ChristCares

Well, my intention was to gain insight from those who have walked the path. Thank you Buyer Beware for the helpful link. I believe that many of the criticisms flying are simply due to misunderstandings or lack of knowledge, but nonetheless, I found my answers elsewhere.

AliNajaCat, I'm surprised by how many people there are who respond like you on here. It's disappointing in a "caring" profession, that there isn't a whole lot of regard for others. I am not interested in online because I can't get in to another program. I don't need/desire to boast about my accolades, but in case anyone else hesitates to be helpful, I will clarify. I am interested in an online program because I live rurally, work two jobs, go to school, am raising our 1 and 3 year old, and at times caregiving for a family member with mental health concerns. I am not extremely interested in the DNP program closest to me, because they don't accept a handful of my courses taken at a state university 10 years ago, and I would therefore waste a year taking frivolous courses like Public Speaking. It is the top program in the state, and it too, is offered online.

Buyer beware: Thank you for that link! I thoroughly read the article, and was very appreciative of the information. Although I am not set on going to the most "prestigious" school around (living in rural America, many of the RNs and APRNs around got their degrees from random online universities, and have successful careers)... I also do NOT want to go to a school that may lose it's accreditation, or really is that shady. After all... I do want to take the path of least resistance, but not if that means a poor education.

I'm in the program currently, and got in with the old point system. Most people in my class had around 90+ that I know of, on the 120 pt system. Advising told me the same stats, that you should be pretty safe with ##pts... but it is not always true. Depends on the caliber of students applying that semester.

Hello all! I have read many posts on here about Western Governors University (WGU) and Walden. I've read the good (great even!), the bad, and the criticisms. I would love some advice from NPs or people in NP school. (Background - if it matters) I have worked in health care since 2008. I am a wife, mom, and in my second semester of my ADN. Estimated time table: January '17 - LPN, January '18 - RN. From there, I would like to get my BSN, then NP. I believe that I would like to become a PMHNP, but recognize that I MUST work in a variety of fields to be certain what my NP specialty "calling" will be. If I want to do Walden for my NP, should I do the RN-BSN through WGU, or the RN-MSN (leadership/management)? Has anyone done the WGU RN-MSN? How long did it take you to complete? NPs who graduated from Walden (or are in the programs), how long did this program take you to complete, and which route did you go (RN, BSN, or MSN - NP?) I may seem like a crazy person, but this is my second career, and for unfortunate personal life concerns, I really need to set up an effective game plan sooner than later.

What is the typical pay (range would be fine) for traveling NPs? Traveling RNs in my region (Wyoming/Colorado) tend to advertise $50s-$60s/hr. I've met a few RNs who work PT or PRN in a permanent role locally, and then when contract/travel positions open up in their local area, they take those, to improve their salary, and for the enjoyment of getting to gain experience in a wider variety of positions. This really appeals to me, as a mother of littles. I'm wondering if this kind of approach is feasible with traveling/contract NP jobs. I would also be willing to move / travel possibly, if the pay was really good. Could you work with a recruiter, and only accept a couple positions a year that come up within a 100mi radius of your home town? Thanks for any feedback. I'm in the same boat as the OP, and just trying to plan out my career path and select a school based on the long term plan.

Hello! I have been lurking the nursing boards here for a long time, but just finally made an account so that I can seek your wisdom! I am in nursing school currently and have two kids under 3 years old. When I graduate my ADN and (hopefully) pass the NCLEX, I would love to work from home while finishing my BSN online. I could pay a nanny to care for the kiddos to eliminate distractions, but wold love to keep the kiddos at home because they have a myriad of health issues that has proved challenging to work with preschools/daycares on. I'm trying to figure this all out soon so that I know how to plan my BSN coursework in accordance with my family's needs. I worked in long term care for 8 years, but never as a licensed medical professional. I see job postings for telenursing for LPNs, RNs, and BSN-RNs, but most require experience (understandably). My question is, do any of you know of any companies that will hire LPNs/RNs with no experience? I would do ANY type of nurse work from home (phone, chart review, administrative, etc. ). Also, what pay structure/amount have you all found in this type of work?