Rasmussen University - Fort Myers

[NICU_Nurse_Casti]

Hello everyone!

I was looking into Rasmussen College in Fort Myers, Florida. I was wondering if there was anyone who has attended or currently attending Rasmussen at the Fort Myers campus? What were/are your thoughts on the program? Since I already have a B.S. in Exercise Science, I was looking at doing the A-BSN, Second Degree option. I have already attended a Nursing Information Session with the school and it seems like a great opportunity. Just looking to get more insight about the program from people who have gone through it.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[NICU_Nurse_Casti, BSN, RN]

Update time!

Good afternoon everyone!

I hope you all are doing well. My third quarter in the ABSN program at Rasmussen College - Ft. Myers ended last Friday, and my final grades are in:

-Adult Health: Acute Care - B (93.88%)

-Transcultural Nursing - A (99%)

-Alternative and Complementary Therapies - A (99%)

Quarter GPA: 3.50

Cumulative GPA (thus far): 3.63

I have now received a B in all three quarters that was a 93%. For those who do not know, an A at Rasmussen is 94% and there is no rounding up. Only rounding down. So a 93.99% = 93%. I was literally 1.5 points shy of an A in Acute Care this quarter. ? Oh well! Overall, I am pretty happy with my performance this quarter.

Next quarter starts on September 30 and I will be taking the following:

-Adult Health: Chronic and Transitional Care (w/ Lab and Clinical components)

-Dimensions of Mental and Behavioral Health (w/ Clinical component)

-Quality and Safety in Nursing Practice

We have not had two clinical rotations in a single quarter yet, so it should be interesting (and busy!).

While on my break, I plan on continuing my studies in preparation for next quarter and to maintain my current level of knowledge. I am also planning on completing the Neonatal Resuscitation Program. I have already completed Part 1 of the course, which is all online. I am scheduled to complete Part 2 (the skills check-off) next week. Fingers crossed I pass and get my NRP certification. I am hoping this will help set me apart once I graduate and start applying for positions in the NICU.

That's all I have for now! Until next time, Happy Nursing!

[MaryClare82]

Hi!

It won't let me message you, so I will respond on your thread. I am so appreciative of your posts, all of them. I read through them twice in the last day or so. I am going to an informational session next week. I am hopefully attending in January, in Illinois. I am assuming the programs are about the same at every campus.

I filled out the FAFSA, and the preliminary results say I qualify for Pell Grants and the Stafford Loan. I am not new to the FAFSA, but how will I cover the remaining cost is my concern. I have 4 kids! But, I need a career change, and this is what I want to do.

I understand that each quarter the classes and schedule change. How often are you actually on campus attending class? When you have a clinical, are they an 8 hour shift? I am hoping to not work while in school, but again, I have a lot of kids, haha.

You are doing so well, that's amazing, and congrats. I will continue to read your posts and updates!

[Ophelia123]

On 9/18/2019 at 3:40 PM, CastiMcNasti said:

Hey there Ophelia!

Hopefully I will be able to answer some of your questions.

1. Yes, you will be able to apply for Master's degree programs with a BSN from Rasmussen. CCNE is one of the accrediting bodies for nursing programs. Based on what I have seen/read, ACEN accreditation is typically done for Associate's programs and CCNE is typically done for Bachelor's programs.

2. I believe some hospitals do require a degree from an accredited program, but I am not 100% sure how that works. What really matters is obtaining your RN license. With a degree from Rasmussen, you will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN to obtain your license in Florida. Since Florida is part of the compact, you will be able to reciprocate your license and practice in other states. However, those states that are not part of the compact require you to follow certain steps when applying for a license in that state, and each of those states will have different requirements.

3. How long the program will take really depends on what pre-requisite courses you have already completed, how many courses you take each quarter, and how well you perform in the program. If all pre-requisite courses have been completed prior to starting the ABSN program, the fastest you will be able to complete our BSN is 18 months at Rasmussen. I would speak to the program manager to get a better idea of how long it might take you in your case.

4. I do not know if you can receive grants for a second Bachelor's. However, you should be able to take out loans. I know some of my peers are using loans to pay for school and already have one Bachelor's degree. For tuition pricing, I suggest you speak with someone from the school to get accurate information. scrubs and books are built in to the tuition. You will have to purchase your own stethoscope, shoes, BP cuff, and maybe a few other items. Some of my peers do have part time jobs. It is difficult to work while in school, but it is possible.

