NMHU RN-BSN

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Anybody have any experience dealing with New Mexico Highland University's online RN-BSN program? Would you recommend it?

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing, Corrections and substance abuse.

I would like to know too! Hopefully someone will reply to the original question...

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So I ended up choosing this program and am currently enrolled. I'm working full time as an RN and attending here on their fulltime track for BSN. It is definitely doable as FT study and FT work. More or less its a discussion topic every week with responses to other posts, and a 3-5 page paper maybe every 3 weeks per class. I don't really have a frame of reference since this is the only BSN program I've attended, but listening to some of my coworkers talk about their BSN programs, the workload is comparable. Some of my coworkers had awful experiences at GCU so I would avoid them.

The layout of the classes is in 8 week increments. So you can take 4 classes in a semester, but you do 2 of those classes for the first 8 weeks, then 2 more for the second 8 weeks of the semester. I've enjoyed this format since if you don't like a class you only have to deal with it for 8 weeks.

I chose NMHU because they had cheap tuition, were accessible about getting enrolled and started with the program, and were the most flexible of all the schools in terms of getting me prior credit for the classes I had already taken.

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Thank you for the information. Did your friends have a bad experience with GCU? I am trying to decide between Highland and GCU. Thank you.  

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Always interesting to see posts like this come back to life every couple of months! I've actually completed the program at Highlands this semester. I recommend them for anybody looking for an online RN-BSN program, especially over GCU. 

GCU had a few problems. The biggest problem was that they lost their accreditation while two of my coworkers were enrolled in their program, so they had to withdraw and start over at other institutions. One of the nurses was close to graduating when this happened. My coworkers also said that the workload at GCU was arbitrarily higher than the other programs they attended, likely in an attempt to make themselves seem more academically rigorous than their competitors. I will concede that some schools are more academically rigorous or 'better' than others, however simply turning up the requirements for how many pages your papers should be is not the way for an institution to achieve academic distinction.

Also, more of my own opinions so take that for what you will, but part of GCU's curriculum for their RN-BSN program includes a class that 'introduces a Christian foundation for spiritual assessment and care'. Now, obviously your spiritual views are your own,  but I'm not about to let some poorly accredited, for-profit educational institution tell me what to believe via an online class. If you want to go to church or anywhere else for spiritual guidance that's great but I don't think an online BSN program is the place for this. Also, irrespective of GCU's religious stance which I personally disagree with, I have issues with attending an institution that is overtly 'for-profit' when I can get a similar (or I believe better) education from a public school for a fraction of the cost.

I do have to disclaim that I have never attended GCU, so some of my sentiments regarding them are based off of the experiences of others. However, I did attend Highlands, and I do recommend them. 

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Hello @MRSANurse-a, thank you. I did choose NMHU over GCU. Thank you so much for helping me decide. I feel good about my decision. Do you have any advices for any classes or the whole program? One thing I am very nervous about is writing papers because I have never been a great/good writer, so I am very scared about it. I do know, the whole program will contain a lot of writing ?? Congrats for completing the program! It must be such a great relief. Do you plan to do your masters? Thank you so much again. Take care. 

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Glad I helped! I think it's the right decision too. As for being nervous about writing, don't be! It's a lot of writing but most of the assignments have reasonable page number or word count requirements. Also many of the professors post example papers for some of the assignments which is really useful (including one of my papers!). As for any tips for the assignments, I actually have a few! First and foremost, each assignment you do will have a grading rubric which shows how points are distributed for that assignment. FOLLOW THE GRADING RUBRIC. That's the most important tip. Build your paper around the grading rubric. Another thing I found useful was that Microsoft Word has a tool built into it that allows you to input all of your citations and it spits out a perfectly formatted references page. There are Youtube videos on how to use it. Also in terms of keeping track of assignments, I used Google Calendar. At the start of each new class every 8 weeks I would find the schedule and input all of the assignments ahead of time into Google Calendar. Another thing I found useful was that I got a second monitor for my computer, so I could have my assignments up on one monitor, and my sources up on the other monitor. There will be some classes early on about how to format your papers in Microsoft Word, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to get as familiar as possible with Microsoft Office and Powerpoint. For Office, learning how to add headers and page numbers is a good idea. Also learn about different level headings from the APA website here. 

