should I do DE for nursing?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jan 20, 2013

As far as I know, there are no pre-licensure distance programs that you would be able to do in Japan. There are some bridge programs such as LPN-BSN or LPN-RN, but they require some kind of licensure or certification to enroll. And yes, it does matter to some states where you get your RN because state boards of nursing will always look at the source of your RN. If they don't recognize your program, you don't get a license.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2013

So..my question- a lot of people are telling me that I will be frowned upon for completing prereqs and/or a nursing program online. Is that true? I mean, once you're an RN, you're an RN, it doesn't matter how you got there, right?

Wrong, it does matter. The days of "An RN is an RN is an RN" are past, along with its corollary, the "warm body theory of staffing" (thank god). The only people for whom that is true are the licensing boards. Really, once you have your license, all they care about is knowing that you haven't done anything horrible and you pay your renewals on time.

The people who tell you it doesn't make any difference in the workplace are mostly the ones who did it that way; many of the people who will hire you, evaluate you, or look at your application for further learning...think it does.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

RHill9919 · Feb 15, 2013

How can I find out what my state's regulation is for licensure? I plan to settle down in Florida.

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 15, 2013

Go to the states Board of Nursing website

elkpark · Feb 15, 2013

Even if you didn't do an accelerated BSN program but went to a traditional BSN program, it wouldn't be a matter of "4 more years," because many of the general ed credits you already have from your existing BA would transfer in -- you wouldn't have to start over from scratch.

RHill9919 · Feb 15, 2013

Would I have the school evaluate my current credits and from that point, tell me how long it would take to complete a program no matter accelerated or traditional?

elkpark · Feb 15, 2013

Accelerated BSN programs are just all the purely nursing content of a traditional BSN program shoehorned into a shorter amount of time. They are very rigorous and demanding because of that, because of the increased pace of the program. Most traditional BSN programs are set up as two years of general ed/prerequisites and two years of the nursing courses. Plenty of traditional programs accept people into just the two years of the actual nursing courses (in fact, in many schools, including the last BSN program in which I taught, student were "pre-nursing" majors for the first two years, and that was no guarantee that they would be accepted into the nursing program for the last two years -- everyone applied separately to the nursing program toward the end of their sophomore year). You could talk to the schools near you, or that you are interested in, and see what they have to offer you (and I would encourage you to do so -- and talk to all the schools you think might be possibilities for you). In my experience, schools are glad to look at and talk to you about unofficial transcripts (which many schools will give you for free), although you would eventually need official transcripts to actually apply to a program.

RHill9919 · Feb 16, 2013

This is very informative. I had no idea I could apply to a traditional program. I currently live overseas with my husband who is active duty. I may end up going back to the US next year to work out some details. It's so stressful because we don't have the slightest idea where he will receive orders to once we leave here. I am only applying to schools in the places where he has a "good shot" of going which are (in order of most likely to least likely) Norfolk,VA-San Diego-Jacksonville, FL...that's it! It's stressful having to plan this around the Navy.