mareeh77

Thanks for that info. I'm hoping in being able to complete the online RN-BSN program at Chamberlain by early next year. Since I am a new grad RN, I want to get some experience under my belt before diving into an MSN. After doing some research, I've decided that I want the MSN/MBA and then go on to get certification for NP, if I decide that I am still interested in that route. I am still hoping to convince my husband to uproot ourselves out of sunny San Diego if I get accept into schools, such as UCSF or UPenn. I'm not counting on it though. But, I am highly considering Drexel University's online BSN-MSN program; although, it has been pretty tough for me to find any information on it. I was also looking into Chamberlain's Leadership MSN program. Have they told you what the cost will be in regards to their MSN program per credit hour? I know that it starts getting pricier for their MSN program. I heard from an old coworker that the MSN does have group projects based on course descriptions. I, of course, did not go out of my way to read course descriptions and have not yet come across anyone that is currently in their MSN program to get a more reliable account on this.

Hello, I was just wondering if you've already looked into MSN programs. Did you have any particular schools in mind? I was looking into Drexel University's online program and was wondering if that was one of your school choices. I am hoping that they take Chamberlain graduates. I'm so excited to begin my Chamberlain experience but am just a little concerned on how difficult it will be to get into a grad program after.

I have yet to start with Chamberlain, but I was under the impression that if there was any difficulty with any of the instructors that we could contact an advisor so they could get on top of it. I was told that they are very selective of the instructors that they choose to teach their Gen. Ed. courses for those in the nursing program, and have been known to fire them due to unsatisfactory reviews from nursing students. Is there no one that you can address your concerns to?

I recently finished a nursing program but had a run in with a clinical instructor at the beginning. I was a bridge student, who was still actively working full time as an LVN while in the program. During my very first clinical, I had volunteered to give meds with a staff member and other students observing. The instructor accused me of dispensing the wrong medication. Since I was already currently licensed as an LVN, I could not let an accussation like that go unanswered. I corrected the instructor in front of everyone and let the instructor know that the MAR had the drug listed with the brand name, while the med on hand was under the generic. She was already a bit peeved at me because I had argued with her in regards to wound care orders for another patient. From that day on, she had it in for me. There was one incident that she wrote me up for 2 safety errors. I was terrified from then on to ever speak up during clinicals. My program allowed 3 lifetime safety errors before disqualifying you completely from the nursing program. This all happened within the first 5 clinical meeting. She ended up failing me midterm. Lucky for me, our clinical instructors were changed halfway through. I'm only relaying this because maybe you might have run into some disagreement on something with an instructor that you may have passed off as insignificant. One thing many of us learned through nursing schools is that what the instructor says is golden. Although, there are many who are willing to also learn from their students, there are also those that want you to follow their train of thought (at least, while you are their student). Always, acknowledge that you can see their point and don't argue with any of them. Once you attain your RN, you will no longer need their approval

Hello, I am due to start the RN-BSN online program at Chamberlain in April. Only just learned about this program through allnurses.com :) Almost ended up at Kaplan University, but figured that this program would cost about the same and I would be able to reap the benefits sooner. I was wondering if any of you who either are currently taking or are in the Capstone course could enlighten me with what the course actually entails. Thanks in advance. Especially to those of you who have made me confident in my choice of online learning venue.

I have to agree with the last post. I just graduated this past January and acquired my license in February. I started networking right away, not just with people I knew but also with the staff at the hospitals where I had clinicals. I secured an interview even before acquiring my license and will begin working in the ED in a major hospital in the area where I live in. It did help that I did have continuous 4 year work history working in various acute care settings as an LVN. Just be persistent. I know that I was. Just not to the point where you get on the recruiters nerves. I would send either an inquiry email about every 3 weeks and a phone call about once a month. Worked for me. Good luck.

Hi, I believe that their next start date is in April, but don't quote me. The prereq's are English, Math (college algebra), Psychology, Sociology, Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, Microbiology, and Speech. I have a friend who is a Nurse Practitioner that started at Kaplan when it was still called Maric. After finishing at Maric, she went on to receive her BSN at University of Phoenix. Upon completion, she applied and finished at USD to become a Nurse Practioner. Good luck to you.

i haven't decided yet...i need to still finish up some lower division classes, so i'm planning on doing those online w/ community colleges...i'm trying, as much as possible, to keep cost down...i'm currently working at a local hospital, but i'm still planning on applying at other hospitals..most of the larger hospitals require license in hand by start date in order to be considered for an open position...i'm hoping to be crosstrained to work in ER/ICU...i stil plan on staying on at the hospital that i am at, if only because i enjoy the people i work with...that can be hard to find...

thanks kocheli, i have to say that I'm one of the few people in the program that continued to work full-time throughout due to necessity...i wished that it could have been different since it took a lot away from studying...i work 12 hour night shifts at a local hospital as an LVN...i would say the most difficult thing was trying to stay awake during lectures when coming straight from work (which i did often)...i guess the one thing i look forward to after these 2 weeks is being able to get some sleep...

