Online Nursing Schools vs Traditional Schools

[canwil2082]

To become a nurse was not a childhood dream of mine. It was something that I discovered I had a passion for in my early twenties. I had always loved math and science and figured I would become a scientist one day. I fell in love with nursing due to the study of the human body and the art of nursing itself. I have always had a compassion for people especially the older generation.

My family was unable to support me during my early years while pursuing my current dream of becoming a caring professional nurse. I enrolled in a Licensed Practical Nursing program in 2006. The school was over 60 miles one way from my dad's house. In addition, I had to go to the school five days a week while working three different jobs. I was a lower income student that had to struggle to find a foothold in the college education bracket.

Through much hard work, I passed the first two semesters of my practical nursing program. I was on top of the world at this point. I was approached by the director of the program to be grandfathered into the Registered Nurse (RN) program. They were looking to start a two year RN program and we were the guinea pigs. At first I had my reservations, thankfully at the pressing of the director I changed my mind and proceeded with the program. The program required another year of school and funds that I just did not have access to at the time. Thankfully my grades had obtained me a scholastic scholarship to continue for another year. My enthusiasm for nursing continued to be on the rise.

The end of nursing school for the RN program came so fast. It was May of 2008 and I was being pinned with my RN pin. I passed my boards and went on to have six and a half years of good RN experience. My time in the acute care setting for three years taught me much about the truth of nursing. I changed my track and went into long term care with a new sense of direction.

I was back where I started, but this time I would be in the RN role instead of the CNA. It was in this position for four years that I learned much about leadership. In addition, my time in this setting taught me much about nurse burnout. I never wanted to become that nurse. I thought since I had such high hopes about nursing that I would never fall to that excruciating word. I felt like I had lost the ability to care anymore.

Behind my convincing smile, I was deeply hurt by emotions. I was emotionally overwhelmed and I knew that I needed change. I searched for other jobs, but it felt like I needed something more than additional burnout.

I found a nursing program online that would lead me to a Master's of Science in Nursing Education. I had always loved my time in school. The atmosphere of learning, facilitating, and teaching was what excited me the most. I did an enormous amount of research on the program. I was always leery about an online program due to the stigma of an online degree. However, I did my investigation and discovered that the school was fully accredited by one of the major nurse accreditation agencies. In addition, the program was set to be in alignment with the National League for Nursing standards of nurse educators. The school was recognized by the US Department of Education as well.

I enrolled in the program and graduation was before me. The program was intense, and it helped me grow professionally and personally. In the process of obtaining my degree, I discovered I had the ability to think and analyze. I found a new sense of purpose in nursing. I could see myself teaching future nursing students. I realized that I care about their success and that I wanted to see them succeed.

I wanted to teach because I genuinely care about the students and their success. I found out soon enough the dirty truth about teaching in a traditional brick and mortar college. It hurts me say that even in an environment that is a part of highly intelligent individuals, bullying still takes place. I was told that I would not be hired by a local four year university to teach nursing because my degree was from an unknown online school. After all my hard work, I was destroyed on the inside when I discovered this devastating truth about most four year traditional universities.

The hopes of this letter is to educate the nursing profession about the sad reality of bullying in a center for education. The stigma of an online degree remains, even though the program I graduated from was recognized by the White House for what is right in higher education.

This innovative program allowed me to utilize my work experience. Furthermore, I was able to obtain this accredited degree with much flexibility that was customized to me. I fully believe that this program was the perfect one for me.

It is unfortunate that because some institutions do not consider my degree valuable. I will have a higher chance of failure at obtaining a successful career at these types of institutions. Are we not greater than that?

This reminds of a time when grade school children fight over whose lunch is better, or whose clothes are the best. Even though I fought nail and tooth to rise above my circumstances, I was shot down by those who think their degree is better than mine. My hopes is that my degree will lead me to make a significant difference in the lives of future nursing students no matter where I may land.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I honestly don't get the stigma associated with online schools. I find online courses much more difficult than taking brick and mortar ones. I learn very easily by listening, so if you stick me in a classroom where I listen to the teacher talking, I won't have to study very much for that class, and can get by without ever touching the textbook. If I have an online class, I actually have to pick up the material and dig through it myself to decide what's important, which is ridiculously time consuming. Online learning is more convenient, but you have to do so much more work to get to the information. I don't get why anybody thinks there's something easy about online education.

