RN-BSN Program

Lisa From Maui · Dec 22, 2009

monica: on a side note... you might want to ask if your bsn with excelsior (or any other private college) will be recognized by other universities. another way to say it... if you get a bsn w/ excelsior, and you later decide you want to go back to school for a master's in nursing... and you want to go to your local university... the university might say they won't accept your excelsior classes. you'll be stuck with two options:

(1) repeat all your bsn classes at another college or university or

(2) go to a private college for your masters, and pay two - four - ten times as much $$ to get your masters

knowing what i know now... i would never go to a private college for any nursing classes. i would rather go to a community college or state university. i know all those classes will transfer. hope that helps.

lisa ;-)

RNandRRT · Dec 23, 2009

Why wouldn't excelsior BSN be acceptable?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Dec 23, 2009

I would think an NLN or CCNE accedited degree would be just fine/accepted anywhere.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2009

There is no exam at the end of an RN to BSN program. Once you finish the courses and meet the requirements, then you get your degree. That's sweet.

Clinical hours are different for different programs. NLN approved RN to BSN programs require a clinical component. I didn't go to the schools you mentioned, but to Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences. We got out clinical hours by doing a couple of teaching projects (I tought my coworkers about impaired nurses, and a group of male friends about prostate health), interviews (during leadership we interviewed two people and compared their leadership style), and doing a head-to-toe assessment. I also followed a NP around for 8 hours.

Other online courses have different requirements for "clinical", such as following a nurse manager around, doing some type of public health nursing, etc. It's not "clinicals" like you're used to where you go into a hospital and take patients, etc.

Good luck!

EquuszARNP · Dec 23, 2009

They don't get to do that. NLN-accredited is NLN-accredited. I've checked several FNP programs and none of them had a problem with the BSN from Excelsior meeting the pre-reqs. Now, whether your application is less favorable than an applicant from a BSN program with a lot of clinicals is another matter. But if that's a concern you can always set up clinicals. I mean the total number in the busiest BSN program I looked at was like 3 weeks.

labrador4122, RN · Dec 25, 2009

monica: on a side note... you might want to ask if your bsn with excelsior (or any other private college) will be recognized by other universities. another way to say it... if you get a bsn w/ excelsior, and you later decide you want to go back to school for a master's in nursing... and you want to go to your local university... the university might say they won't accept your excelsior classes. you'll be stuck with two options:
(1) repeat all your bsn classes at another college or university or
(2) go to a private college for your masters, and pay two - four - ten times as much $$ to get your masters
knowing what i know now... i would never go to a private college for any nursing classes. i would rather go to a community college or state university. i know all those classes will transfer. hope that helps.
lisa ;-)

i couldn't agree more with you lisa! i think that public education is the best, and definitely worth a lot more for the $ spent.