online RN program

There are a few things you need to investigate; one being the qualifications or requirements for entry. I don't know about on line programs, but the ones I am aware of usually want the student to be an LPN first, and will not take them if they aren't licensed practical nurses. Also, you need to know if your state accepts on line programs as complying with their requirement for clinical experiences, because most have none. Your program may satisfy that because they are attending clinicals from what you say, but, call them and see if they require you to have your LPN license. I also say this because in many cases, those who have no experience in nursing may have a hard time keeping up with the lectures because they have no exposure to nursing at all. Good luck!

I can't answer you specifically about that program, but I can tell you about mine!

I am going through the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Second Degree Program. This program is mostly online, with some components that are face to face.

In this program, they require you to have a previous bachelors degree and several prerequisites. The program is one year in length (3 semesters). At the end of the program, you have a BSN and can sit for the NCLEX (RN exam).

The program is a very rigorous program and at times you question your sanity, but I love it! We do approximately 270 hours of clinicals each semester (12 hr. shifts). We are assigned to work with a specific preceptor for most of the program. There are occasional clinicals which require you to go with nurses in other units (OB, Psych, etc.). Most of the theory instruction is from reading approx. 16 chapters a week and tests are approx. 1 a week at a proctored site. In addition, there are clinical check points that allow them to teach us new skills that we can then practice in the clinical setting once we are checked off.

I attended one semester of school in a traditional nursing program in '98 and I felt very belittled and insulted on a daily basis by my instructors. I ended up quitting the program and going to school to be a teacher and get a bachelor's degree instead. I can honestly say that the instructors in this program treat you as a professional, responsible, intellectual adult. In addition, they are willing to help you with whatever issues arise in the program. They work hard to help everyone succeed in the program. If you score below a 70 on your exams, they have remediation counselors that are there to help you understand WHY. It doesn't change your grade on the exam, but you get help on understanding what you did wrong. I love my instructors and my program!

Of course there is a TON of information to learn, but that is one of the necessary evils of this profession.

As far as how prepared you are when you get finished: As with any other profession, you are NEVER prepared to come out of school and know EVERYTHING. It is vital that you make connects with other exprienced nurses and ask for help. If you come out of any nursing program and think you know everything, you have a problem! I think the extensive clinical experience that we get helps us to be more prepared in real world nursing. They also encourage us to question practices and make changes according to evidence based practice through research.

I hope that this gives you a little bit of insight into how the online programs work. You are no less prepared from this program than with any other program. In our program, I feel like you come out less emotionally scarred and you are able to carry yourself as a professional when you are done.

Good Luck to all!

I am going through an online RN program right now. It is an accelerated (4semesters) program for people who already have a health care degree. I have my Bachelor of Science in another health care field.

We have clinicals at the hospital 2 days a week. All classes are online, with proctored tests about once a week. This works out well for me because I have always been better at "teaching myself". When I sit in a classroom for hours on end, I tend to tune out from time to time, but when I learn at home at my own pace, I can take breaks when I need to. Our instructors will allow us to come on campus and take a "seated" class if we are struggling in the online portion. It's also nice because it allows me to work several days a week so I can pay my bills. If I was going to nursing school on campus, I doubt I would be able to do that. It's rigorous, and I question my sanity pretty much every day, but I think all nursing programs will do that to ya!

Online learning is not for everyone- I have friends who say they need to learn in a classroom or they will never understand the material. I have always been a good student, but I have found that one of the hardest things with this online program is self-discipline. There are times that I just don't want to log on and read a bunch of lectures, but that is my classroom time and I need to treat it as such.

Good luck!

Thanks for all your replies. This is very helpful.

Just one more question: how much time do you put into lectures and studying every day? I'm a paramedic, and I would like to work at least one or two days a week (12-hour days). Is that possible? I'm hoping that I will already know a lot of what's taught in nursing school (ECG, pharm, etc).