Online BSN

A BSN is a BSN. The online part doesn't matter. Are you planning on doing an ADN and then transitioning to a BSN?

Iam a paramedic that will be attending nursing school this year, with the hopes of becoming a CRNA one day. Does anyone know how CRNA schools will look at an online degree in BSN?

I thought about doing the online BSN but decided against at because you never know what the state legislatures will do. Take California for example, you cannot practice as a registered nurse if you have an online nursing degree. Several other states are not as strict but have more stringent requirements, like Illinios I believe you need 2+ years of experience in another state before you can apply for licensure, assuming you have an online degree. You never know what the legislature will do in the future to restrict or lessen laws that might affect nurses that get there degrees online.....that is the million dollar question.

Honestly I dont see a problem with getting an online degree as long as you are held to the same standards as everyone else as far as testing, clinical and boards are concerned. Its just that you have certain whiny people that will always cry to the legislators because for some reason they feel that doing it online is "easier" than what they had to go through.

I thought about doing the online BSN but decided against at because you never know what the state legislatures will do. Take California for example, you cannot practice as a registered nurse if you have an online nursing degree. Several other states are not as strict but have more stringent requirements, like Illinios I believe you need 2+ years of experience in another state before you can apply for licensure, assuming you have an online degree. You never know what the legislature will do in the future to restrict or lessen laws that might affect nurses that get there degrees online.....that is the million dollar question.

Honestly I dont see a problem with getting an online degree as long as you are held to the same standards as everyone else as far as testing, clinical and boards are concerned. Its just that you have certain whiny people that will always cry to the legislators because for some reason they feel that doing it online is "easier" than what they had to go through.

Uber, are you sure about Cali not accepting online BSN's? I ask because this is the first I have heard of any state making a distinction between an online RN to BSN and one obtained traditionally. Are you sure you arent referring to an RN obtained via online?

I'm also a medic (since 1991), and after 22 years as a chemical engineer, am starting the "paperchase" for RN. As with you, I'm looking to go for CRNA down the road.

I considered an online nursing degree through Excelsior/DLSII, but had a number of concerns:

1) Would the degree be respected by state licensing boards? I kept reading unpleasant things about different states not honoring online RN degrees.

2) Would I be able to really learn the necessary material by distance learning?

3) If the online program you're considering has little to no hands-on practical skills instruction (clinicals), then how good would you really be on critical skills? With the Excelsior program, all your clinicals are crammed into a 2-3 day intensive practical skills test. Being a paramedic certification skills station examiner for the NREMT for years & years, this did not sound fun AT ALL. Obviously as a medic, we do IVs, intubate, work codes, hold hands, deliver babies, and all that good stuff. I'm not there yet, but feel that nursing will be a different ball of wax. Your and my medic skills will be valuable in nursing, but there will still be lots to learn. Over the years, I've seen "shake-n-bake" medics that have gone right from EMT-Basic into paramedic school, with little or no street experience under their belt. This results in somebody who is book smart, but has no real world experience to back up the patient assessments & rapid, aggressive treatments necessary as a good medic.:monkeydance: It's scary to see folks like this theoretically "in charge" on medic runs. I didn't want to be a "shake-n-bake" RN.

For the reasons mentioned above, I chose to go with a semi-traditional nursing school. I've been accepted to the University of Cincinnati's Accelerated Pathway program. I'm crunching through the prerequisites right now (fun stuff like A&P, Micro, Psych and all that fun stuff).

Good luck!

Uber, are you sure about Cali not accepting online BSN's? I ask because this is the first I have heard of any state making a distinction between an online RN to BSN and one obtained traditionally. Are you sure you arent referring to an RN obtained via online?

Mentuhotep you are correct -- Thank you for clarifying things - What i was referring to was individuals that got there bachelors or associates ENTIRELY online through a school like Excelsior College.

Getting an RN degree entirely online would be.......not smart :) You would not be remotely prepared. As for the online degree from ADN to BSN....go talk to the director of the program you are interested in. Ask them what they think of it. Part of mine was online, part was classroom and clinical. I was informed by the director of the program I was looking at that they felt online courses were "easier" than class room settings and they expected you to make an A in the course if it was online. After taking online course work, I beg to differ. It is not easier and it is only for those that are very disciplined and self motivated (which thankfully I am). i have several friends that are doing a strictly online BSN at a local U and the school's here don't seem to have a problem with it. Good luck in your pursuits, there is light at the end of the tunnel........I can finally see it myself.

........ there is light at the end of the tunnel........I can finally see it myself.

Beware onrushing locomotives?

Online BSN is good if you have an ADN and you are practicing as an RN. I did my BSN online and only had to do one clinical as I was already an RN in ICU, and I had to show my RN license before being accepted into the online program. The school is a reputable university and I had no problem getting into anesthesia school.

What you also have to consider is what school are you getting your "online" BSN from? From some schools (such as mine, WVU) there's no way to tell that my classes are online.

I got my ADN from a community college and then went on to WVU. All their RN to BSN classes are online, but to look at my transcripts, you can't tell that!!

So, consider going to a traditional university that offers online courses rather than a place like University of Phoenix.

Hope this helps!