In preparation for getting a BSN, I am trying to gather information regarding online BSN programs. if you have links to what you feel is an affordable, online, no residency requirement program, please post 'em here.
One program that I came across was at Thomas Edison State College. does anyone have any information regarding their program? I was hoping to find someone that has first hand (or second hand ? ) experience with the TESC RN to BSN program as it seems to be an affordable option, which, of course, is always a bonus. from reading the catalog on their site it appears that you can use some of the EC exams to satisfy the upper-level nursing courses.
The TESC program looks pretty decent but I am looking for some feedback to any online rn to BSN program. if anyone has links to what they feel is an affordable online rn/bsn program please post the link here.
I don't know how it is in other states, but in Texas, returning RNs (going for their BSN) do not have to do clinicals - if you're comparing it to "nursing school clinicals" like we did getting our associates. There is usually a management "clinical"-like project - my program at UTA has a capstone project at the end of the program.
Good due diligence. Any school can give you figures and then once you get in require you to take an additional semester of coursework to complete their program's "graduation requirements". Some schools don't care about your timeline as long as they make their money, and use this crude trap to ensure that they get paid what they want to get paid. This is the single most frustrating thing about this process and the reason why I might simply go with a more expensive school that can tell me the total cost given my transcripts. With all this said, many schools admissions advisors will accept a fax of your transcripts and tell you in writing what courses will be accepted for credit. IMHO that is the only way I would ever go to a school. Anything else is like signing a blank check.
In my situation I need to get into a BSN program stat and finish in about 1 year. Anything else is like signing a blank contract. I have a closet full of degrees, so I am reluctant to take any extra fluff.
many schools admissions advisors will accept a fax of your transcripts and tell you in writing what courses will be accepted for credit. IMHO that is the only way I would ever go to a school. Anything else is like signing a blank check.
In my situation I need to get into a BSN program stat and finish in about 1 year. Anything else is like signing a blank contract. I have a closet full of degrees, so I am reluctant to take any extra fluff.
Faxing transcripts and getting it in writing as to which courses will be accepted means nothing.
Even if this is was honored by the school at that moment, it has nothing to do with what extra requirements they can tack on before graduation in semesters to come.
I know this because I faxed transcripts and got it in writing as to which classes were required for my BSN long before I started.
As the requirements changed twice over several semesters, I took it up as high as I could, and was constantly being told that "It's not us, it's the Board of Regents who are doing this" and nothing could be done.
IMHO, pick a school and get your degree as fast as possible. Dragging it out only opens you up to "new degree requirements" starting right now regardless of when you enrolled.
Faxing transcripts and getting it in writing as to which courses will be accepted means nothing.
Even if this is was honored by the school at that moment, it has nothing to do with what extra requirements they can tack on before graduation in semesters to come.
I know this because I faxed transcripts and got it in writing as to which classes were required for my BSN long before I started.
As the requirements changed twice over several semesters, I took it up as high as I could, and was constantly being told that "It's not us, it's the Board of Regents who are doing this" and nothing could be done.
IMHO, pick a school and get your degree as fast as possible. Dragging it out only opens you up to "new degree requirements" starting right now regardless of when you enrolled.
I agree with this. Get it over as fast as possible. You would think that students would be grandfathered to changes and be subject to the rules in force for the catalog date when they enrolled, but not necessarily so. My school changed curriculums during my attendance, and subjected the students to the ultimatum of get it done or get dismissed along the way. Many students got caught up in this fiasco and ended up out of the program without graduating. Not funny at all.
You guys highlight a very important point, actually two important points:
1) getting transcript eval for transferable courses in writing is only PART of the battle (I disagree that it is always "useless" depending on the state/school) and only if you GET IT IN WRITING.
2) We must be sure to ask the school if they guarantee "catalog rights" for the year we start (whatever the catalog states are the degree requirements at the time we matriculate are guaranteed to be our standard for graduation) and, again, GET IT IN WRITING.
