Online Nursing Programs??

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Hi everyone!

I had a question for anyone who has input on this! I have seen a lot of online programs for RN-BSN, RN-MSN, etc. How do you know if these programs are legit and accredited? I would hate to look into a program and have it end up being a complete scam. I don't know if anyone has completed any online program for any type of degree in nursing?

I am hoping to get into nursing school for this fall.. I will be attending an ADN program if so. After I graduate from that program, ideally, I would love to receive my master's in nursing through an online program if able to!

I didn't know if anyone has graduated with a degree from any online programs, or if anyone has heard anything about them? For those of you who have completed an online program.. did you find it difficult? Would you have just rather gone to a sit-in classroom program?

Any input would be great!!

Thanks so much! :wink2:

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They would probably have a statement on their website that they are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLN-AC) or the Collegiate Commission for Nursing Education (CCNE). Furthermore, they must be accredited by the Board of Nursing in the state where they are located. This information is usually on a school's website, and should be in their catalog. If not, just ask who accredits them.

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Specializes in Home Health, Psyc, OR.

I will be graduating from an online program in May. I am an LPN and will graduate with my BSN. It has been difficult but it is completely do-able. You basically have to just read the book and teach yourself. I still have an 84 hour preceptorship and 135 hours of community health observations so there are things that you will be doing in a health care setting.

You should be able to go on the program's website and it will state that it is accredited. Or go to your Board of Nursing for your state and they have a list of all the accreditd schools. Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC, geriatric, psych, rehab.

I am presently doing an online MSN program from Walden University and I think it is very good. Their MSN specialities are informatics, education or leadership and management. If you want to be a nurse practitioner, this would not be what you wanted. I think they have the ADN to MSN program as well. University of Phoenix has an online MSN also. My son tried to take some courses other than nsg through them, and he said he had to do alot of group projects with his online classmates. They would not do their part, so he would end up doing the whole thing, so he changed schools. I assumed nsg would be the same so I did not choose them. But both schools are fully accredited.

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Go to http://www.chea.org/search

This is a database of all accredited colleges in the United States that are accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The Department of Education endorsement is important for purposes of financial aid and respectability.

Please note, relying on a school website to list its accrediting agency can be risky. For example, a group of schools may join together and make their own accrediting agency, let's call it the "Association of Sanctioned Schools" (for example). Then they could post on their website that they are "accredited" but the accreditation is not worth a hoot. Just be cautious.

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Specializes in ICU, Home Health Care, End of Life, LTC.

Many of the programs at traditional universities and colleges are online for the BSN to MSN program. I know the MSN program at WVU :beercuphe where I am taking my BSN is online. There are also Nurse Practitioner online programs where they set up the clinical portion with a local hospital/facility. I am considering Cal State Dominguez Hills. It will require being on campus about 4 times in the course of the BSN to NP program. I would try and talk to some alumni from the schools you are interested in.

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