Online RN BSN -- What if any are the disadvantages?

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Hi,

I'm an ADN and am looking into various RN to BSN programs, both on the ground and distance. I have researched many of the popular online RNS to BSN programs and have looked at the curricula offered.

One school I'm considering costs more but included in the degree requirements are courses in pathophysiology, nursing informatics, public health, plus an extra course in community nursing. This program is 42 units to graduate and would cost me about $15-20K and take about four semesters, maybe longer.

The two other schools I'm considering are more "bare bones". They don't include pathophysiology or the public health component or informatics. They are 30-32 units of nursing requirements and would cost me about $10K.

I guess my question is this: is there any reason to pick a school that includes pathophysiology and these other components? I do know that I want to continue on to an MSN and want to be sure I maximize my BSN degree if it makes sense to do so at this point in time. Or, alternatively, could I find a patho class and anything else I need at a later date if I apply to an MSN program that needs those courses?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

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Specializes in peds-trach/vent.

i think public health is an important/required class. everyone usually offers it.im curious, which school is not requiring it? if your going for you msn eventually, then i would contact some schools to see if it is required and if it needs to be on your transcript.:)

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Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

I am surprised there is no pathophys class. I am enrolled in an online BSN class and pathophys and health assessment were both required. I would not go to a school where these were not part of the curriculum.

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Thanks! Yes, I'm starting to wonder about the pathophysiology in particular and wondering if I need to look at schools with this in mind. The "down and dirty" BSN-RN online schools do include community nursing but not specifically public health/epidemiology. It's hard to compare, sometimes it feels like apples and oranges. However, my ADN program did not specifically include a pathophysiology class so that seems like it will be a hole in my learning that I'll want to fill.

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Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

Pathophys is very intreresting and very useful. Best class. I also had a health assessment class that was very useful. As floor nurses we would never have enough time to do an assessment this in depth but it is a good class to take.

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Specializes in Pediatrics and Med Surf Float.

I just registered for classes on an online rn-bsn program. there is a health assessment course and community health course but no patho course.

that good or bad?

its a online rn to bsn. the brick and mortar school has a ba-bsn program and traditional bsn program.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Personally, I would select an RN-to-BSN program that offers both an online format as well as a brick-and-mortar option. Some hiring managers have secretly admitted that they toss resumes into file number 13 (a.k.a. the wastebasket) if they see an online school listed.

For example, schools such as the University of Wyoming and Liberty University offer online BSN completion programs as well as brick-and-mortar programs, so hiring managers will not necessarily know that you completed an online program if they see these schools listed on your resume.

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Thanks, TheCommuter. I am only looking into online schools with brick and mortar options, since I know exactly what you mean about what hiring managers might assume otherwise. That being said, even the online schools with brick and mortar presence really do differ in what they require. I guess my biggest question is what kind of curricula make a difference when it comes to moving onto the MSN options. I am still not really sure what I want in terms of the MSN, which makes it hard to research individual MSN programs at the moment. I mostly want to be sure my RN to BSN is as comprehensive and versatile as is necessary, which is why I'm starting to wonder about the bare bones online RN to MSN programs (i.e,. those that don't include pathophysiology or a clearly delineated community health course). I want to be sure that what's on my transcript is easily interpreted by MSN programs as having "filled the bill."

Currently, the programs I've found that include pathophysiology look like University of Wyoming, Grand Canyon and my local option, Cal State Dominguez. Those that don't include pathophysiology that I've looked into and have seriously considered otherwise are UTA and OU. OU has community health but no health promotion, UTA has health promotion but no community health.

So confusing!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Have you looked into Oklahoma Wesleyan University? They offer an online RN-to-BSN program with a ground brick-and-mortar option, and pathophysiology is a prerequisite or corequisite course.

Thanks, TheCommuter. I am only looking into online schools with brick and mortar options, since I know exactly what you mean about what hiring managers might assume otherwise. That being said, even the online schools with brick and mortar presence really do differ in what they require. I guess my biggest question is what kind of curricula make a difference when it comes to moving onto the MSN options. I am still not really sure what I want in terms of the MSN, which makes it hard to research individual MSN programs at the moment. I mostly want to be sure my RN to BSN is as comprehensive and versatile as is necessary, which is why I'm starting to wonder about the bare bones online RN to MSN programs (i.e,. those that don't include pathophysiology or a clearly delineated community health course). I want to be sure that what's on my transcript is easily interpreted by MSN programs as having "filled the bill."

Currently, the programs I've found that include pathophysiology look like University of Wyoming, Grand Canyon and my local option, Cal State Dominguez. Those that don't include pathophysiology that I've looked into and have seriously considered otherwise are UTA and OU. OU has community health but no health promotion, UTA has health promotion but no community health.

So confusing!

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Specializes in Psych.

UTA's community health is covered in "Vulnerable Populations". Honestly, I got more out of that than I did the community class in my ADN program.

UTA's RN-BSN program got me into UTA's MSN program, and it seems like at least half the people in my MSN class went to UT for their BSN or RN-BSN. So I would look at where you want to do your master's and go there for the bridge.

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