Not sure if I'm going to get my MSN. I'm really enjoying not being in school for the first time ever. However, Highlands is working on an MSN program so we'll see if that's something that pans out in the future. Good luck!

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@MRSANurse-a, I am almost half way through the program. I really like the professors so far! I want to thank you again ? I hope you are doing well. You take care. 

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Specializes in PCU.

@MRSANurse-a and @RaiRN sorry for jumping into your conversation. I am hoping to get my BSN this upcoming year, but haven’t decided which online school I should go to. I am looking for low cost, accredited, 100% fully online school. A mother of two and also will be working atvyeh same time. 
How’s your experience with NMHU? Are there exams each week?? Also, looking for a school where I can manage all the things I have to do including being a mom, full time nurse, etc. 

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Hi @MRSANurse-a,

I really like NMHU so far. Professors are great and very helpful. Nothing like nursing school! Some classes require essays and some require tests, most classes require discussions submission and commenting to fellow classmates posts. I have had to do two PowerPoint assignment so far. Assignments and exams are very doable. I have not had exams every week and they are not a hard exams. Let me tell you, it’s nothing like nursing school. It’s more laid back and way less stressful. Though, I am not taking bunch of classes. I only take two classes a semester right now. I didn’t want to overdo it and be stressed with work and school. They are 8 weeks classes. You can take as many classes as you can handle. I know many take 4 classes a semester but I didn’t want to take that route. It’s about $1000 a class plus books so I wanted to stick with two classes a semester plus I didn’t want to be stressed with work and school. It’s all online. I would highly recommend NMHU. Professors are wonderful! I wish professors in nursing school were all just like them! It would have been great! Haha. Let me know if you have any more questions. I was very nervous about working full time and going to school. I even made a decision to choose a less stressful job (there were few other reasons too) because I wanted to prioritize school. I kind of think that was a stupid decision LOL. It’s nothing like what I had imagined. I over thought and may be picked a wrong job haha. Take care and all the best ?? Happy holidays. 

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Hi @RNAnna2016,

Sorry, I tagged the wrong person on my previous post oppsss ?? I was using my phone. However, @MRSANURSE-a did help me answer my questions about NMHU. Very thankful for that :))) It was the right choice for me.

I really like NMHU so far. Professors are great and very helpful. Nothing like nursing school! Some classes require essays and some require tests, most classes require discussions submission and commenting to fellow classmates posts. I have had to do two PowerPoint assignment so far. Assignments and exams are very doable. I have not had exams every week and they are not a hard exams. Let me tell you, it’s nothing like nursing school. It’s more laid back and way less stressful. Though, I am not taking bunch of classes. I only take two classes a semester right now. I didn’t want to overdo it and be stressed with work and school. They are 8 weeks classes. You can take as many classes as you can handle. I know many take 4 classes a semester but I didn’t want to take that route. It’s about $1000 a class plus books so I wanted to stick with two classes a semester plus I didn’t want to be stressed with work and school. It’s all online. I would highly recommend NMHU. Professors are wonderful! I wish professors in nursing school were all just like them! It would have been great! Haha. Let me know if you have any more questions. I was very nervous about working full time and going to school. I even made a decision to choose a less stressful job (there were few other reasons too) because I wanted to prioritize school. I kind of think that was a stupid decision LOL. It’s nothing like what I had imagined. I over thought and may be picked a wrong job haha. Take care and all the best ?? Happyholidays. 

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And the thread re-awakens again! Hope all is well with everybody. I don't have kids so I can't speak to if you'd be able to complete the program or not. Frankly, I don't know how anybody with kids gets anything done at all but that's my own hang-up. There has to have been people that have done it before though. One thing I do have to add is that NMHU has the option to take classes as slow as you need to. If you're having time constraints, you can sign up for 2 classes instead of 3, 1 instead of 2, etc. Other RN-BSN programs probably have this option as well. A word of caution on this though, try to avoid taking entire semesters or more off. One of my co-workers did this in the Chamberlain MSN-FNP program and they told her that one of her classes she already completed had a curriculum change or something and she had to retake it. I did not encounter any such sillyness during my time at Highlands but it is something to watch out for wherever you end up. 

I was able to complete the program in 14 months on their 'full time' track which just means I took the classes as much as possible as fast as possible while also working a full time 3x12 hour job. I would typically not do any classwork on my work days and get all my assignments done on the 4 day weekends. Best of luck whatever you choose!

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