[NurseNelly24, BSN]

I'm in a B&M school for my BSN and I personally don't see the difference in terms of credibility of online or traditional programs...as long as they are accredited. I've always said the only difference between BSN and ADN programs is essentially a few theory, research courses, Health Assessment and Patho(at some schools). While I do see the importance in these programs they don't define whether or not you're gonna be good at your job. At my new job I'm seeing the new grads buckle at their knees for all the work we have to do while Ms. lil ADN grad is doing great. And think about I once u get the degree its not like therell be any fundamental difference in your job lol

I will say though that I understand the stigma that often comes from employers about advanced online degrees. Just as a new resident from a med school in the Carib will receive a bias compared to a resident who wentbto med school in the U.S., same thing will go for employees when they choose a prospective based on the reputation of the school. It doesn't matter how rigorous the program was (which that in itself is subjective) the school in many cases increases your likelihood to at least have your resume evaluated before u even get a call. While I know online advanced degrees will be the norm in the future, I do acknowledge the idea that if you Want the degree you will make sacrifices to go to a good school where you can get a great job. Just my opinion though.

[Octocaesar]

Technology can be harnessed to improve learning. But online courses are just...insufficient. There are things you learn just by stepping your foot in the campus. Even how long it takes for you to get ready for school builds your time management skills. These tiny little things make a big difference in character building. If I am the employer, I would want to hire "brick-and-mortar" kind of workers, not because I want to bully anyone but because it is my right to protect my investment.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

There are things you learn just by stepping your foot in the campus. Even how long it takes for you to get ready for school builds your time management skills.

The typical nurse who has earned an online degree has gotten ready for school many times throughout their college careers. We must be cognizant that no person can become a nurse via an entirely online delivery platform.

These tiny little things make a big difference in character building.

Character? Statistically, cheating services are utilized more frequently and readily by students who attend brick-and-mortar classes. A cheater is going to cheat, regardless of the coursework delivery platform. A person of ill repute is not going to suddenly develop character by plopping his butt inside a lecture hall seat.

If I am the employer, I would want to hire "brick-and-mortar" kind of workers, not because I want to bully anyone but because it is my right to protect my investment.

Although I respect your choice to reject applicants who have earned their degrees via distance-based delivery platforms, I do not necessarily agree with it. You will be missing out on some darned good employees.

However, the silver lining can be unearthed in the fact that these potentially rejected candidates will thrive with another employer who is more open-minded and aligned with modern times.

[Angeljho, MSN, NP]

Technology can be harnessed to improve learning. But online courses are just...insufficient. There are things you learn just by stepping your foot in the campus. Even how long it takes for you to get ready for school builds your time management skills. These tiny little things make a big difference in character building. If I am the employer, I would want to hire "brick-and-mortar" kind of workers, not because I want to bully anyone but because it is my right to protect my investment.

Let's hope you're never an "employer" then. While employers can hire anyone they see fit based on their own beliefs, I see so much fault in that. Everyone is different. I actually think it takes a dedicated, hard-worker to get through an online program. If I'm eventually the hiring manager, NM, or CNO of a facility, I would hope I don't select nurses based on bias and unproven beliefs.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

Many B&M programs are moving their RN to BSN online for the majority of the program. Don't judge an entire group of people based on what an older, experienced nurse told you. One could argue that these old timers fear technology and computers. What's that you say? I shouldn't generalize? Well, neither should you.

And FWIW, I have taken both kinds of classes. My online classeswere more work in many ways. You had to participate via discussion backed up by APA references. Papers had to be submitted through Turnitin. We had to do Powerpoint presentations narrated on the computer. My in person classes were a cake walk. you could sit in the back of the class and not open your mouth once.

Thankfully, in my area they don't care where you got your BSN as long as the program is accredited. I have had DONs and NMs with degrees from online schools. Many facilities offer discounts to online programs. One of the state schools here is moving the RN to BSN program completely online.

