Ohio University RN-to-BSN Program

Nursing Students Ohio University

Updated:   Published

Since it seems that there's quite a bit of interest, I'm attempting to start a new thread devoted exclusively to the OU on-line RN-BSN program that will hopefully build on the comments on assorted previous threads.

I'd like to ask nevergonnagiveup, mtsteelhorse and babynurse73 - all of whom (I think) are either already in the program or have applied for admission - to post about their experiences. I just sent in my application and plan to post periodically about relevant issues. If we can populate the thread with good material, it could become a very useful resource for both those considering the OU program and students already in it. Once that happens, I'd hope we could prevail upon the forum moderators to make it a sticky thread.

As indicated, I've only recently applied to the program. So far, I'm happy with the support and information I've gotten. I've been contacted by an OU "enrollment specialist" who was somewhat helpful (I suspect that they have dual roles, one being to provide basic information to prospective students and the other to follow-up with the prospects and help to fill the roster for the program). This person e-mailed me, followed up with a phone call and was able to provide some useful, if basic, information about the program. I also sent a lengthy e-mail to OU with quite a number of specific, detailed questions. This too resulted in both an e-mail and telephone response, this time from an academic advisor in the OU School of Nursing. Again I received some useful and quite helpful information. All in all, my early experience has been pretty positive.

As indicated above, I plan to post about relevant issues that come up as I work my way through the admission and evaluation process. I'd very much like to hear from others about their experience with OU and I'm sure that there will be a lot of interest by others in our collective experience with the program.

Specializes in Anesthesia.

Well, I typed out a pretty long post in this forum, but it was deleted with all the changes, haha. No worries though.

Anyhow,

A little bit of background about myself:

New Grad from California here, still studying for boards (that's how new I am). I just recently sent all of my transcripts in for the March session, and I have to say I am dreading the wait. I currently work med/surg as a LVN (aka LPN in other states), and have been told if I want a job at my current hospital I'm going to have to wait until August (I have an offer from my current manager, but since I work there as a LVN I have to work on a different unit for at least 6 months in order to work on the same unit as a RN-stupid policy). I don't mind waiting since the pension at my hospital is untouchable, and I really love our humble patient population. My manager told me it would be within my best interest to be enrolled in a BSN program. I also have an offer for a home health job, and plan on doing that part-time in addition to my current job while enrolled in a BSN program. I have a lot of hard work ahead of me, but that's okay. I worked full-time as a LVN through my RN program, so I think I'll survive.

I was accepted into a local state school's RN-BSN program which is about the same price as OU, but they require 100% tuition to be paid prior to the start of each semester. I'm trying to pay 100% out of pocket as I go along, and need a payment plan so that is sort of a deal breaker.

Does OU have any sort of payment plan? If so, how much do you pay monthly? Also, how do you think employers would view a BSN from an out of state school that was obviously completed online? Since OU is a bigger school, I think I would feel more comfortable saying that it's my alma mater compared to the local state school which does not have a very good reputation IMO.

Also, is this program easier than your ADN program was?

Part of me wants to just kind of finish my BSN at in 6 months for 3500, but again, I think I would feel more comfortable saying a bigger brick and mortar school is my alma mater. To each his own, right?

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Well, I typed out a pretty long post in this forum, but it was deleted with all the changes, haha. No worries though.

....

I was accepted into a local state school's RN-BSN program which is about the same price as OU, but they require 100% tuition to be paid prior to the start of each semester. I'm trying to pay 100% out of pocket as I go along, and need a payment plan so that is sort of a deal breaker.

Does OU have any sort of payment plan? If so, how much do you pay monthly? Also, how do you think employers would view a BSN from an out of state school that was obviously completed online? Since OU is a bigger school, I think I would feel more comfortable saying that it's my alma mater compared to the local state school which does not have a very good reputation IMO.

Also, is this program easier than your ADN program was?

Part of me wants to just kind of finish my BSN at WGU in 6 months for 3500, but again, I think I would feel more comfortable saying a bigger brick and mortar school is my alma mater. To each his own, right?

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

I'm pretty sure that OU offers some sort of payment plan options but with the courses only 5 weeks long, it really can't make much of a difference. I would contact the Bursar's office at OU to find out the details about their plan and to get info on how they expect it to work once the change to semesters is in place.

As to a school's reputation, unless you go to a program like Penn or Hopkins, I'm not sure that it matters very much. As far as I can determine, the OU nursing program is reasonably well regarded within the state but is not really known outside of Ohio. Everyone has heard of Ohio State but relatively few realize that there even is an Ohio University - perhaps because the college was actually founded in Massachusetts, though well before OSU was founded. But I digress.

While I personally am pleased with the OU program so far (I've only completed 3 courses), I chose the school for 2 basic reasons: It is both nationally and regionally accredited and the tuition is reasonable. If costs only $3,500 and you can be through in 6 months, that may be the better choice. OU will run a bit more than double that both for tuition and time. On the plus side for OU, they have a reasonably good football team that played again this year for the Mid-America Conference title. The Bobcats also beat Utah State in the prestigious (not) Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in the post-season. Not sure that the storied gridiron history at OU would sway me to pay more for their nursing program though . . .

FWIW, I've found the BSN classes to be very labor-intensive (meaning a lot of writing) but also quite a bit less challenging than the ADN classes and in some cases, downright boring. Keep in mind however, that this opinion comes from someone with a serious case of adult ADHD.

Best of luck to you whichever direction you choose.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Hey OU folks ... I'm working on getting you your own Ohio University forum space. Will keep you posted! Pun intended. :D

Anyone taking Nutrition winter term?

Epic is up for Legal/Ethics - not much to work with there! Very FEW assignments - 2 quizes (15 pts each), 2 three to four page papers (20 pts each) and the group discussion posts, 3 worth 10 pts each.

Happy to be back.For those who applied has anyone gotten responses from OU

The Business Comm, Jr Eng class - is that on Blackboard?? If yes, where do we get Blackboard log-in??

Thanks

Epic is up for Legal/Ethics - not much to work with there! Very FEW assignments - 2 quizes (15 pts each), 2 three to four page papers (20 pts each) and the group discussion posts, 3 worth 10 pts each.

rninme - This is the same as in my syllabus: I wonder if we are in the same section?

So the grind begins anew the day after tomorrow. Tell me again why I'm back in school?

Hey OU folks ... I'm working on getting you your own Ohio University forum space. Will keep you posted! Pun intended. :D

All write! (best I could do for a pun at this stage).

Seriously Lunah, I think all of us regular posters to the OU page appreciate the effort. Having a separate forum page will also be helpful to those considering the OU program.

My Bb login is different than my Epic login - mine is the same login and password I use to get into MyOHIO -

Well, I am in - so all is good :) Business Communication, Here I come!!!!!

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