I hold one post graduate degree working on a second and two Baccalaureate degrees. Yes, I like school a whole lot. I have taken online courses but find them to be relatively easy compared to in-school classes. When I earned my BSN from my RN the ease of earning the degree was simple. The coreqs were difficult when compared to the nursing classes. The Masters was even easier then the "upgrade" to my BSN.
I have had a few friends earn "pay for" online degrees. I assisted them on many occasions with their studies over the last few years. I found the online classes to be even simpler then the in school classes. My point of all this is I think with the abundance of online nursing schools it down grades our professions educational system.
THis is based on the supply and demand model. Meaning more schools same customer base means lower standards. If they did not lower standards then they would have "empty seats" in their "classes rooms." It seems with the eruption of online classess these company's that "chase" the LPN, RN and BSN perpared students do it for the money.
Well this is all well and good for the company that is making the $$$$$ but not for our profession. Look at PT, Pharm D, MD and DO schools they are there to make money but they limit the number. MD and DO schools make up about 140 school in the USA. Just how many nursing schools are they in the New York and California let alone the the other 48 states.
There are many reasons for the limited supply of the above professionals. But if any one has a copy of todays WALL STREET JOURNAL the bottom right under the "Inside Today's Journal" section look at the Home Improvement Made Easier. The contractors are now offering discounts because the "hot" market is cooling. In other words there is more supply (contractors) then demand. So what do they do lower their standards meaning how much $$$$ they will take to do the job.
This I can compare to many things but to remain on topic all the online schools and their continued rise to recruit new LPN's, RN's and BSN's. Standards must go down.......................................
I am an RN (with my BSN) that will be starting my MSN in Nursing Education (online) this fall (2006). I think the administrative graduate degrees are equivalent to those that are at a "brick and mortar" school, and believe that ANY accredited school offering didactic graduate degrees (i.e., nurse practitioner, etc.) require that you have a preceptor with a large number of clinical hours.
It took me a long time to weed out a decent online school ...and mine is attached to a "brick and mortar school" - as there are some out there that are thought of "degree factories" moreso than anything else.
I have often wondered about distance learning programs...and have come to this conclusion. I am a pre-nursing student, and so far, I have taken all my classes in an actual classroom. I have thought about taking some online courses, though, and will maybe do it in the future. As for actually getting my BSN completely online, I would not do that. At least not the nursing courses...I think there is a lot to be learned from classroom interaction. However, for people who are experienced nurses getting their BSN, I see no problem with this! For nurses who want to become NPs, I see no problem...as others have mentioned, there is a large clinicial component to go along with the learning. So, I have nothing against online classes, and see them as a great oppurtunity. I don't think someone should choose an online program because it's "easy" though. I think that is the wrong motivation for education!
Just my 2cents!, I have a friend who has been a RN for 15 years and went through the traditional ADN then after 10 yrs as a staff nurse went back and got her BSN, she said her clinicals and her nursing classes, esp., in the ADN where a terrible experience and what she needed to be a good nurse she learned on the job from other nurses and through her own experiences.
Now that I have been in a hospital environment for 2 yrs, I believe her!, and now I am going to go through EC to complete my RN. I believe school is one facet of many facets of nursing career experience but the real learning I believe is out there in the trenches! Some people have this idea that once a person graduates from school, it's like ok you're a nurse but the truth is ours is a profession that may take years to mold us into "good nurses". There is so much to learn, to trully grasp!, and this is never ending and we all learn at different paces...ok I think this is getting off on a rant and I am getting tired(gotta work tonight )
I'm a pre-nursing student, but I do know a bit about online learning.
I attend a community college and so far have accrued 30 s.h., 22 online. My classes on campus were much easier. All I had to do was show up and take the test. With online learning, I have to post on the DB, write papers, group projects (which I hate), etc. The tests are also online. I still prefer this method due to the convenience. Many of the people I know refuse to take these classes because they know they don't have the discipline to succeed.
I am an LPN and for the most part teach RN's alot and vice versa and it's sad because the initals behind my name I am prejude by people like you that I am not as good as a R.N. So I'll be doing distance learning because I have had real life experience. I find that people who have to tell everybody the degrees that they have earned feel in adequate for a reason. Just because you have a higher degree doesn't mean you make a better nurse. or if you sit in a class room or distance learning. I've seen good LPN's Good RN's. Also seen ones that don't care and are in it for the money. So you need to stop sticking your nose up at LPN's and distance learner!!!!!