5. Yes, you should be able to get a job as a new grad. There are many hospital systems in Florida that offer new grad nurse residencies. That being said, I have heard getting a job in certain specialties can be very difficult as a new grad. In my opinion, it really comes down to the individual. Do you interview well? Do you have strong references? A strong resume? Have you done anything to make yourself stand out? Did you network while in school?

6. I honestly do not know the answer to this question. Again, I suggest speaking to the school about this.

I hope my answers provided some insight!

Hello CastiMcNasti,

Thank you so much for your response.

I did talk to school. Because I didn’t do any prerequisites, my program will last about 2 years and tuition will be about 40,000$.

Can I ask you, do you work after school? Seems you are doing very good on your study. I am just curious that do you have extra time to work and also have good grades.

I have chemistry, Ap1, Ap2, Micro, human nutrition to study before I can take core nursing classes. I am supposed to finish these courses in 6 months. Do you think it is a good idea to study those courses in community school? It can save me 10,000$. But I don’t know if there are community school can let me finish all those courses in 6 months. Or you think it is better to study in Rasmussen? I am curious that are the teachers in Rasmussen good? Better than community school?

Thanks!

[NICU_Nurse_Casti, BSN, RN]

38 minutes ago, Ophelia123 said:

Hello CastiMcNasti,

Thank you so much for your response.

I did talk to school. Because I didn’t do any prerequisites, my program will last about 2 years and tuition will be about 40,000$.

Can I ask you, do you work after school? Seems you are doing very good on your study. I am just curious that do you have extra time to work and also have good grades.

I have chemistry, Ap1, Ap2, Micro, human nutrition to study before I can take core nursing classes. I am supposed to finish these courses in 6 months. Do you think it is a good idea to study those courses in community school? It can save me 10,000$. But I don’t know if there are community school can let me finish all those courses in 6 months. Or you think it is better to study in Rasmussen? I am curious that are the teachers in Rasmussen good? Better than community school?

Thanks!

Hey Ophelia!

Right now I am not working. I did some substitute teaching in my first two quarters, as that allowed me to choose what days I could work. So, if I felt I was too busy and did not want to risk working, I did have to pick up any shifts. It is certainly possible to work and do well. I know at least three in my cohort who work and are still doing really well.

I would definitely recommend taking your prereqs at a community college. I took Micro, Statistics, and Human Growth and Development (the last two were required for other nursing programs) at FSW. I believe the nutrition course will have to be taken with Rasmussen, since it is specific to nursing. I had already taken a Human Nutrition course in my previous Bachelor's but they would not let me transfer that one in. However, they just recently changed the ABSN curriculum, so I am not 100% if any changes were made to the nutrition class or whether they are accepting outside credit for Nutrition. Again, that would be a question for the school

I do not see any reason why you would not be able to finish Chemistry, A&P I and II, and Micro in 6 months. You could do Chem and A&P I in the spring and Micro and A&P II in the summer. If it saves you money, it is definitely worth it, since there is no waiting list for Rasmussen.

Many of the teachers at Rasmussen are good, in my opinion. That being said, this program requires a lot of discipline. You will not be covering a lot of information in lectures, so it will be on you to study and learn the details of the concepts outside of class. The instructors are there for any questions, and you always have your cohort to rely on for questions, as well. We message each other all of the time in my cohort.

[Ophelia123]

21 minutes ago, CastiMcNasti said:

Hey Ophelia!

Right now I am not working. I did some substitute teaching in my first two quarters, as that allowed me to choose what days I could work. So, if I felt I was too busy and did not want to risk working, I did have to pick up any shifts. It is certainly possible to work and do well. I know at least three in my cohort who work and are still doing really well.

I would definitely recommend taking your prereqs at a community college. I took Micro, Statistics, and Human Growth and Development (the last two were required for other nursing programs) at FSW. I believe the nutrition course will have to be taken with Rasmussen, since it is specific to nursing. I had already taken a Human Nutrition course in my previous Bachelor's but they would not let me transfer that one in. However, they just recently changed the ABSN curriculum, so I am not 100% if any changes were made to the nutrition class or whether they are accepting outside credit for Nutrition. Again, that would be a question for the school

I do not see any reason why you would not be able to finish Chemistry, A&P I and II, and Micro in 6 months. You could do Chem and A&P I in the spring and Micro and A&P II in the summer. If it saves you money, it is definitely worth it, since there is no waiting list for Rasmussen.

