Athabasca?

oneLoneNurse · Jul 2, 2003

Sorry, I disagree with most of the comments about Athabasca University. My experience was very, very negative and when I read the comments from fellow students in my class their impressions mostly concurred with mine.

I enrolled in a Java programming course 3 years ago with Athabasca University. This university took my money and basicly ran. Everything about this course was bad : support and the rudeness of the TAs were memorable. I had already been a computer programmer for two years so I was no novice.

I know I am using this forum to express my disbelief that a respected Canadian institution would do this, BUT they did. Though they got away with it, it left a sore spot. I don't think it was a very good business decision on their part because news travels.

disher · Jul 2, 2003

Is anyone taking, or finished the nursing research course through Athabasca?

Sarah, RNBScN · Sep 2, 2003

Try these links as well.

http://www.campusaccess.com

http://www.allnursingschools.com

http://www.distanceedcanada.ca

I did my degree via Laurentian University distance education program (Sudbury). My girlfriend(s) went via Lakehead University (Thunder Bay, ON) and Athabasca (Alberta). Athabasca will give you a Bachelor Degree in Nursing. Laurentian gives you a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. It depends on what you want.

Hope this helps.

Be sure to shop around and see who will give you the most for your previous education/employment background. Mail your transcripts out to a few and see what they will exempt you from. Save yourself some dollars in the long run.

JMP · Sep 2, 2003

I am currently finishing my degree via distance with University of Victoria. So far.......so good. Well orgainized, online and very flexible.

I have a critical care diploma and a CNA certfication in Critical Care ( CNCC ) and they will reconize both.

It is a BScN. NO STATS course.....gotta love that.

Sweetberry · Dec 23, 2003

I'm almost done taking Nutrition 331 through Athabasca. The course hasn't been bad at all. My only problem has been procrastination, which is entirely MY OWN FAULT! :imbar But my tutor has been extremely helpful in replying to my emails ASAP with really helpful answers and the staff at the 1-800 number are AWESOME for helping me with any questions or concerns I have. My only advice: DON'T PUT OFF THE COURSE UNTIL 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE DEADLINE!!!! :eek: :eek: **back to studying I go**:imbar

adrienurse, LPN · Dec 23, 2003

Has anyone had any experience with BC Open University?

Aphrodite · Jan 7, 2004

Hello everyone

I've just registered with this forum and am delighted to see so much information.

Now...about Athabasca....where on earrth to begin....and I will get to it.

Probably like many on here, especially older Nurses, we feel that we have wasted an entire lifetime of study due to the new regulations about Nurse Training.

I am utterly frustrated by what I see is ridiculous nonsense. By that I don't mean the change in the status of training, but the 'black & white' attitude that no matter what qualifications one may already have, there is no opportunity to enter the BSc program unless registered with the College of Ontario. In my case, I did work in Ontario as an RN(pending) and when it came to write the RN exam, I am embarrassed to admit, I failed it twice!! I'm far from dumb but as a British trained Nurse and having NEVER even heard of multiple choice, was used to exams in essay format for everything. I realized that the whole 'Nursing' philosophy in Canada was very different from the UK and the rest of Europe. I gave up and pursued a new career. Now I wish to return to Nursing and want to pursue a BScN. WELL!!!! guess what, I can't even do this unless I write the RN exan (it's now too late) and therefore I can't pursue it any further even if I wanted to start all over again. i am soooooooooooo angry and frustrated about this. For the record, my qualifications are: RGN.ONC.SCM.CMB.Psn.SCN.HV. Did I just waste about 12 years of training???? Now I am thinking about attempting the course online with Athabasca and so am a little scepticle but would welcome any input about this. By the way, does Athabasca offer a BScN because I noticed they use the term BN. is this the same thing? Thanks for your patience with my lengthy letter. Future ones will be normal lol:)

LMPhilbric · May 25, 2004

I have completed 8 courses through AU, am finishing up 2 more and have 6 more to go. I absolutely love AU. I dread even the thought of having to attend a class "in body". My husband goes to a traditional university and I always feel sorry for him with trying to meet deadlines. I have 6 months to finish the class and how I submit the assignments (and by what time frame) is up to me. Some classes I have finished in less than 6 months (English and Stats) and some went down to the last day. I plan to take my MSN through Athabasca too. Good luck to everyone wanting to continue their education.

RNBN2B · Jun 9, 2004

Hi! I would rank Athabasca U's distance ed courses very highly. I'm in the BNAT program at U of Calgary and a number of us are taking AU courses such as philosophy and statistics to meet our degree requirements. I took their intro to stats (Math 215) last summer and am now working on their medical bioethics course. You do have to be something of a self-starter with distance ed courses, but I like the fact that you can work on them at your own pace and make the courses fit your own schedule. By the way, one of my clinical instructors -- a grad of a diploma program in Ontario -- completed her BN through Athabasca. She's a great nurse, really knows her stuff.

LMPhilbric · Dec 23, 2005

So is everyone still taking their BN through Athabasca? I am due to graduate in June and I can't seem to find anyone else who is graduating at the same time? How are all of the studies going? Please let me know how you all are doing. I tried posting on the community forum of MYAU, but I didn't get many responses.

RPNinTO · Sep 4, 2007

I am interested in Atabasca university too...has anyone done the whole RPN to RN bridge on line?

How fast could you do it? If you can finish the courses ahead of the six months, can you move on to other ones? or do you have to wait for the whole six months?

What was the placements like?

thanks for the feedback guys!

LMPhilbric · Sep 4, 2007

I finished my BN through Athabasca and it was great. I really enjoyed the classes and the tutors were excellent. They have eliminated the clinicals from the program, so you do virtual management, community and family practicums instead. Are you licensed as an RN too because I'm not sure if RPNs qualify for the program. When I was in Alberta, RNs and RPNs were not the same thing and there was a bridge program that you could take to qualify as an RN as well. Is it still the same?

Good luck with your BN,

Linda