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
I am an LPN and for the most part teach RN's alot and vice versa and it's sad because the initals behind my name I am prejude by people like you that I am not as good as a R.N. So I'll be doing distance learning because I have had real life experience. I find that people who have to tell everybody the degrees that they have earned feel in adequate for a reason. Just because you have a higher degree doesn't mean you make a better nurse. or if you sit in a class room or distance learning. I've seen good LPN's Good RN's. Also seen ones that don't care and are in it for the money. So you need to stop sticking your nose up at LPN's and distance learner!!!!!
Huh? Who is this directed at? I am confused...which is not that surprising...lol.
This isn't an issue of good nurse/bad nurse this is a question of knowledge base. Yes there are good LPN's but let's face it there have been 2 levels of nursing established for a reason and an LPN does not equate into an RN. Does an LPN really have the knowledge base to establish a plan of care for a patient and evaluate the patient out come? Do they reallly learn all that in a one year program? If so I'll gladly change my position but in the mean time you can't compare apples and oranges. Same goes for a 2 year versus
a 4 year training program. The greater the knowledge base the better the nurse and the better the patient out comes which is really what we are bottom line concerned with.
This isn't an issue of good nurse/bad nurse this is a question of knowledge base. Yes there are good LPN's but let's face it there have been 2 levels of nursing established for a reason and an LPN does not equate into an RN. Does an LPN really have the knowledge base to establish a plan of care for a patient and evaluate the patient out come? Do they reallly learn all that in a one year program? If so I'll gladly change my position but in the mean time you can't compare apples and oranges. Same goes for a 2 year versus
a 4 year training program. The greater the knowledge base the better the nurse and the better the patient out comes which is really what we are bottom line concerned with.
I think it depends on what LPN's and RN's do. An LPN who has been booking it on a med-surg floor for 10 yrs. is going to have a lot more experience than an RN who sits behind a desk most of the day. I've seen this before. I worked with an RN who could do paperwork all day, but when her job was eliminated after 14 yrs. she had to get out on the floor, and she fell completely apart. The DON had to give her the easy hall with just a few patients and she still is having a terrible time swinging with it.
I like to think my RN license makes me more knowledgeable than LPN's. I know I devoted a lot of time an energy to be able to have the title of RN. Maybe in general, I'm more educated. But it isn't always the case.
I think it depends on what LPN's and RN's do. An LPN who has been booking it on a med-surg floor for 10 yrs. is going to have a lot more experience than an RN who sits behind a desk most of the day. I've seen this before. I worked with an RN who could do paperwork all day, but when her job was eliminated after 14 yrs. she had to get out on the floor, and she fell completely apart. The DON had to give her the easy hall with just a few patients and she still is having a terrible time swinging with it.
I like to think my RN license makes me more knowledgeable than LPN's. I know I devoted a lot of time an energy to be able to have the title of RN.
Maybe in general, I'm more educated. But it isn't always the case.
I still don't see how you can compare the two. The RN's responsibilities are
different than that of an LPN. An Rn can get out and pass breakfast trays and put people on a bedpan just like a CNA, she can give meds just like an
LPN, but who else besides the RN is responsible for assessing and reporting
changes to the Doctors, calling doctors and making sure all the orders on all the patients are carried out- where I work these are all RN functions that can only be carried out by RN's
LPN, but who else besides the RN is responsible for assessing and reporting
changes to the Doctors, calling doctors and making sure all the orders on all the patients are carried out- where I work these are all RN functions that can only be carried out by RN's
Where I am from the only thing the LPN dosen't do is care plans.
srknurse
27 Posts
I am an RN (with my BSN) that will be starting my MSN in Nursing Education (online) this fall (2006). I think the administrative graduate degrees are equivalent to those that are at a "brick and mortar" school, and believe that ANY accredited school offering didactic graduate degrees (i.e., nurse practitioner, etc.) require that you have a preceptor with a large number of clinical hours.
It took me a long time to weed out a decent online school ...and mine is attached to a "brick and mortar school" - as there are some out there that are thought of "degree factories" moreso than anything else.
SRKNurse