Online RN or continue through

Perpetual Student · Jan 23, 2012

I would take the brick and mortar program without a moment's hesitation if I were you. It's one thing to do a BSN or MSN online as an experienced nurse, but doing so to become an RN (even as an LPN) isn't necessarily the best way to go. Esp. with how the job market is these days.

ConsideringNursing79 · Jan 23, 2012

The program is a Hybrid offered through my school. I know someone who didn't pass boards doing it that way, but she admitted she really didn't apply herself well for online classes.

Perpetual Student · Jan 23, 2012

The program is a Hybrid offered through my school. I know someone who didn't pass boards doing it that way, but she admitted she really didn't apply herself well for online classes.

If it includes quality in-person sessions for skills and decent clinical training it may be worth considering then.

BluegrassRN · Jan 23, 2012

If it includes quality in-person sessions for skills and decent clinical training it may be worth considering then.

I'm curious by this perpetuation of the myth that on line schools don't require any sort of clinical component.

On line RN programs must meet the same clinical requirements as brick and mortar schools. In fact, in my state all on line programs are simply divisions of brick and mortar schools. I hold a degree from a certain CC and state university. Nothing on it says that I graduated from the on line portion of their programs, rather than the classroom based portion. I still completed the same amount of clinicals, supervised by a clinical instructor from the school (per the state BON requirements), as those in the classroom based programs.

Unless the state BON regs are lax, all programs must complete the same amount of clinical hours. Online refers to the didactic portion of the program, not the clinicals, people. Just FYI. Sorry to hijack.

To the OP: Why can't you work part time? I agree with PS, I'd take the grant and go with the 12 month program now. If you need some cash, work part time or PRN as an LPN. Added bonus: you'll already have nursing experience when you are a new grad RN.

netglow, ASN, RN · Jan 23, 2012

There is only one answer: Take the Grant money.

Perpetual Student · Jan 23, 2012

More often than not when referring to online education at the LPN to RN level someone is considering Excelsior or whatever it's calling itself today, or worse yet one of the publishing companies that ostensibly help you with their program. It was wrong of me to assume that was what OP was talking about, but there was nothing in the OP to imply that it was going to be a locally based program. My understanding is that such programs are still pretty rare. I'm a big proponent of online education in general.

In this case it makes a lot more sense for OP to take advantage of the grant money, graduate sooner, and get to work making more money as an RN. If you calculated out the expenses and income you'd make as an LPN for that short period of time you would likely see that doing the faster program will be the most cost effective. And as previously mentioned by Bluegrass you could always work PT or per diem.

ConsideringNursing79 · Jan 23, 2012

I think you guys are right, I am going to go on through. Too much of a good opportunity to pass up. Working part time is a great idea also. As for the online program it is offered locally through the community college. You have to do first year in the class room but can do second year online and you do clinicals twice a week.

vtuhpinc · Jan 24, 2012

Evening guys. Off topic FYI. If you know of any RN's who are interested in a virtual Triage job part time please pass on my email address [email protected]. Great pay, easy work for a Nurse who has been around a while and knows his or her stuff.