Many of the teachers at Rasmussen are good, in my opinion. That being said, this program requires a lot of discipline. You will not be covering a lot of information in lectures, so it will be on you to study and learn the details of the concepts outside of class. The instructors are there for any questions, and you always have your cohort to rely on for questions, as well. We message each other all of the time in my cohort.

Hello,

Thank you so much for responding.

I want to finish my classes as soon as possible like in 2 years so I can work soon and start my career. That’s why I heard about Rasmussen about their ABSN.

I am foreign so I am not sure about the education system in the U.S. Can I just go to FSW or any community college to sign up for prerequisites? I am going to call some colleges on Monday to check it out.

I have done some research and I know there are two ways to get the nursing license. One way is like Rasmussen ABSN, finish in two years. Another way is, go to community colleges to finish prerequisites in 1.5-2 years, and apply for nursing program(2years), which is much cheaper and will take four years in total. That’s why I want to go to Rasmussen and finish in 2 years.

Are teachers in community colleges are better than in Rasmussen? Because based on what you said, it seems like the teachers in Rasmussen don’t really teach? You have to learn it yourself? Or maybe teachers in community colleges are like that too?

Can you tell me how many days you need to go to the campus? Can you choose your schedule? How long do you need to stay in the campus? When did you start clinical? Do you only do clinical in one hospital? Or many hospitals? I am trying to figure what my schedule will be like if I go to school.

Thank you so much!

[NICU_Nurse_Casti, BSN, RN]

3 minutes ago, Ophelia123 said:

Hello,

Thank you so much for responding.

I want to finish my classes as soon as possible like in 2 years so I can work soon and start my career. That’s why I heard about Rasmussen about their ABSN.

I am foreign so I am not sure about the education system in the U.S. Can I just go to FSW or any community college to sign up for prerequisites? I am going to call some colleges on Monday to check it out.

I have done some research and I know there are two ways to get the nursing license. One way is like Rasmussen ABSN, finish in two years. Another way is, go to community colleges to finish prerequisites in 1.5-2 years, and apply for nursing program(2years), which is much cheaper and will take four years in total. That’s why I want to go to Rasmussen and finish in 2 years.

Are teachers in community colleges are better than in Rasmussen? Because based on what you said, it seems like the teachers in Rasmussen don’t really teach? You have to learn it yourself? Or maybe teachers in community colleges are like that too?

Can you tell me how many days you need to go to the campus? Can you choose your schedule? How long do you need to stay in the campus? When did you start clinical? Do you only do clinical in one hospital? Or many hospitals? I am trying to figure what my schedule will be like if I go to school.

Thank you so much!

Honestly, the schedule seems to change every quarter. It depends on the the classes the instructors are teaching. We have clinical rotations at several different facilities. That also influences your schedule. You do not get to choose what day your class/clinical/lab is scheduled. How long you stay on campus is dependent on your class. Most of the time you only attend class on campus once or twice per week, but again, it depends on your classes.

The instructors teach, but this is an accelerated program. I would much prefer not to sit in lecture five days per week. With the amount of assignments needed to be completed and material needed to be covered each week, sitting in a lecture just takes time away from that. Each quarter is only 11 weeks long (10 weeks of lecture/lab/clinical + 1 week final exams). A traditional semester is 16 weeks long.

The quality of instructors is going to vary no matter which school you attend. Even at a big university (which I attended for my first degree), I had some really, really poor instructors.

I will be 100% up front. Nursing is not easy, and it is not for everyone. It takes commitment, organization, and discipline. There are a lot of students who struggle. Even smart students. You have to be prepared to put in a lot of hours, not matter how intelligent you are. School has always come easy to me, but I put in at least 6 hours of studying every day during the quarter. Even on this break I am studying at least a couple of hours each day.

If you are worried about time, Rasmussen also offers an Associate Degree in Nursing, which also allows you to sit for the NCLEX-RN and become a Registered Nurse.

