid capstone course I can't continue or finish. I have called other schools but basically, I'd have to start all over. I was told when I signed up for GCU that "finding a preceptor and clinical site was very easy because they work with so many different places and there would be no issue finding me a place to do my clinical for capstone." This is a complete and total lie.  I feel the school 100% misrepresents itself and they don't care.  My own school counselor emailed 58 places in my area that they apparently had a "affiliation with" and only 3 responded one of which said no the other two said maybe they could. When we wrote them back with details they stopped responding and I have not heard anything since. To me, this is another lawsuit waiting to happen to them if they continue to falsely claim the ease of finding a preceptor 

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Specializes in med/surg.

Hello NurseNiroo, 

NurseNiroo said:

Struggling to find site and preceptor as well. I'm not sure why they even have this course for "clinical placement" for already licensed and working  RN. This is supposed to be my last class and I'm wondering if I can/ should transfer to other universities just to get my 6 credit. 

I am in the same boat where I want to transfer to another university because I am in my last two classes to graduate from GCU. This is crazy that I am in the same boat where I can't find a perceptor for my RN-to-BSN capstone class. I thought they would give me a nurse perceptor, but it's not working out. I really like the program, but it is hard for me to get a perceptor nurse to help.

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Specializes in med/surg.

Hello everyone, 

I am in the same boat too. I am in my last class before I start my capstone class. I feel so upset because I have been calling all the listed sites they gave me, but no one wants to help me. I just wanted to ask if anyone knows of a RN nurse in Rhode Island who can help me and be my perceptor. I would really appreciate the help. I am so desperate at this point.

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bk234 said:

Hello everyone, 

I am in the same boat too. I am in my last class before I start my capstone class. I feel so upset because I have been calling all the listed sites they gave me, but no one wants to help me. I just wanted to ask if anyone knows of a RN nurse in Rhode Island who can help me and be my perceptor. I would really appreciate the help. I am so desperate at this point.

Hi,

With being just 6 credit (+2 for lifelong learning paper) away from graduating, I already transferred to another university. I just couldn't deal with "finding the preceptor" headaches. It was just too much. Read the post from Tasha, I had to go through the same with no luck. I am not sure transferring to another school is your option but I did not mind it although I have to take way more classes than what I would have to if I were still in GCU but I am happy and classes are smooth. 

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Specializes in med/surg.
NurseNiroo said:

Hi,

With being just 6 credit (+2 for lifelong learning paper) away from graduating, I already transferred to another university. I just couldn't deal with "finding the preceptor" headaches. It was just too much. Read the post from Tasha, I had to go through the same with no luck. I am not sure transferring to another school is your option but I did not mind it although I have to take way more classes than what I would have to if I were still in GCU but I am happy and classes are smooth. 

Thank you, Nurse Niroo, for responding back to me. Which university did you transfer to, and what is the capstone requirement for the new school you transferred to? Thank again. 

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Specializes in med/surg.
Tasha Hicks said:

I'm in Southern California and I have been stuck unable to finish with one course left. I have searched and called and emailed so many places trying to find a clinical site and no one responds or they just say no we can't accommodate you or tell me they have no idea why I'm calling them about a preceptorship and that the schools normally set it up not a student. I have been out of school since mid-July of 2023 and have been calling places and searching for sites since September of 2022, but because I finished all the classes except this stupid capstone course I can't continue or finish. I have called other schools but basically, I'd have to start all over. I was told when I signed up for GCU that "finding a preceptor and clinical site was very easy because they work with so many different places and there would be no issue finding me a place to do my clinical for capstone." This is a complete and total lie.  I feel the school 100% misrepresents itself and they don't care.  My own school counselor emailed 58 places in my area that they apparently had a "affiliation with" and only 3 responded one of which said no the other two said maybe they could. When we wrote them back with details they stopped responding and I have not heard anything since. To me, this is another lawsuit waiting to happen to them if they continue to falsely claim the ease of finding a preceptor 

Hello Tasha, 

Wow! I can't believe this. What did you have to do to graduate? Did you transfer? Did you get a site ?

