nizhoni

Hi PurpleCali, Did you enroll at SNHU to study the MSN in Patient Safety and Quality? If so, how did you feel about the program? Specifically, I would like to know how student progress is assessed in this program. Are assessments based primarily on quizzes and exams or through writing papers? How did you feel about the quality of the educational experience? I appreciate any help you can provide.

Checking to see if anyone out there has attended NAU's competency-based MSN program.

Hi Dom, It looks like you and I are the only two people interested in a Pediatric CNS program. Hmmm. I have researched this subject thoroughly and, like you, I am leaning toward the CNS programs. I like the breadth of the role in comparison to the NP approach. I am nearly at the end of a very successful career and have some very specific goals, especially in research, and feel as though the CNS pathway will be best for my needs. So far I have found only a few online CNS programs that offer a specialty in Pediatrics (which I assume is your interest, given your background). Of the ones that I have found, Old Dominion appears to me to be the strongest program. What are your thoughts so far? I am wondering why you prefer the CNS route. In light of the paucity of responses here, I wonder if being a CNS has a future. It would be a shame to close down this pathway for future applicants.

Actually, elkpark, the American Board for Specialty Nursing Certification accredited the certification programs of the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Center in 2014. The ABNSC is also the accrediting body for the ANCC. For documentation of this fact, please refer to: Approved Certification Programs | ABNS – American Board of Nursing Specialties

I registered at Frontier Nursing University as a non-matriculating student and took Statistics (Nursing 404) online. I was so afraid that I would be the first student at FNU to fail the Stats class. Instead, I got an "A!" The class was difficult at first (largely because the information was new to me and I was, as I said, anxiety-ridden about it) but it got easier as I went along. There were 5 modules, each with an open-book graded assignment (i.e., a quiz) with no time limit for completion once the quiz started. There were no formulas to memorize; instead, the statistical work centered on uses of the well-known SPSS computer program. There was also an opportunity for an application to a clinical situation--I got worried about this, too, but as it turned out it was key to really understanding and applying the learning. The final quiz was not open book but some notes were allowed (there are specific criteria for notes for the final exam). I have to say that this was one of the best classes I have ever taken and I was genuinely sorry when it was over. Highly recommend that you consider this route to a Statistics class that is specific for nurses and carries a Nursing academic designation (rather than a math or social science designation, if that's important to the program to which you are applying). It was a little pricey out-of-pocket but ended up being worth every last penny. My peers seemed to feel mostly the same way.

Metroishka, Evidently you and I came to the same conclusions after doing our respective "due diligence." For me it also was either Aspen or WGU. Aspen won out by virtue of my projection of cost and time investment. I am very happy in the Aspen program; I am far from graduation but have learned so much thus far. I recommended WGU to my daughter, a Business Marketing major, and she is enrolled in her first class and loves it. I saw the "inner workings" of the program and it is definitely excellent. Lots of mentoring, but Aspen offers the same--a very personalized experience. I think you will just have to make that hard choice--but either way you choose, I believe you will be pleased.

Good for you, metroishka! I think you will be very happy with the program. I am so relieved to be getting my MSN. The Aspen program is challenging (because you are actually learning new things!) but not crippling (nearly everyone's concern). Let us know about your experience!

So glad you are enjoying the program! I was confident you'd love it! I am in Nursing Theory right now. Send me a message via Aspen if you'd like!

I work with a company that dovetails nicely with my nursing expertise. For me, this is much more about helping provide preventative and restorative health care than it is about driving sales.

Hi Steeleworks, Your post was very interesting, as I have been highly involved in midwifery and holistic nursing (primarily homeopathy) for many years now. I would like to offer a differing point of view regarding MLMs and network marketing, however. Direct marketing has allowed me to have additional income that also utilizes my knowledge of nursing and nutrition. I am able to assist a subset of individuals whose needs for improved health and vitality are usually unmet, utilizing technology that exists because of new research in genetic science and micronutrients. Direct marketing is just a way to market a product--that's it. Trust people and free market enterprise to work.

Hi Mtsteelhorse, You will receive an email a few days ahead of the start date giving you the information on getting started in the class. It's pretty straightforward! It wouldn't hurt a thing to start reading now, though your reading will also be directed via the assignments. I really enjoyed 490, and the instructor, Fionda, is excellent in terms of giving feedback. As I recall you were worried about APA formatting, and she will give you good feedback about that too. My best advice is to plan to do one module per week. You can do this! See you soon!!

Dear Quiet1, So happy to hear you were accepted! It's great to find a program that is what it says it is! See you on the Aspen message boards!

Hi Skyyy-- I am not sure what kind of work experience will allow them to waive the usual requirement, but they are fairly generous about other aspects of the process. Recommend you call Aspen and ask for the Admissions Coordinator for more information on the specifics of this. Good luck!

Dear Mtsteelhorse! Congratulations on your acceptance to Aspen! For APA style formatting, I have primarily been using the 6th ed. of the APA Publications Manual of the American Psychological Association. I have not used a computer program because my needs are being met by using the book. Occasionally I refer also to the information that Fionda has provided. You will find her to be very helpful! And we have a friendly and helpful cohort of nursing students in the program. No worries! It did take me awhile to write the papers at first and it worried me because of other time constraints, but I have gotten much faster, especially now that I am accustomed to the format. You will, too! For word processing, I use Word on a Mac computer. It's been just great. We will see you in June!!! Congratulations once again!

Hi nlmoore, To answer your question, the Nursing program at Aspen is already CCNE-accredited. I know how important and arduous the accreditation process is because I direct an accredited direct-entry midwifery school. Student interviews are a critical aspect of accreditation; the accrediting agency representatives want to know that the school actually does what it purports to do. The fact that the Nursing program has received CCNE accreditation and that Aspen University is DETC-accredited (i.e., nationally accredited rather than regionally accredited) is noteworthy.