Thanks....I feel like I'm going to be doing the same thing...I figure that I'm passing regardless, I was just hoping to raise my GPA since last semester killed it for all of us that passed the whole semester...I thought that my 2nd semester was bad since only half continued on to the following semester...but last semester started out with 45 students and we ended up with 17 (majority of us with C's)...I've been told that C=RN, but it's rather disheartening to know that many out there will have the upperhand due to GPA...

thanks...you're so right...i haven't been able to absorb anything...i tried shopping and that didn't seem to work, which is weird if you truly knew me...i decided to try a different environment today to see how that works out...oh well...

the instructors will usually send out your reading assignments before the next semester starts (this is only in regards to the actual nursing courses)...don't count on getting your schedules right away...some give them out earlier than others

the semesters are about 4 months long...with the one week off before the start of a new semester

Thanks JessicaLynn412...I really wish I could take off from work, but I'm financially unable to do that at this point...I have a feeling I'm going to end up not being able take time off to study for the NCLEX when the time comes...I'm hoping to at least have a week off before taking the NCLEX...I'm thinking I'm just going to have to work 6 nights straight in order to do that...I've already been requesting to be 1st call off from work...allnurses.com is my therapy from my life of nursing school...it's nice to be able to communicate with people who are able to better relate to me than my own husband...oh well, hopefully my mind will begin to function tomorrow...I'm thinking of calling it quits for today...

Look into Interamerican College also since you already have a BS...it isn't the prettiest school, but you go straight into a BSN for cheaper...it's in National City...it's up an coming since many aren't aware of the schools nursing program. They were just surveyed for regional accreditation. They are working on an MSN/NP program currently if you were interested in that and would cost substantially less than USD or Western University. The BSN program is generally for those that already hold a BS in another field. Just giving you another option that will also cut cost. You would generally be spending the same amount of time but with less money. For books, I usually ordered mine online...international versions. Only difference would be the cover. All content would match exactly.

I had the same problem, so I ended up enrolling at National University to take the sciences I needed since my lower division sciences were done...about $1500 a class (not sure if they've raised it in the last 2 yrs) but I was able to complete all 3 courses within a short time frame (about the time of 1 semester or less; can't recall). The only reason I didn't apply to National for the nursing program was because I encountered some problems with financial aid. They never contacted me about some required paperwork that was needed and my financial aid never came through. I completed 3 classes without anyone every mentioning anything about this to me. When I completed the 3 courses they told me that I needed to pay them in order to continue to take classes, which I could not afford to do all at once. Then, they wouldn't even release my transcript, which I've been told now is illegal since I was trying to get into a community college and go the cheaper route since I was already an LVN. If you can afford it, I would highly recommend taking that route if you are looking into retaking those 3 courses. And after having taken A&P I, A&P II, and Micro at both schools, I would have to say that Kaplan was actually more challanging than National. I would compare it to having someone hold your hand at National while having to go through boot camp at Kaplan. I didn't read for A&P at Kaplan. Just concentrate on really learning what is on those ppts. I would only study the ppts for about 1-2 hours before class started for exams, and I got A's. Make sure to print out copies of the slides and pictures for lab and bring a digital camera for items that aren't already on the lab powerpoints. The digital camera actually takes really good histology photos with the microscope. One of the first things I'm going to do when I start working as an RN is to pay off National so that I can get my transcripts released. I'm probably going to finish off some of the GE's required for the BSN at the community college or National online courses. I was a business major before going into nursing and still have to complete about a years worth of classes. I'm probably going to enroll at multiple community colleges online to complete most of the GE's. The only advantage of going to Phoenix for me is that I wouldn't have to a speech class. But, I have a friend who just completed her BSN there and they let her start right into the nursing classes even though she had some GE's she still needed to complete. I have another friend that did Maric, then Phoenix, then on to complete her NP at USD.

my group is in teal....the group behind us is all mixed, but primarily burgandy....i heard that they were changing the color again, but i can't be certain...for clinicals, it was all over the place...first clinical rotation was teal tops with white bottoms...after that, it was all teal or whatever color for the class since they wanted to be able to distinguish the ADN from LVN students (LVN students wear all white to clinical)... with all white shoes...of course

