MCI - Virginia Beach - Success stories?

[Aimee0816, BSN, RN]

Hi. I'm thinking about going to MCI. I wanted to know if it's considered an RN or BSN. Also, if it is considered an RN - Could I go to a RN-BSN program? If so, do you know anyone who has done this? Also, I'd like to hear from some people who have completed this program. My main concern is the differences between this and a 4-year BSN program. (Will i be paid different? Will I have a different title? Will I have less responsibilities? Will I have any trouble finding a job at a hospital?)

Thank you

[Aimee0816, BSN, RN]

Also - I already looked into going to ODU's RN-BSN program after MCI - and they will not recognize any degree from MCI and I would have to repeat many of the same classes!

[Aimee0816, BSN, RN]

actually, i take the 2nd post back. my adviser said they will not recognize a degree from sentara - but when i asked her about mci, she said "you can go anywhere you want. it is the rn license that we award credit for – not the school."

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

actually, i take the 2nd post back. my adviser said they will not recognize a degree from sentara - but when i asked her about mci, she said "you can go anywhere you want. it is the rn license that we award credit for – not the school."

if you get a bsn, you sit for the rn licensing examination. bsn is not a license: it's just a degree. it's passing the nclex that licenses you...and after you passed the nclex, you'd be an rn whether you have a bsn, diploma or adn.

if you had graduated from sentara's program, you'd would still end up sitting for the rn licensing exam and so be a licensed rn. their diploma program is fully accredited (bon, nlnac, etc.), and if odu is giving credit for the license, then i don't see why you'd not get the credit if you had graduated from there.

but you may not be aware that sentara's rn program is no longer diploma but a bsn program--they no longer accept new diploma applicants (the ones they currently have enrolled are the last diploma classes). they've got provisional va bon accreditation and are currently seeking all of their accreditations--my understanding is that they should have them all in place before their first bsn class graduates in 2012. perhaps odu may not be willing to accept the sentara classes at this time, should you decide to transfer from one school to the other midway through the program.

as far as job differences between having a bsn and not having a bsn (e.g., diploma or adn), your job title does not change: you are a registered nurse no matter how you got there. salaries, eligibility for jobs, etc. may vary depending on the facility...but as far as i've seen, the differences between bsns and non-bsns are minimal, at least at the entry (new grad) level.

hope this helps!