Online RN to BSN Programs

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I am looking to find out if anyone knows of any good online RN to BSN programs. I have already looked at the Excelsior program and the University of Wyoming Programs. Those are the 2 programs that I could find that had reasonable cost. I cant exactly afford some of the $300 per credit hour courses. So if anyone knows of any other moderately priced online programs I would appreciate their input. Thanks for your time.

Originally posted by traumaRUs

Maybe I didn't understand the original poster, but I'm currently in a combined BSN/MSN program through University of Phoenix totally online. I have 12 years of RN nursing experience, 9 in critical care. I certainly don't feel I need more clinical - the clinical in my program is fine. However, if we are discussing new non-nurses doing an online RN program - of course clinical time is needed. At any rate...I have been with University of Phoenix since Nov 02 and love it - will have the BSN part done in May 04 and the MSN in Dec 05.

This seems to answer my previous question, at least somewhat. I chose an ADN program over an Accelerated BSN in my area, because of the additional clinicals. That also means it will take me longer to get my BSN, even online, but, at that point, would I really need additional clinicals?

Perhaps pugluvnrn was referring to much more advanced degrees which may require additional clinicals. Afterall, you can't become a CRNA (just as an example) online.;)

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Originally posted by lizz

You guys aren't doing yourselves any favors by defending naturopaths and chiropractors. I'm sure many nurses on this board will find it laughable when you say that chiropractors have more credentials than they do.

No wonder Excelsior is in trouble :chuckle

Of course they have to pass the NCLEX and, of course, that's no substitute for clinical experience. I guess you missed the fact that some hospitals aren't hiring them because of patient endangerment. That is, after all, why the California BORN cracked down on them.

If Excelsior students are going to justify these practices (and, thankfully, people like Kim and Teresa don't), I am grateful to be California resident and I am grateful the California BORN did what they did.

Wow, amazing. Usually people argue for higher standards in their profession, Not lower. This is truly unbelievable, and a sad commentary on the whole situation.

The chiropractic clinic that I go to has 3 chiropractors. Their schools each required a BS to be accepted into the program and their graduate program was a full 4 years plus internship. The Dr. who took care of me is an RN with a BSN and now DC. They were able to help me with lower back pain with 2 months of exercise and adjustments without surgery or medications. I don't know anything about naturopaths so I can't comment on that. I don't want this to lead to a argument, if chiropractic works for some that is great, if not no problem either.

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Originally posted by New Castle Ken

The chiropractic clinic that I go to has 3 chiropractors. Their schools each required a BS to be accepted into the program and their graduate program was a full 4 years plus internship. The Dr. who took care of me is an RN with a BSN and now DC.

Did your chiropractor become an RN through Excelsior? Perhaps you missed the earlier discussion where chiropractors can become RNs with Excelsior's limited clinicals. If they didn't become an RN through Excelsior, then fine.

Otherwise I'll defer to states like Washington, Florida and California, who say only LPN/LVN experience qualifies you to become an RN through Excelsior.

As far as credentials, I was referring to Nursing credentials and experience, but perhaps I should have been more clear on that point.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Ken and Sarah,

Don't waste your breath. The chance you've given this person the gain some knowledge about chiropractors, etc. will be totally lost on her, I'm afraid. She has a one-track mind, and it all points to Excelsior and how terrible they are. It has no bearing on her that chiropractors and even naturopaths have much more medical education background than she does. It DOES NOT COMPUTE.

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I don't think anyone is saying EC is bad. I think it is a great opportunity for those of us who can't attend a traditional school to get an ADN degree...I can say for myself that Excelsior needs to crack down on who they allow in their program. I think it is great that your chiropractor is a RN, but did they receive this degree from EC? In order for EC to remain reputable they need stricter guidlines for admitting criteria. Yes, there will always be exceptions to the rule--like non nursing medical personel that know more nursing skills than nurses themselves--but that goes with everything in life....but in my opinion I agree with Florida 100%, not an LPN--then no sitting for boards. As for Ca the ruling is too harsh--working LVN's have daily learning opportunities in clinical areas. I respect chiropracters, but the on-line degree has it's place and should be limited to people with clinical NURSING background. Unfortunately most of the complaints the CA baord is dealing with is employers complaining that EC grads can't perform at the minimum standards required for a grad nurse. Many can't perform basic and simple procedures like foley caths--these are all things I learned in school and through work as an LPN have mastered--point being these are nursing skills essential to able to function as a professional nurse.