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bk234 said:

Hello Tasha, 

Wow! I can't believe this. What did you have to do to graduate? Did you transfer? Did you get a site ?

I did finally find a preceptor no thanks to the school. I used facebook for 3rd time on my local neighborhood page and found a nice lady that managed a clinic who helped me. I am in the first week of the capstone right now and so far it's a total nightmare but I'm hoping once I meet my preceptor tomorrow things will be more clear. The capstone project makes me feel like I have to reinvent the wheel but I'm over complicating it. I still would never recommend this school  to anyone though. I just trying to get the heck out with my BSN and never look back. 

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bk234 said:

Hello everyone, 

I am in the same boat too. I am in my last class before I start my capstone class. I feel so upset because I have been calling all the listed sites they gave me, but no one wants to help me. I just wanted to ask if anyone knows of a RN nurse in Rhode Island who can help me and be my perceptor. I would really appreciate the help. I am so desperate at this point.

The only advice I can offer is just keep trying to find a place also if you have experience (I didn't) the school partners with CVS minute clinics so they might have a preceptor for you through that. You should ask your FEO. I couldn't do that because I don't have any experience yet. 

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Specializes in Surgical.

Hi! Any new updates for the capstone class? Anyone actually pass and graduate? I am due to start the class 1/27/25 and have not heard any news about approving my preceptor? Not to mention I only found out about this class in November of 2024 and if I had known this was a requirement I would have not enrolled. It is ridiculous you are now relying on working with your preceptor to complete the assignments and pass the class. 

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LandofNurses21 said:

Hi! Any new updates for the capstone class? Anyone actually pass and graduate? I am due to start the class 1/27/25 and have not heard any news about approving my preceptor? Not to mention I only found out about this class in November of 2024 and if I had known this was a requirement I would have not enrolled. It is ridiculous you are now relying on working with your preceptor to complete the assignments and pass the class. 

I did pass and I did end up graduating. The capstone class is complete ***. The preceptor made me feel as if I was a burden (she was probably voluntold to help, so I shadowed the MA's the though time and helped them and stayed out of the preceptors way. I did my project and got the heck out.  I will never go there for anything again and if I hear any fellow nurse mention going there I tell them not to and yes your future basically rest in the preceptors hands. Though there are ways around that which I won't get into here. My preceptor dragged her *** to sign my hours off and finally we came up with a solution that worked for us both and I'll just leave that at that.

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Specializes in Surgical.
Tasha Carbaugh Hicks said:

I did pass and I did end up graduating. The capstone class is complete ***. The preceptor made me feel as if I was a burden (she was probably voluntold to help, so I shadowed the MA's the though time and helped them and stayed out of the preceptors way. I did my project and got the heck out.  I will never go there for anything again and if I hear any fellow nurse mention going there I tell them not to and yes your future basically rest in the preceptors hands. Though there are ways around that which I won't get into here. My preceptor dragged her *** to sign my hours off and finally we came up with a solution that worked for us both and I'll just leave that at that.

I'm glad you passed and graduated that's all I really want but my field counselor is not very great at communicating so still haven't found out if it's been approved. Now the class has been pushed back and I'm starting another class in its place. It's all so very frustrating and to think I'm paying for this madness. I'm beyond annoyed and just want my degree :( 

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LandofNurses21 said:

I'm glad you passed and graduated that's all I really want but my field counselor is not very great at communicating so still haven't found out if it's been approved. Now the class has been pushed back and I'm starting another class in its place. It's all so very frustrating and to think I'm paying for this madness. I'm beyond annoyed and just want my degree 😞

Yeah you have to be on the counselors butt to get them to do anything or follow up on anything. Trust me I got to a point where I was not very nice and was calling daily and it was only once I spoke to the supervisor and threatened to report the school for false claims and false advertisement to the board of education (in a nice matter of fact way) that they got my stuff all approved and me ready to go within a week after waiting 4 plus months for the site to get approved. I found my site to go in December 2023 and didn't start the class until April of 2024 I think. My suggestion to you is find out who the supervisor is and just call him. Don't waste your time with the stupid FEO.

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