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.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I agree that online schools still have a stigma attached to them. In my area, people both in and out of healthcare hold University of Phoenix in low esteem. Now I've never attended a UoP class so I couldn't tell you if that opinion is truly merited...but it's what people think.

However, it's not bullying if they don't hire you because you completed an online program. As others have pointed out, employers are within their rights to set the educational requirements for the position, and they may feel that for whatever reason, the program you completed doesn't qualify. It may be unfair if they turn you down, but it's not bullying in the least. Nor is it discrimination, as where you attended school is not a protected class (no pun intended).

IMO--and I want to stress that this next part is meant in general and not directed at the OP--the term "bullying" is overused: people are quick to apply it anytime things don't go their way. Not hired? I'm being bullied. Received warranted negative feedback? I'm being bullied. They don't agree with me? I'm being bullied. And so on.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

I am currently doing my BSN at an online school that is accredited. I am doing on-line because I am already trying to raise two kids and work, and there is no time to go to a brick and mortar class without greatly affecting my family time. My kids need me in the evenings.

I think it's unfortunate that non-traditional students, those who are middle aged like me, working, caring for families, saving up so our own kids can go to college very soon, and are doing the best we can with what we have to work with, are being penalized for it.

Since I already have a job and this BSN is just to make sure I can keep it, I am not too worried about the fact that my degree is not as strong as it would have been at a brick and mortar school. But for someone like the author who is trying to advance his or her degree to a higher level, it's a hard place to be.

The reality is that college is for rich people. Or, it's for people who are willing to go into a lot of debt.

A good quality education is still not accessible to everyone who wants it or deserves it. The problem is not with on-line schools. It's about accessibility in the real world. If the leaders in the nursing profession truly want more nurses with BSNs and beyond, they need to develop and accredit more high-quality on-line programs and pressure the brick and mortar schools to accept those hard-earned credits.

[elkpark]

I am currently doing my BSN at an online school that is accredited. I am doing on-line because I am already trying to raise two kids and work, and there is no time to go to a brick and mortar class without greatly affecting my family time. My kids need me in the evenings.

I think it's unfortunate that non-traditional students, those who are middle aged like me, working, caring for families, saving up so our own kids can go to college very soon, and are doing the best we can with what we have to work with, are being penalized for it.

Since I already have a job and this BSN is just to make sure I can keep it, I am not too worried about the fact that my degree is not as strong as it would have been at a brick and mortar school. But for someone like the author who is trying to advance his or her degree to a higher level, it's a hard place to be.

The reality is that college is for rich people. Or, it's for people who are willing to go into a lot of debt.

A good quality education is still not accessible to everyone who wants it or deserves it. The problem is not with on-line schools. It's about accessibility in the real world. If the leaders in the nursing profession truly want more nurses with BSNs and beyond, they need to develop and accredit more high-quality on-line programs and pressure the brick and mortar schools to accept those hard-earned credits.

There are plenty of B&M BSN completion programs that are designed for people with jobs and families. The one I attended (at a state university) was one evening and one day per week, and it was also v. affordable -- I don't remember how much exactly, but I do know I was able to pay for it out of pocket as I went without it being any great hardship. It is possible to continue your education without going into a great deal of debt.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

There are plenty of B&M BSN completion programs that are designed for people with jobs and families. The one I attended (at a state university) was one evening and one day per week, and it was also v. affordable -- I don't remember how much exactly, but I do know I was able to pay for it out of pocket as I went without it being any great hardship. It is possible to continue your education without going into a great deal of debt.

The good colleges in my area are very expensive. Even the not so expensive ones like I am attending are no small change when you have a family to support.

[caliotter3]

I really dislike the title of this thread. This is casting a large shadow over an entire industry (online education) from one person's experience. One experience does not a "truth" make.

Oh well, I guess that's the point of online forums. Everyone gives their own experience.

The title of this thread is misleading and unclear.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Online nursing degrees are not stamped with a notation delineating that the degree holder earned them online.

Therefore, a person could enroll in a online MSN program at a land-based school such as the University of Wyoming or Villanova University and no one would ever know that the student earned the degree in the privacy of his/her home.

However, students who enroll in schools with mega online presences (read: Univ of Phoenix, Kaplan Univ, Walden Univ) may encounter employers who presume the degree was earned online even though that might not be the case.

To avoid the online degree stigma while earning an online degree, one may wish to play it safe and enroll in an online degree program through a land-based school with a solid reputation. After all, nobody ever needs to know that you never set foot on the campus of Texas Tech University although that particular school conferred your graduate nursing degrees.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Even state colleges are now offering online degrees and guess what when you graduate there is no mention of it being the online version. You get the same degree and the same title and no one knows but you that it was done completely online. My state university is now offering online degrees similar to WGU with a similar low price, unlike the much higher cost of taking the same classes in the classroom!

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Online programs are considered inferior to brick and mortar programs, because online university faculty, only produce a small amount nursing research, that is worthy of publication in peer reviewed nursing journals. Whereas brick and mortar faculty produce a large amount of nursing research that is worthy of publication.

[ShiftyNurse, MSN]

My opportunities are limitless. I have a plan A, B, and C. :) It is just an unfortunate situation for some who have worked hard only to be told your still not good enough. Thankfully my ADN program hired me as an adjunct clinical instructor. This position only confirms my passion for nursing and education. Once again, I understand that not all traditional institutions may have this type of narrow thinking.

canwill2082, Thank you for sharing your experience. It disappoints me to hear things like this. Your story has an uncanny similarity to my own! I also began my career as an LPN and commuted an hour one-way 5 days a week for almost a year before completing the program. I progressed to an ADN and soon after received my BSN through an online program. I will complete the MSN educator degree in May through an online program and although this particular school has a physical campus the online method was a better fit for me. Plain and simple. Everyone has to do what is best for them, be it online or brick and mortar. I hope that I do not run into this issue! Best wishes to you!

[joyouter]

I think that online education today is very much part of learning. There are many top notch universities with excellent programs. I also see a need for clinical practice with clinician teachers in a healthcare setting. Both can function well. The keynotes within this post demonstrates the presence of commitment. organization and love of nursing. Online learning as supportive, further background knowledge works well when the student is disciplined and focused on the subject.

There is no difference in desirable student characteristics at that point. What online learning does is to ensure that in depth reflection and adequate knowledge is present especially within on-line forums ( for which students are assessed) There is a quality of content and discussion because each is responsible for their input and must follow clear guidelines to material , discussion and a wealth of research based articles.

A major difference between the two modes of education is that the student is visible to the professor, there are definite interpersonal relations being established and both are subjected to real human emotions which can affect interpersonal relations and color attitudes- a definite influence psychologically. Having said that, one can experience equally the same stressors on -line with professors.

Today, amidst the stressors of work, family and financial obligations, the use of on-line in combination with clinical studies and supervision can work well. It remains for the student to research thoroughly all courses and believe in one`decision.

[Anna S, RN]

I think the original post is poorly written, and I do not see not being chosen for a job because of a degree being earned online and "bullying."

[smartnurse1982]

I believe it is a part of the weed out process.

First it was Bsn over the Adn.

Now its online Bsn vs B and M.

Although this has not caught on everywhere,(but is happening in my area) many employers are asking for transcripts.

They are looking at GPA's.

In any event,WGU and Excelsior are popular on Allnurses, i am kind of leery.

Plus,in my area, with Rutgers,NYU, and UMD-NJ around,I am not sure they would pick an online degree over a degree from established institutions with excellent reputations.