Kim

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Originally posted by lgflamini

Ken and Sarah,

Don't waste your breath. The chance you've given this person the gain some knowledge about chiropractors, etc. will be totally lost on her, I'm afraid. She has a one-track mind, and it all points to Excelsior and how terrible they are. It has no bearing on her that chiropractors and even naturopaths have much more medical education background than she does. It DOES NOT COMPUTE.

Thanks. I know -- I have seen some threads go on and on. The nurse chiropractor did not go to Excelsior and I didn't even mention Excelsior at all. Thanks for the advice I will not post anything more about this.

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Originally posted by New Castle Ken

Thanks. I know -- I have seen some threads go on and on. The nurse chiropractor did not go to Excelsior and I didn't even mention Excelsior at all. Thanks for the advice I will not post anything more about this.

I wasn't trying to discourage anyone from posting. This is the problem with long threads. You make comments relevant to posts going back 2 or 3 pages, but some people don't read back that far, and tend to misunderstand the context of more recent posts.

We were debating Excelsior's practice of allowing chiropractors (and naturopaths, etc.) into their RN program, when some states say only LPNs/LVNs have the relevant clinical experience to become licensed RNs through Excelsior.

That's all I was talking about, and I thought you were too since that's how the subject of chiropractors came up in the first place.

At any rate, I'm not trying to prolong the argument here. I just wanted to explain the context of the discussion and my posts. I'm happy to leave it at that.

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I always read every post...

As for the chiropractic discussion, I was simply stating that they have a higher level of education then an RN...

In other words, why in the world would a chiropractor (who is a doctor) want to be an RN??!!??:confused:

I can see why an RN might go on to chiropractic school...

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Originally posted by kimlpn

but the on-line degree has it's place and should be limited to people with clinical NURSING background.

Well put, I amend my prior post and I admit that there are circumstances where online only education can work but I think the ideal candidate should have many years of clinical experience preferably in a variety of fields.

I work with many RN's that were LVN's for years before and they all say that the transition was relatively easy.

One EC grad I worked with in particular had not only been an LVN a short amount of time, but her LVN program had not offered very much in the way of clinical time, and her LVN job was extremely limited clinically ( it was only a glorified nursing aide position, in a well child clinic).

So her education was not only limited but she was extremely over-confident and didn't ask questions. She terrified us for months until the powers that be let her go.

Anyway, my point is that individuals for whom these programs were truly meant for ( experienced LVN's for the LVN-RN, and seasoned RN's for the BSN/MSN online programs) aren't the only ones taking advantage of them...the inexperienced looking for a career on the fast track are lining up and the schools don't care-they just want to make money.

I agree kim who also mentioned the schools should have stricter admission policies but that won't happen unless they are forced to.

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Pugluvnrn,

That is truly my point...online programs should be geared toward those with clinical NURSING experience--especially in the case of earning an ADN degree. I respect the different medical fields allowed into the EC ADN program, but don't agree that all of them fit acceptence criteria. The ideal canidate should have at the minimum a year or more in the field of NURSING--this would also make the college a more credible institution by putting out graduates that can function at the level of graduate nurses. I am glad for EC because it offers me the opportunity to get an ADN degree that may otherwise not be impossible--but I do have 8 years of nursing experience in a variety of settings. All colleges have good and bad nurses sent into the workforce--but in the case of EC they do need to screen potential students to ensure they have a good foundation in the area of clinical experience. The issue will always be a debate--this is just my opinion.

