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.

[passionflower, BSN, MSN, RN]

Then too, a lot of the online programs have earned their bad reputation. I am finishing up my BSN at a traditional brick-and-mortar four year university. All my core nursing classes are 100% in person, for which I am grateful. Because in some of my generals classes like history and writing, some of which have been online, the students are just there to get a few credits. They cheat, share answers with one another, form copy groups, and behave with zero ethics. I have been hit up for "help" so many times it's embarrassing. Until a real way to prevent this behavior is invented (I'm sorry, Respondus Lockdown Browser simply isn't enough), it will continue.

I went to a traditional B&M school and although I studied very hard, my GPA was average due to the fact that I was a full time working mom who traveled by bus and train to get to school and work and did not have the time to put into my studies as I would have liked.

HOWEVER I remember with disgust the group of cheaters, who passed notes in the classroom and not only passed the test but received awards! I also remember the teacher that knowingly let the classroom cheat on an important but difficult test, you see the school had a reputation for passing a high rate of grads and this professor was not going to skew the results.

I regret that I did not report them but it was all I could do just getting to work and class! I remember thinking I would be a better nurse because I actually learned the material but it still stung watching them at graduation receive accolades they had not earned.

The program I went to was excellent but I didn't learn as much as I am learning now in my online program because I have more time and focus, knowledge and skills.

This debate can go on and on - much like private school vs public - but it all boils down to the individual and what you want to get out of anything in life.

[passionflower, BSN, MSN, RN]

Hi Klone

My fellow "classmate" we go to the same online school and I co-sign with what you wrote. I had a few questions in my biochemistry and statistics classes and both times my mentors "shared" my computer screen and walked me through the material. I didn't feel like I was wasting classroom time and loved the private tutoring from my living room couch. This type of learning is not for everyone but it is perfect for me.

[canwil2082]

When I was a new nurse 20+ years ago, I asked a pt if she was nauseous. I thought I was asking her if she was nauseated, but because I did not understand the meaning of the word, I did not realize that I was actually asking her if she was causing nausea. This retired English teacher pt was quick to point out my error to me, lol.

Lol! This is why I just ask if they feel like they are going to throw up! I was watching The Big Bang Theory one day and Sheldon pointed that out as well.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

If you take psych 101 at Harvard or at your local community college or online, you will likely have the same textbook and syllabus. It is the same class.

It is not so much where a person went to school, it's your grades and what you do with your education that really counts.

[Raviepoo]

I keep coming back to this thread to see what is going on here. I now realize that you attended WGU for your BSN and your MS degree. Although WGU looked like an attractive option, I ruled it out pretty early in my school search for two reasons:

1 - It is competency based and I wanted instruction;

2 - I want to pursue a number of higher degrees and I wasn't sure grad schoold would look at a B average from WGU the same way they would look at a higher average from a school that actually gives grades.

I think the title of your article is misleading. I think it's a mistake to lump all online schools into one category. There are many online schools. Many of them have brick and mortar operations as well. Many of them hold their online students to the same rigors as their on campus students. It would not surprise me at all if an employer considered an MSN from WGU to be less qualified than an MSN from Vanderbilt.

The most important thing this article has done for me is to make me glad I didn't choose to go to WGU.

[latern]

Wish I could love this! The discussion has been lively and relevant.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

The most important thing this article has done for me is to make me glad I didn't choose to go to WGU.

Those who wish to become university professors may want to choose not to go to WGU. However, we cannot ignore the countless others who have achieved career successes after having completed WGU's other degree programs.

As far as online degrees are concerned, my former CNO's online MSN degree was conferred by Walden Univ, a for-profit school with a massive online presence. Another former DON earned both her ASN and online BSN degrees via Excelsior College, another distance learning giant. And a former director of nursing education at a reputable school from which I graduated had earned both her BSN and MSN degrees online from the University of Phoenix, arguably the giant of online education in the US.

I am not endorsing the aforementioned schools. I am simply emphasizing that in the arena of nursing leadership and management, a person's interpersonal skills, leadership qualities and network of people play a greater role in professional success than the schools listed on the CV.

On the other hand, the applicant with an online PhD in nursing science from Capella University is probably not going to be hired as a professor by the Yale School of Nursing anytime soon, although the local community college would probably recruit him/her in a New York minute.

[Raviepoo]

Those who wish to become university professors may want to choose not to go to WGU. However, we cannot ignore the countless others who have achieved career successes after having completed WGU's other degree programs.

I'm not disparaging WGU. I'm just saying that there is a difference in online schools. We each have to pick the training that will help us get to our goals. The local community college is not my aspiration. Your mileage may vary.

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

My niece got her BSN from CSU.

[elkpark]

If you take psych 101 at Harvard or at your local community college or online, you will likely have the same textbook and syllabus. It is the same class.

It is not so much where a person went to school, it's your grades and what you do with your education that really counts.

It may be "the same textbook and syllabus," but different instructors provide v. different learning experiences and outcomes with the same basic material, and different academic communities/environments have v. different expectations and standards that lead to different outcomes. Do you really believe there's no significant difference between Harvard and attending your local community college?

[danielle2000, MSN, RN]

You know there is always going to be haters in your midst, but please do not let those nay-sayers defeat you in changing your dream of teaching. We need great teachers like yourself. I am not surprised by the degree snobbery that ensues our profession. Just as long as your education is accredited it is not their business to determine your level of education. Network and put yourself out there and trust and believe you will be where you want to be.

[joyouter]

I see where the disconnect comes from.

As i said,many employers around here request official transcripts from the schools attended.

So yeah,when the employers do that,they can most certainly see if the school attended has a B and M campus attached to it.

The discussion revolving around the merits of on-line vs B&M university studies continues.

It is important to recall how a university is allowed to establish credit level courses in all subjects, nursing included and how it is ranked as a learing instituion..

* The university`s records, academic calender, academic profile of all employed teaches are examined for accreditation.

* The university is ranked largely according to the level of published research which indicates a strong research department.

* Publications are assessed annually

* Most universities today have a percentage of on-line course work including B&M. Some B&M may not offer full courses to the same level as universities with well developed online leaning departments, but the choices are there. This reflects on-going current changes of delivery methods in learning therefore courses at B&M schools may contain partial on-line learning.

* All online courses are closely proctored and students must deliver quality work- meaning that there is sufficient indication of independent thinking and research of all topics within that particular curriculum and course demands

* The level of discipline, commitment and interest will direct the success of learning, whether on line or in B&M classrooms.

* An on-line course will electronically measure when a student enters and leaves a discussion forum. Such forums as mandatory. Student assessment is based on participation, reflection on the topic of study for that day and ability to enrich with further findings, showing that the student has done her homework and is able to open new threads relative to topic and thus enrich discussions with new findings.

*All on-line profs. monitor every students`input as everything is electronically documented and later assessed. One cannot get away with sporadic contributions unless there is is a personal reason. This must be shared with the teacher who will offer support and alternate choices.

I have studied both On-line and B&M. The level of student commitment to success remains the same. When you want to succeed, you will learn to think of positive ways to adapt to studies to achieve.

Today, every forward thinking university offers on-line studies - we are in a world of telecommunications- spurred on by Internet, websites and rapid access and sharing of data. We need to know how to maximize use responsibly and to remember that basic practical nursing can only be learned through real clinical teaching and experience, a vital part of rounding -out the nursing degree.

One of the most helpful sources when trying to find good schools is to look at the Times University Ranking which is divided into many areas of specialties. It is designed for North America, Europe, Asia and Africa and is worthwhile to consider if uncertain.

Joy. RN, RSM, BScN, M.Sc.