At the end of the day, you have to do what is best for you and your situation. Although a community college program like FSW might take longer, it may provide things that are beneficial to you (i.e. time to work, more time in the classroom with the instructor, more time to study, etc.). Rasmussen works great for me because I live an hour away from campus, so commuting every day would not be an ideal situation. I study much better on my own, as opposed to studying in a group. I learn information really quickly without having to take notes. And I know how I learn best, which is not sitting in a lecture.

I am not sure how long you have been looking into nursing, but really think about your situation and what it is you're looking for in a program. Do not rush into it. I researched nursing and nursing schools for a solid 6 months before I decided on Rasmussen. And by research, I mean I spent hours nearly every day reading up on the profession, looking at schools and their NCLEX pass rates, reading testimonials, calling schools to get more information, meeting/speaking with advisors from different programs, etc. To prepare for the TEAS exam, I pretty much locked myself in my room for a week. I studied about 10-12 hours each day to prepare for the TEAS.

I like Rasmussen. I think they have a good program. But it is not for everyone. It may be a good fit for you, but only you can make that decision.

Some of this may seem harsh, but I just want to be truthful. This is your future, after all. I also have a family (a wife and young son). So, I am doing everything I can to be the best nurse I can possibly be... for them. I am trying to secure a future for my family. So, I understand where you're coming from. And that's why I am trying to be as honest as possible.

[Ophelia123]

7 minutes ago, CastiMcNasti said:

Honestly, the schedule seems to change every quarter. It depends on the the classes the instructors are teaching. We have clinical rotations at several different facilities. That also influences your schedule. You do not get to choose what day your class/clinical/lab is scheduled. How long you stay on campus is dependent on your class. Most of the time you only attend class on campus once or twice per week, but again, it depends on your classes.

The instructors teach, but this is an accelerated program. I would much prefer not to sit in lecture five days per week. With the amount of assignments needed to be completed and material needed to be covered each week, sitting in a lecture just takes time away from that. Each quarter is only 11 weeks long (10 weeks of lecture/lab/clinical + 1 week final exams). A traditional semester is 16 weeks long.

The quality of instructors is going to vary no matter which school you attend. Even at a big university (which I attended for my first degree), I had some really, really poor instructors.

I will be 100% up front. Nursing is not easy, and it is not for everyone. It takes commitment, organization, and discipline. There are a lot of students who struggle. Even smart students. You have to be prepared to put in a lot of hours, not matter how intelligent you are. School has always come easy to me, but I put in at least 6 hours of studying every day during the quarter. Even on this break I am studying at least a couple of hours each day.

If you are worried about time, Rasmussen also offers an Associate Degree in Nursing, which also allows you to sit for the NCLEX-RN and become a Registered Nurse.

At the end of the day, you have to do what is best for you and your situation. Although a community college program like FSW might take longer, it may provide things that are beneficial to you (i.e. time to work, more time in the classroom with the instructor, more time to study, etc.). Rasmussen works great for me because I live an hour away from campus, so commuting every day would not be an ideal situation. I study much better on my own, as opposed to studying in a group. I learn information really quickly without having to take notes. And I know how I learn best, which is not sitting in a lecture.

I am not sure how long you have been looking into nursing, but really think about your situation and what it is you're looking for in a program. Do not rush into it. I researched nursing and nursing schools for a solid 6 months before I decided on Rasmussen. And by research, I mean I spent hours nearly every day reading up on the profession, looking at schools and their NCLEX pass rates, reading testimonials, calling schools to get more information, meeting/speaking with advisors from different programs, etc. To prepare for the TEAS exam, I pretty much locked myself in my room for a week. I studied about 10-12 hours each day to prepare for the TEAS.

I like Rasmussen. I think they have a good program. But it is not for everyone. It may be a good fit for you, but only you can make that decision.

Some of this may seem harsh, but I just want to be truthful. This is your future, after all. I also have a family (a wife and young son). So, I am doing everything I can to be the best nurse I can possibly be... for them. I am trying to secure a future for my family. So, I understand where you're coming from. And that's why I am trying to be as honest as possible.

Thank you so much for your response. I really appreciate your time.

You are not harsh at all!

I started to look into nursing for several months. Basically because I didn’t want to spend four years to get my license, I only really looked into ABSN. Like you, I want to secure myself and my family for the future also.