In my experience "advisors" and "counselors" are taking on an additional role as a sales force for the school. I've witnessed them take total advantage of non-English speakers and those who simply take their word for everything- I think that part of their job is to cram as many extra courses into your schedule as they can and some of them do this zealously. Another game they play is to play dumb when you mention things like "catalog rights" even when you know for fact that your friend talked to them the previous day about the same thing. My counselor looked me in the eye and said she wasn't "sure what I was talking about" on every issue until I grabbed the catalog and "things in writing" from my backpack. See these people as your adversary and your weapons are documentation, evidence, request forms and approvals, and emails.
Any school that doesn't guarantee catalog rights is asking you to sign a blank check & a blank contract. Many private schools take advantage of this but most legit schools do guarantee catalog rights, especially in states where there are laws about this like California. But even with the laws you can fail to assert these rights if you aren't diligent or believe some of the bamboozlers that are looking to maintain their paid positions basically telling students what's in the school catalog and schedule, and making it mandatory to meet with them for this so that they can throw extra classes at the naive. Don't trust them.
If you are just about to sign the first check make sure you ask them these two questions and if they don't offer these things ask them to make a special exception for you and be clear and assertive about the fact that most legit schools have no problem doing this as standard policy. If they still refuse, then you have to ask yourself if this school is the right one for you.
It seems like most of the RN>BSN programs require some project that requires you to arrange for shadowing of an RN manager or charge RN. None of them seem to require full-on clinicals with full pt care and care plans, etc. since that's been done already during the entry program.
I am currently doing the RN - BSN program at Liberty University and I love it! It is $250/cr hour, books seldom cost more than $50 per class, it is entirely online, I got full credit for all prior college credits and it runs on 6 week semesters. I started in January 2009 and will graduate this May. My only complaint is in how the classes are offered. I could have graduated by this December IF I had taken the classes in a different order, but I didn't know they weren't all offered every semester .
The course work is moderate, but I am able to work full time and get it done without missing my kids' events. Most of it is independent but I have had 2 classes where I had to do a group power point. There is no penalty for working ahead, so if you have something going on one week, you can do the assignments early and have it out of the way. It is a Baptist university, so 3 religion classes are required. This was not a problem for me.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know in case you are looking for a great, fast 7 affordable program!
Bonnie
PS: I was an LPN for 11 years, then graduated from Excelsior in 2007. I didn't think Excelsior was bad (except the CPNE), but now I see how hard it actually was compared to Liberty's program!!!
Does the RN-BSN online program work for people who did their RN program outside of VA?
Does anyone know if Texas Tech will waive out of state tuition for online RN to BSN students? This program fits my prerequisites PERFECT and I HAVE TO BE DONE BY DECEMBER 2011, can't start until spring 2011, I really want to apply there but 16000 is just WAAAAAAAY more than I care to pay!!! lol
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.
this is a fantastic question....i am in the program now and i think you will have to pay the out of state tuition.... however , from what i have seen the norm for online education is the distance learning students pay in state tuition. i just cant imagine tech being that far behind the times if this makes sense....i am going to send you a pm with a contact person at tech to ask...k
does anyone know if texas tech will waive out of state tuition for online rn to bsn students? this program fits my prerequisites perfect and i have to be done by december 2011, can't start until spring 2011, i really want to apply there but 16000 is just waaaaaaay more than i care to pay!!! lol
Thanks Sarah, that's the kind of inside info we've been looking for. How quickly can one finish the program with proper planning? If I can find a suitable program I might make all the timelines that would be necessary for me to quit the job I just took (not in nursing), complete that program, and get back into the military before running into the age limit. I will take a very serious look at this program and if you don't mind I might contact you later if I decide to apply and have questions. Is that OK? Thanks again for posting.
online, no residency requirement program, please post 'em here.
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icu8
1 Post
Hello everyone,
Does anyone know if Fort Hayes State University require clinicals?
Also, does anyone know more about Mississippi University for Women? There was only one post about it, but
it looks like the best deal by far. Does anyone know what that program is like and do the require clinicals?
Any information is greatly appreciated!
Thanks