PresentPerfect

Just so you know, the programs had changed a lot since 2016. It is no longer 'isn't bad'. Many classes had way to much workload for an RN to BSN program. The worst one is the capstone where you will have to secure the clinical site on your own. I have 4.0 in the program so far and haven't been able to register into the capstone class. Instead of graduation in Fall 2025, I will have to TRY to get enrolled in Spring 2026. WOW! If you're considering going to Ohio University RN to BSN program, please know that you are on your own getting the contract between Ohio University and the clinical site finalized. It could take 2-3 months with no contract. Then, you will have to look ON YOUR OWN to secure another clinical site!! Many places do not accept non-employee to do capstone at their sites. To volunteer at a school or clinics, the onboarding process could take up to a month, and then however long it takes to get the contract between Ohio U and the site finialized. Then, you will miss the whole entire semester, and delay the graduation. My advice, go somewhere else!

Just so you know, the programs had changed a lot since 2016. It is no longer 'isn't bad'. Many classes had way to much workload for an RN to BSN program. The worst one is the capstone where you will have to secure the clinical site on your own. I have 4.0 in the program so far and haven't been able to register into the capstone class. Instead of graduation in Fall 2025, I will have to TRY to get enrolled in Spring 2026. WOW! If you're considering going to Ohio University RN to BSN program, please know that you are on your own getting the contract between Ohio University and the clinical site finalized. It could take 2-3 months with no contract. Then, you will have to look ON YOUR OWN to secure another clinical site!! Many places do not accept non-employee to do capstone at their sites. To volunteer at a school or clinics, the onboarding process could take up to a month, and then however long it takes to get the contract between Ohio U and the site finialized. Then, you will miss the whole entire semester, and delay the graduation. My advice, go somewhere else!

Instead of graduation in Fall 2025, I will have to TRY to get enrolled in Spring 2026. WOW!!! If you're considering going to Ohio University RN to BSN program, please know that you are on your own getting the contract between Ohio University and the clinical site finalized. It could take 2-3 months with no contract. Then, you will have to look ON YOUR OWN to secure another clinical site!! Many places do not accept non-employee to do capstone at their sites. To volunteer at a school or clinics, the onboarding process could take up to a month, and then however long it takes to get the contract between Ohio U and the site finialized. Then, you will miss the whole entire semester, and delay the graduation. My advice, go somewhere else!!!

When you filled out the preceptor agreement there is a section for you to declare whether an affiliation agreement (AA, contract) between OU and your hospital is needed. OU doesn't require a contract, but if your hospital requires one, then you will fill out an affiliation agreement form. Here is the quote from the preceptor form where you declare whether a contract is needed: "Clinical Practicum Site Affiliation Agreement Information: Students and/or Preceptor MUST confirm with the facility if an AA is required and provide contact information for the personnel who verified the information. Please make certain you are contacting the correct person/department at the clinical facility regarding the need for an Affiliation Agreement. This is typically handled through the facility's Human Resources, Clinical Education, or Administration. Verifying only with the preceptor is NOT acceptable. ***Failure to correctly identify and document facility AA needs may result in AUTOMATIC COURSE FAILURE.***" There is no such form that I can take to my manager to sign. Did your preceptor form have the above quote on the form? At first, I thought I wouldn't bother with the contract. I will just do the capstone without informing the hospital, and a nurse on the floor is willing to precept me. But, classmate say that OU will contact the hospital to confirm. One classmate declared AA is not needed, and OU contacted her that her hospital requires one and has it in place. So, in her case, she just have to correct the preceptor form to say that AA is needed. Since a contract is in place and current, she is ready to go into the class. In my case, I'm the first person in the hospital that needs a contract with OU so I had to request one. As a result, OU and my hospital cannot come to an agreement. So, I have to look elsewhere. I wish I could just have my manager sign a form, and I'm in. Did they not ask you whether a contract is needed for you to enroll in the class?

I don't understand what you're asking. I am sorry I thought I was very clear in my last message. What about my last message is unclear?

Yes, I started OU after ADN. Not all facilities need to have a contract. OU does not require a contract, but most hospitals require a contract. It maybe better to approach home health, long term care, clinics, free clinics, schools, or private practice offices, for these places likely may not require a contract. But, then again, you must ask each place to determine whether they need a contract for you to do a capstone. For example, "can I do my capstone through my volunteer work at your organization? If so, do you need to have a contract?" If it's a private practice offices, they usually don't need one. Then you can submit the form naming the private office as your clinical site. Then, you can register into NRSE 4600 and start your class. I also know nobody that had attended OU, but they have Facebook groups that you can ask questions from former and current students of the program. On Facebook, search for "Ohio University RN to BSN online-academic outreach initiative" group. There are separate groups for each course of the program, for example, search for "OU NRSE 4600", "OU NRSE 4510" groups. However, nobody in the group had suggested asking their hospitals early on whether they already have an existing contract with OU. Nobody suggests that on top of asking the hospitals, try to approach your primary care physician, your kid's school, local free clinics to do the capstone project. Because if you can find a place that allows you to do your capstone without a contract, then you're in the class. And, it's much easier to get into the class with a place without a contract. You can start the process of getting the contract between your hospital and OU. But, just like me, it took a long time and no contract which left me at square one. Now, I don't even know, I will be able to graduate by the end of the year because of this issue. Any questions, let me know.

