Online MSN program? BSN to MSN

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2011

Excelsior offers an online MSN program. Thomas Edison State College also offers an online MSN program.

lecavalier4 · Mar 24, 2011

Chamberlain College of Nursing has online MSN too.

ironfan · Mar 24, 2011

depends on what you are looking for

education

administration

nurse practicioner

?

mtsteelhorse · Mar 24, 2011

I don't think any will be "easy" but I catch your drift.:grad: I don't want to make any enemies here but I've heard Univ of Phoenix programs aren't that difficult. I know several people enrolled but NOT in a MSN program. The drawback is it's quite spendy. It will be a challenge to find cheap, fast and easy...at least in school!

Moogie · Mar 24, 2011

I don't think there is such a thing as a minimally stressful master's in nursing program, whether it's online or on campus. I'm finishing an online master's in nursing education in May (God willing) and am finding the lack of real contact with my professors to be a huge contributor to stress. Additionally, I have had on campus graduate level nursing courses and I think there's often more work in an online course. There seems to be a mentality, at least at my school, that since we don't attend classes in person, we need to "make up" for it by participating in blogs and discussion threads. My program also requires participation in Wimba classrooms as well as frequent presentations with Adobe Presenter (horrible software, BTW). We also have numerous group activities and meet in Wimba Pronto (a program that often makes Word and PowerPoint crash, at least on my computer). I am working harder in this online program than I did when I was in a different, on campus program---not necessarily because of academic rigor but because of the amount of tasks that are crammed into each semester.

Two of my friends quit this program and went elsewhere. One went to a program that offers some courses online and others on campus and she is very happy with her decision. Another went to Walden and is happy as well. The friend who is doing a campus-based program says that she is overwhelmed with the amount of paperwork that she has but she is much happier because she has face-to-face contact with her professors.

If you are taking a nurse educator or nursing administration program, you should have minimal clinicals. However, if you're doing an advanced practice track (NP, CNS, CRNA, CNM) you will have clinicals, often with preceptors. Some schools are good at helping students find preceptors. Others are not.

I am very happy with the NE courses at the school I'm attending but I don't think I would choose this school if I had to do it all over again. The busywork and the stress are over the top.

mtsteelhorse · Mar 25, 2011

Can you please PM me and let me know which program you're in. Thanks!

paterrn · Oct 20, 2011

So-does anyone have suggestions for the least stressful MSN program-I am over 50 and work full-time and would like to become a nurse educator. :nurse:

1legout · Mar 28, 2013

Sacred Heart University has a very good online MSN program which I found very manageable working fulltime. The beginning of the program is the most challengeing but mainly because of the Evidence Based Practice work and research which was all new to me. However , I was still able to complete it with minimal stress and working fulltime with two kids. I've been a nurse about 20yrs. Once you get past the foundation courses the core courses are pretty manageable. I am pursuing a MSN in Patient Care Services ( Nursing Administration). There program is a little costly aroung 20,000 but very easy to understand very organized online platform. I Plan to add a post grad Nursing education certificate to my MSN also. Hope this helps.

hallstar85 · Sep 16, 2013

Sacred Heart University has a very good online MSN program which I found very manageable working fulltime. The beginning of the program is the most challengeing but mainly because of the Evidence Based Practice work and research which was all new to me. However I was still able to complete it with minimal stress and working fulltime with two kids. I've been a nurse about 20yrs. Once you get past the foundation courses the core courses are pretty manageable. I am pursuing a MSN in Patient Care Services ( Nursing Administration). There program is a little costly aroung 20,000 but very easy to understand very organized online platform. I Plan to add a post grad Nursing education certificate to my MSN also. Hope this helps.[/quote']
I start this program in October 2013. Any advice? Im freaking out haha! Also working full time with a 9 month old. How many hrs/week? Length of papers? Thanks for any info :)

1legout · Sep 24, 2013

The length of papers average about 10-12 pages. The intro classes require the most work especially if you've been out of school a while. If you have recently completed a BSN program you should do fine. I would say that I spent an average 20 hrs a week usually on the assignment unless it was a research paper which required way more time. Most of that time of work can be completed over the weekend. I had been away from school a very long time so I had to learn APA writing style, and evidence based practice. This is a good program and I know you will do well. Good luck!!

kusini · Dec 19, 2013

I just got accepted into the MSN online program starting January 6th 2014!! Am excited but very nervous, anybody with advice on how to prep for the first weeks? I would love to hear from anyone whose in this program too. Thanks.