Does anyone think that online Rn to Bsn programs might be considered inferior by nurse recruiters?
I know it should not be that way.
I am hearing horror stories of grads of other professions who have degrees obtained online but can not find jobs.
Lots of recruiters of other professions even admit to it.
I think many people have this perception that online schools are not as vigorous as brick and mortar schools.
Of course,there is so much variety of online schools.
Non profit,schools that are regionally accredited but have no brick and mortar campus(WGU)
For profit schools that are regionally accredited(Chamberlain) with a brick and mortar campus.
Some are non profit with a brick and mortar campus but not accredited(my old Adn school just started an Rn to Bsn program but it is not accredited yet. The Adn was Acen accredited since the late 60's). If i start there in Sept i would be in the 1st Rn to Bsn class to graduate from the school.
Wgu is giving me a vibe of "We accept anyone",
WHy? I know for a FACT i failed the entrance exam,but the recruiter said i passed.
Oh, and I forgot to add: to imply (or say) that your schools were "real schools" because they were brick and mortar is an insult to anyone who has worked hard through an online or hybrid (online and brick and mortar school) curriculum. I believe the schools I received my degrees from were just as "real" as yours (and the regional accreditations they hold substantiate this).
Several posters on AN have said they finished the adn to bsn coursework at wgu in six months. That makes it a diploma mill.
Did it occur to you that they, like myself, may already have college education or a college degree and that is why they are able to complete their requirements so quickly? Having completed my MBA in Health Care Management at WGU with it taking me 3 years, I can assure you that it isn't a diploma mill like you allege. However, because I already have a Bachelor's degree, it's very possible that I could complete a second Bachelor's degree from them within a very short period of time.
The question comes down to, if two applicants are to be presented with the same qualification and the only difference is that one went to an online school and the other to the brick and mortar, the latter will have an upper hand most of the time. I personally thinks a school name matters a lot. A Stanford/ Harvard graduate stands out compared to a small school obviously. So that name is crucial
So, basically the summary of this thread is that a lot of online colleges are shady and allow you to get a degree in less time compared to commuting to a campus? I mean, I understand that a lot of RNs go to work right after their ADN because they want experience and the chance to pay down their student loans, so if online education for your BSN is really just a joke, that's sad.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Here's the thing - for experienced nurses, most hospitals do not care where you got your BSN, just that you have it. They want it for their numbers, so they can say "X number of our nurses have their BSNs". So as long as you have a BSN, they are going to be looking at your experience. That is where the rubber meets the road.
A coworker of mine is doing the on line in FNP at univ of Walden.
The "professor" does not attend the online discussion group. She complains that "we have to teach ourselves."
These WGU and UW online programs are not Universities. They are call centers.
They are staffed by sales people who want you to take out federal student loans. No interviews no gpa requirements waived prerequesites no GRE for MSN programs.
Frankly they should not be allowed to advertise on a professional nursing forum.
WGU is fully accredited, with regional accreditation that is the same as a brick and mortar. It's also accredited by the CCNE. No matter how long it takes to get your degree, it fails to meet the definition of a diploma mill. I only did my BSN there, not my MSN - so I can't comment on the MSN capstone. They did however recently change it to a field experience based project instead of the survey 'research' so maybe that complaint is now addressed. And WGU, as previously discussed, also requires a 90-hour community health practicum.
Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.
I have found that unless you reach out to people in your classes (online) you can get into a rut that you are the only one that is struggling with something. I have learned to ask a lot of questions from the professors, other students so you feel part of something. Online or brick mortar, I think getting to know teacher and others is really helpful.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
A coworker of mine is doing the on line in FNP at univ of Walden.
The "professor" does not attend the online discussion group. She complains that "we have to teach ourselves."
These WGU and UW online programs are not Universities. They are call centers.
They are staffed by sales people who want you to take out federal student loans. No interviews no gpa requirements waived prerequesites no GRE for MSN programs.
Frankly they should not be allowed to advertise on a professional nursing forum.
You clearly know very little about WGU. They are a non profit university. The majority of students pay OUT OF POCKET, and do not take out student loans. Because their tuition is so reasonable, they are able to do so. They do have course instructors, as well as student mentors. You are spewing nonsense based on hearsay, without any personal knowledge.
There are many reputable B&M schools that also do not require the GRE for their graduate programs either. So what?
mya612, BSN, RN
52 Posts
Oh, and I forgot to add: to imply (or say) that your schools were "real schools" because they were brick and mortar is an insult to anyone who has worked hard through an online or hybrid (online and brick and mortar school) curriculum. I believe the schools I received my degrees from were just as "real" as yours (and the regional accreditations they hold substantiate this).
Did it occur to you that they, like myself, may already have college education or a college degree and that is why they are able to complete their requirements so quickly? Having completed my MBA in Health Care Management at WGU with it taking me 3 years, I can assure you that it isn't a diploma mill like you allege. However, because I already have a Bachelor's degree, it's very possible that I could complete a second Bachelor's degree from them within a very short period of time.