UPDATE: I hit a major roadblock with the capstone course. Despite the best efforts, OU and the hospital can't reach a contract agreement for the clinical placement. Now I am on my own to find a new site, and graduation feels incredibly uncertain. The anxiety and stress have been overwhelming. Based on this experience, I would like to offer some advice. Learn from my mistake and get answers to these questions before selecting the RN to BSN program: Ask your employer if a contract is required for the capstone project and if they have one with the university. If a contract is needed and OU is being considered, find out if an agreement is already in place. If not, ask the workplace which universities they do have existing contracts with. Consider going to these programs instead of OU. This process will prevent a massive headache. Even if the hospital has a contract with OU, I would still suggest going to other programs. The RN to BSN program at OU is excessively demanding. Other programs offer a less burdensome path to the same degree. Btw, I have 4.0 GPA in the RN to BSN program at OU, and I still would recommend other programs.

I hit a major roadblock with the capstone course. Despite the best efforts, OU and the hospital can't reach a contract agreement for the clinical placement. Now I am on my own to find a new site, and graduation feels incredibly uncertain. The anxiety and stress have been overwhelming. Based on this experience, I would like to offer some advice. Learn from my mistake and get answers to these questions before selecting the RN to BSN program: Ask your employer if a contract is required for the capstone project and if they have one with the university. If a contract is needed and OU is being considered, find out if an agreement is already in place. If not, ask the workplace which universities they do have existing contracts with. Consider going to these programs instead of OU. This process will prevent a massive headache. Even if the hospital has a contract with OU, I would still suggest going to other programs. The RN to BSN program at OU is excessively demanding. Other programs offer a less burdensome path to the same degree. Btw, I have 4.0 GPA in the RN to BSN program at OU, and I still would recommend other programs.

MY UPDATE: Wow, It has been two years since I posted about my struggles as a new grad. I want to report on an update, and I hope it is beneficial for other new grads. The first preceptorship was difficult. After it became clear things weren't working, I requested and received a new preceptor. However, the damage was already done. It felt as though I was constantly under scrutiny, as the first preceptor had reported on performance. The insecurity drove me to look for another job. I was lucky to land an interview at another hospital. I went in for an interview on my day off, and I was offered a position the next day. In a candid moment, the second preceptor at the old hospital said she believed I would have passed as scheduled had I worked with her from the start. However, the feeling of having begun the career on a negative note lingered. The sense that the first preceptor had poisoned the well with colleagues couldn't be shaken. The chance to start over felt too good to pass up. The new offer was accepted, and I resigned. The difference in the second preceptorship was significant. The new preceptor was a model of neutrality. Mistakes were treated as simple learning opportunities, not points of anxiety. I was no longer nervous, and confidence grew. I committed to learning completely and working had as I had done at the former hospital. But, this time the hard work could be felt by the preceptor, as she shifted from neutral to positive. The preceptorship was passed with flying colors. The success that followed was more than imagined. In the first year, I was nominated for the DAISY award twice and received several patient recognition tickets. On top of that, the new job is closer to home and pays a little more. But most importantly, I feels liked and trusted by the colleagues. Looking back, the biggest lesson learned was the importance of advocating for oneself. It wasn't seen at the time, but the first preceptor's personal dislike created a toxic environment. The bias was felt, which created anxiety that fueled mistakes. I took all the blame, but now understands that a biased preceptor's influence can truly break a new nurse. Having a supportive preceptor made me realize that my poor performance during the first preceptorship was likely impacted by a negative relationship with the initial preceptor.

I have done 3 of 9 classes so far. 4510 and 4540 are horrible, very time consuming. 4540 was especially bad because the instructions were very vague. For all five weeks, after reading the instructions, I would be so lost of where to even begin. The instructions were so vague and broad that I didn't know where to start. I would spent 2 days reading about subject, and still unclear on how to organize the paper. It took me another 2 days to barely finish the paper. And, there went my 4 off days, and went back to work my 3 days of 12 hrs shift. A few students failed from previous attempt and had to retake with my class, and this is meant to be for working professionals?! I think not! I would recommend everyone that is considering RN to BSN at Ohio University to go somewhere else.

I meant I wouldn't try to fight the decision of termination--I'll just leave. I want to part ways amicably. I have always learned and grown more from difficult situations. This situation is no difference. So, of course, I have learned a lot from this situations after reflection. It has been a valuable lesson. I apologize for not including all the nuances and minute details. It is not my intention to come across ungrateful of this experience and opportunity they have given me. In facts, I did state my gratitude to them in both meetings. Most importantly, I'm grateful for your replies and thoughtful input. Thank you.

I have a questions for someone who is in managerial role. I am just wondering the reason behind my manager actions. I am a new grad. I just finished the last shift with my preceptors. I made some repeated medical errors. I have no excuses for them--I made those errors. I really have no regrets because I showed up for every shift, willing to work hard. I just made errors. I am learning, and making fewer errors. I have come to the end of my preceptorship. The first meeting, we came up with some goals to meet, and I was extended 3 shifts. I requested a new preceptor. They accommodated. I got a new preceptor. After the 3-shift extension, I still made some med errors. We had another meeting. They pointed out that I showed improvement, but still did not meet some goals. I agree. The next part is what puzzling me. They asked me to write a reflection on why I did not meet and what can they (the managers, educators) do to help me fix those problems so that they can come up with a plan. I was suspended. From the sound of it, I feel like they didn't want me on the floor because I was unsafe. I even ask them is there even a point for all this? I mean, if they terminate me, I'll just leave. I think I made that clear to them. So, why all this writing about reflection and making a plan to address my shortcomings? Anyone know why? Thank you!

@sillymu I tried searching for the group but cannot find it. Can you reply with the link. I am seriously considering the program. Thank you.

Is the program doable with someone working full time?

Thanks all for your contribution. Give me ideas on what to look for and look out for in my fun class.