[LoutusCNA.VT1983]

I'm in a B&M school for my BSN and I personally don't see the difference in terms of credibility of online or traditional programs...as long as they are accredited. I've always said the only difference between BSN and ADN programs is essentially a few theory, research courses, Health Assessment and Patho(at some schools). While I do see the importance in these programs they don't define whether or not you're gonna be good at your job. At my new job I'm seeing the new grads buckle at their knees for all the work we have to do while Ms. lil ADN grad is doing great. And think about I once u get the degree its not like therell be any fundamental difference in your job lol

I will say though that I understand the stigma that often comes from employers about advanced online degrees. Just as a new resident from a med school in the Carib will receive a bias compared to a resident who wentbto med school in the U.S., same thing will go for employees when they choose a prospective based on the reputation of the school. It doesn't matter how rigorous the program was (which that in itself is subjective) the school in many cases increases your likelihood to at least have your resume evaluated before u even get a call. While I know online advanced degrees will be the norm in the future, I do acknowledge the idea that if you Want the degree you will make sacrifices to go to a good school where you can get a great job. Just my opinion though.

I agree I am currently going to school online for a veterinary technician degree something I was trying to do at a physical school that I still owe money to right now. And I was told before I went to Sanford brown college that their acrediations by the AVMA was not there at all.

They were apparently working toward their getting accreditations but had not gotten them. I did the research myself the second time I went to another school and had some friends of mine that are more knowledgeable about this kind of thing then I am....before I went to PennFoster...but I was told by multiple people that the accreditation is intact there.

And seeing is how its been all over the news that SanFord brown has been shut down nation wide. I don't think that going to a physical school makes it better then going online I think the accreditation and if it stands up when you have to your exams is the thing anyone should may that much attention to.

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

Technology can be harnessed to improve learning. But online courses are just...insufficient. There are things you learn just by stepping your foot in the campus. Even how long it takes for you to get ready for school builds your time management skills. These tiny little things make a big difference in character building. If I am the employer, I would want to hire "brick-and-mortar" kind of workers, not because I want to bully anyone but because it is my right to protect my investment.

It's interesting that one of my former classmates was able to cheat her way through her BSN at a top brick and mortar school but was kicked out of the online MSN program for cheating. (Never use a a published PhD nurses papers for your own, even if she is your sister).

And I actually edged out a nurse who got her BSN from a brick and mortar school, even though I got my BSN from an online only school. Apparently my manager thought he was protecting his investment by hiring me. He still doesn't regret it.

I have plenty of character, thank you very much. I didn't have to get my character from a brick and mortal school. It is something I actually had prior to becoming a nurse. Character isn't taught.

[ResearchNurseRNCCRC, MSN]

I graduated from an online university and obtained my MSN in 2011. In 2014, I was offered my first online teaching position. I now teach for an university that is both "brick and mortar" and online. I teach online research courses as an adjunct. I will be starting with a new university this fall, as well. I've had plenty of "rejections" along the way, however. I'm just not the perfect fit for every job I apply for.

Don't give up. While I do agree with you that some schools will snub you and your "online nursing degree" I believe that we will come full circle in time. Technology is not going away; rather, it is going strong and on the rise- exponentially!

I wish you the best. You'll get in, just be persistent!

[blixkanaan, MSN, APRN]

Personally, I would never hire a person who obtained their RN or APN degree online. You are part of the problem, and perpetuat it by attending crappy online nursing or APN programs.

Nursing is a very hands on skill and to ever think you can master that skill by taking classes online, not interacting face to face with your peers and professors, is frankly ignorant. And for you to call it bullying on the employer end is laughable. I think your making the right decision going back to school.

[blixkanaan, MSN, APRN]

Agreed. Sorry, but if you dont have experience as a nurse, you fast tracked and/or did your education online, I would not hire you.

[tsm007]

Personally, I would never hire a person who obtained their RN or APN degree online. You are part of the problem, and perpetuat it by attending crappy online nursing or APN programs.

Nursing is a very hands on skill and to ever think you can master that skill by taking classes online, not interacting face to face with your peers and professors, is frankly ignorant. And for you to call it bullying on the employer end is laughable. I think your making the right decision going back to school.

I went to WGU's prelicensure ONLINE program. It's hybrid. Theory online/clinicals in person. Love, love, loved it. I got more hands on clinical time than most of the other students I seen at the hospital. I got to actually do stuff because I was paired with a nurse one to one. Where the other schools had to sit around and wait for their one instructor for what 6 to 8 students to be around to supervise them. Instead I was supervised by an RN. It was awesome. Secondly on the floor I can tell you I am the nurse my coworkers go to when they need help with technology.

Who knows don't be surprised when your boss has a Master's degree from an online program.