LOL...at least there won't be any distractions except for the ones you come up with to get you away from studying...for awhile i was baking cookies...over the cookie phase...today it's allnurses for me...i just can't get myself to study or do any of the required assignments that are due...i figure i'm going to pass regardless...maybe not with the grades i want...but passing is still going to allow me to take the boards.... I know what you mean about people being vague...i found this site when i was researching about the school...about the TEAS...and so I'm happy to be of help to you since I know how it was to be so completely unsure of what to expect..

hi Emilynn09, Some CSU's accept students on a case by case basis. The only way to know if they will take you is to interview with them after attaining your RN license. If you are taking any GE's at Kaplan, you might be able to CLEP (many universities accept this) or just repeat the course at a community college. You will not receive credit for nursing courses, that is the major concern and primary reason that universities have with accepting a student from a school that is not regionally accredited. They have you take additional nursing courses to account for this. I've already looked into this myself. Some universities that have accepted Kaplan ADN graduates are CSU Chico and Dominguez Hills.

we have multiple computers here, but i was pretty limited since i was hardly at home...i would say that you'll definitely have free time since you're lucky enough not to have to work...i mean, some people struggle more than others..i think that is the main reason they decide to accept some students over others...your degree shows that you will follow through to completion...testing scores demonstrate how well you test...letters of recommendations show off the strengths you have that you might not readily see in yourself and also how your personality may fit into the nursing field. although we attend a for-profit school...the only way for the school to continue to make a profit is by spitting out quality nurses that will be successful in passing the NCLEX and continue to be successful in whatever route they decide to follow thereafter...since most of us do the research before deciding on putting in such a large investment of money and time... i'll admit that i never opened up my med/surg book during the 2nd (really 3rd) semeter or for this last semester...i would have liked to have the time, but it was almost impossible with my schedule...i don't recommend trying it...make sure to set aside time for your husband...that will save you some drama...remind him that there will be times that you are going to be so stressed out that you may unload on him...it will happen whether you like it or not...so, just prepare him... some people i know either bought an extra med/surg book or cut theirs out...it's just so big...that way you can bring only the chapters you need when you want to the gym or out of town...i know someone who went on a cruise during the break and said it was worth it since no one else seemed to feel the urge to utilize the library on the ship and they were still able to get quality time with their significant other...

i'm jealous...my husband had to take care of the kids...when i started my baby had just barely turned a year old...thank goodness it's almost over...make sure to stay organized, that was the worst thing for me because i literally had no time to get organized..keep back up copies of everything (my laptop crashed on me during the final weeks of my 3rd semester and nothing could be recovered)...network with students who you know are focused (friends aren't always the best study buddies or the most reliable)...work ahead if you find yourself with extra time (this will give you extra time to actually study and free up time during the 1 wk breaks between semesters to spend quality time with family and friends. the last semester is the busiest...not the hardest, but there is just so much to do...i recommend that you start your portfolio asap...this is something that is turned in during leadership...basically cover letter, resume, letters of recommendation(on letterhead; minimum 3), professional references, volunteer service (minimum 8 hours required during last semester; no 2 students can use the same not-for-profit org.), CEU's (these you can start on as a student on Medscape and later change your title from nursing student to RN upon passing NCLEX)...and other things that shouldn't be as time consuming...everything needs to be in sheet protectors within a portfolio with dividers...actually turns out really nice.. another thing...make sure you have your skills checkoff list with you so that you can have your clinical instructors check of items that you complete (something i didn't do, but i have work experience so I wasn't too concerned) if there is anything else you would like to know, feel free to ask...

it's almost like the class was made up...lol...

I really don't have much to complain about in regards to the program. The schedule is all over the place, but they warn you about that from the beginning. For instance, I had Sunday clinicals during my 2nd semester. During this final semester, we had lectures going from 9am-7pm (3 classes, with supposedly 1 hour breaks in between). Do what is required of you, and you should do fine. Like right now, I really should be writing a paper. I'm almost tempted not to turn it in since I'll still get a decent grade in the class without it, but to scared of what the teacher could do if I don't do it.....like give me an incomplete. Overall, I would have to say that I can't wait to get out of there...but the experience has not been a bad one for me..except for the fact that I wish I was like a majority of my classmates who didn't have to work while going to school...thank goodness i made it through without failing anything...i don't know if i would have made it another semester...i'm just so tired...

2 more weeks of school.....and I can't seem to get myself to do anything anymore...i'm just so tired of studying and writing papers...considering that I've done my whole program while working full-time night shifts as an LVN has just had me spent...anybody with any advice to help me get back on track...