I looked at Keiser University also, but they require that I have to finish my prerequisites at first, which is like other community colleges, would take more than 2 years. My goal is to finish as soon as possible and start to work as a nurse and help myself and my family.

I did look into Rasmussen graduation rates and they do kick out lots of students if you failed classes. You know, I have to pay so much for Rasmussen , that’s why I am concerned if the teachers are no good, my money is going to waste, especially I will take loan.

I will take some loan from FASFA, but still I need to pay for daily expense. That’s why I need to work part time to cover daily expenses. If I have to spend 6 hours to study everyday, I think I might still can work a bit.

Thank you so much for your response! It is very helpful.

[NICU_Nurse_Casti, BSN, RN]

Update!!!

I went for my NRP skills check-off yesterday and passed! I am officially an Neonatal Resuscitation Provider. ?

I have also received my schedule for next quarter. It looks like I will have Chronic Lecture (0800-1150) and Lab (1700-2100) on Mondays. So, those will be some looooong days. haha Fortunately, we only have Lab for 5 weeks. My Mental Health clinical will be on Thursdays starting Week 2 and my Chronic clinical will be on Saturdays starting Week 1. Mental Health clinical is 6 weeks long and Chronic clinical is 8 weeks. My Mental Health and Quality/Safety lectures will be online.

I have not had a quarter with two clinical rotations yet, so this is looking to be an intense quarter. I am hoping there will be a greater focus on nursing skills and disease processes/nursing interventions, and less focus on writing papers. ? I was really struggling to stay motivated last quarter with the sheer amount of papers we were required to write.

Anyhow, I hope everyone is doing well! I am looking forward to what this quarter brings. Especially since I am only 3 quarters away from graduating. ? Until next time, Happy Nursing!

[Ophelia123]

Hi, I just found out that I can only borrow $12,500 a year. I don’t know if I am right, but that is what I read online.

But Rasmussen tuition fee is over $40,000 a year. Basically, more than $20,000 a year. $12,500 is not enough at all.

Anyone know about fasfa, can you tell me if I am right or wrong. Also, how did you pay for your tuition fee of Rasmussen? Any other aid can you get? Because I already had a bachelor degree, I can’t get grant. I can only get loan. But now I found out that, loan can’t be enough either?!

[adjappleton]

On 10/2/2019 at 12:27 AM, Ophelia123 said:

Hi, I just found out that I can only borrow $12,500 a year. I don’t know if I am right, but that is what I read online.

But Rasmussen tuition fee is over $40,000 a year. Basically, more than $20,000 a year. $12,500 is not enough at all.

Anyone know about fasfa, can you tell me if I am right or wrong. Also, how did you pay for your tuition fee of Rasmussen? Any other aid can you get? Because I already had a bachelor degree, I can’t get grant. I can only get loan. But now I found out that, loan can’t be enough either?!

I believe this is correct or very close to correct. You will have to take out private educational loans, there are many providers available. You should ask your Financial Aid office which providers they work with, and then you can compare the interest rates and repayment terms (things like discounts for good grades, early repayment penalties, etc). I know a few are Discover (like the credit card) Education and Wells Fargo. Good luck!! Don't forgot to apply for scholarships - not all are available to incoming or second degree students but some are.

[Ophelia123]

1 hour ago, adjappleton said:

I believe this is correct or very close to correct. You will have to take out private educational loans, there are many providers available. You should ask your Financial Aid office which providers they work with, and then you can compare the interest rates and repayment terms (things like discounts for good grades, early repayment penalties, etc). I know a few are Discover (like the credit card) Education and Wells Fargo. Good luck!! Don't forgot to apply for scholarships - not all are available to incoming or second degree students but some are.

Wow, I was too naive to think I can borrow all the money from fasfa. Did you take loans ? How did you pay for your school tuition fee? Do you need to pay interest of the loan when you are at school? Thanks.

[NICU_Nurse_Casti, BSN, RN]

11 hours ago, Ophelia123 said:

Wow, I was too naive to think I can borrow all the money from fasfa. Did you take loans ? How did you pay for your school tuition fee? Do you need to pay interest of the loan when you are at school? Thanks.

Hey Ophelia,

I appreciate you are looking for information about tuition and how to pay for your schooling, but this is meant to be a blog of my experience at Rasmussen. If you have specific questions regarding finances, please try to use direct messaging. Thank you!