Kim

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originally posted by lizz

at any rate, i'm not trying to prolong the argument here.

:imbar

here we go again...........

why is it that every thread related to an "online" program has to turn into a prolonged argument generated by someone who is not currently in such a program ?????? i see this as a put down to all non traditional students and discourages students contemplating a degree online.

we are all by well aware that lizz hates excelsior and for some unknown reason loves to bad mouth excelsior and its nursing program. for some unknown reason she feels compelled to jump into every discussion where excelsior is mentioned although she is in a traditional program herself.

no matter how or where a discussion begins it seems to end here~lately. there is more to this story im sure but that it seems will will never know. we could try~

why are you so bitter and angry towards nurses trying to upgrade themselves to rn thru excelsior ???? tell us a little about yourself and what you did prior to choosing nursing as a career ????

lgflamini~ill waste a little breath here

(you know i have to)............ :roll

the program is not for everyone and i doubt that most students who are not nurses will succeed in the program either, many nurses with years of experience may not succeed either, they do not put you on "east street" towards a degree and you are not "buying" a degree either. it takes alot of hard work devotion and dedication to persue and comlpete an online degree. there are no instructors or professors to "hold your hand" you are on your instructor and basically teach yourself what you need to know. imho~ you need experience as a nurse to complete this program.

yes i am pro-excelsior and proud of myself and others for completing the program, passing the boards and working as an rn's. we (excelsior grads) as a group have previously stated that we havent had any difficulties obtaining positions or functioning as rn's. i was a ltc lpn for many years, i held a position meant for an rn as an lpn and unfortunately the facility benefited by paying me as an lpn and when i applied for my first hospital job as an rn with my excelsior degree, mostly i found that "mgt" was impressed not afraid that i would endanger a patient, nobody looked down on me for having an independant degree either. im the rn i am due to my experience mostly as an lpn, not my degree alone. i would never have been able to complete the program if i hadnt been an experienced nurse.

im not commenting on the ca or chiropractic issue. like kim said all programs send bad nurses out into the workforce and i have met a few that cannot draw up a meds correctly or properly assess a patient. good thing i was there ~me and my excelsior degree to stop my new grad orientee from killing a patient with an overdose of insulin~drawn up in a tb syringe. and good thing i intervened (at the familys request) when a new grad left a pt burning with fever for hours and hours without giving a med or calling a doctor~ i did assist in the transfer to icu and honestly i did have trouble sleeping that night !!! :imbar

deb rn :nurse: proud excelsior grad 2001

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From what I understand, getting into the Excelsior program as a non-RN isn't easy. They are very strict with who they accept and mostly it is LPN/LVNs with clinical experience.

I have only worked with one non-RN graduating from Excelsior. One of my supervisors at a previous hospital got kicked out of nursing school at the community college due to a conflict with an instructor. He had enough experience to be admitted to Excelsior and graduated. He was a great clinical nurse and a great supervisor. I am sure there are some that are not so great but I have worked with nurses from all types of local schools that have been great (and not so great ).

Most of the distance and online nursing programs are RN to BSN programs. This means that the student is already a practicing RN. Most of the online RN/BSN programs also require clinical work that they do in summer residencies at the college or in a hospital local to them under a qualified mentor. I am sure most practicing RNs would agree that a year of full time nursing work is equal to a huge amount of college clinical hours so I feel that clinical should be able to be done by portfolio.

Distance education and online programs are not for everyone and should not replace regular courses. Online is an alternative delivery system and that is all. In my book I included some research that shows students from both f2f and distance do approximately the same academically and some show the distance students doing better.

So the bottom line is to use whatever delivery system works for you. If you feel that the only valuable learning is classroom based and you can handle the class schedule -- go for it. If you need the flexibility that distance education offers -- go for it.

I attended 3 colleges and earned my AASN the old fashioned way but obtained my BS, 2 masters, and a graduate certificate, by distance. I always tell people that I would never have been able to progress past my associate if it wasn't for distance education. Good luck to everyone no matter what system you choose.

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