RN-BSN Sept '12. Worried about my writing abilities.

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I'm concidering signing up for the RN-BSN program starting in Sept. I've been out of school for awhile. I'mreally concerned and worried about my writing abilities. I seem to write as I text now a days. Was anyone else uneasy about the writing asignments and how difficult it would be to get started in college again. Any advise?

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Writing as you text, or even as you speak, is a definite no-no in academic writing. Get yourself a book on the APA Style for submitting academic papers, and then practice writing and proof reading your work. If you know someone else with a science background, have them proofread it for you, too. I was lucky to go to a diploma school where we didn't really have many written assignments other than care plans and psych transactions, but I also have a degree in chemistry, and had to write a slew of papers back then. That was in the days of typewriters and carbon paper. If I was near the end of a page and made a typo, I would try to figure out a word that used the typo so I wouldn't have to retype the whole page. No word processors back then!! If you would like to send me a couple of files of your work (in pretty much any word processor format for a pc), I'd be glad to look them over for you, but I'll let you know I'm very picky;) Dave Dunn, RN [email protected]

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So I am considering starting online RN-BSN this September. I am hoping they will transfer most of my previous credits from BS in Business and I only have to take 10 courses. I joined the ANA and got 10% discount. Not much, but anything helps at this point because I'm planning on paying out of pocket. I am a new grad nurse with no job. I'm hoping I will find a job soon and that new job will help me pay some of the tuition, but if not, the paycheck will help for sure! Since I'm paying out of pocket, I want to take as many classes as possible to speed up my time spent in school, so I am thinking about taking at least 2 classes at a time.

But I'm worried about my writing skills. English being my second language, I have, and will always have, problems with use of articles. Use/nonuse of "A" and "THE" is so confusing I gave up trying to learn it :( Plus I never liked APA format when I wrote all those papers in ADN program.

How picky are the paper graded? I will be happy as long as I can carry 3.0...

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I am currently in the program and have not found them to be very picky with the papers. They have a tutor service that is included with your enrollment, meaning no additional cost, where you can submit papers to be reviewed.

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Thanks KALT! Can you also tell me how much papers, if any, are assigned for non nursing classes? I think I might be able to take 3 classes / semester (2 nursing and 1 non nursing) if I don't have time consuming paper writing for non nursing classes... I don't have family or job yet...

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I have only taken English, Algebra, and Stats that are non nursing. The English paper was not bad. I do not consider myself a good writer and I never liked English. I got an A in the class. Next session I am taking 3 classes. So far I feel that I could have taken a third and I disappointed that I let Academic Advising talk me out of it. I want to finish ASAP. The nursing classes have been easy.

Someone suggested PERRLA for paper writing. I downloaded the free trial and it makes paper writing easy.

I also suggest asking Academic Advising details about the classes. It depends who you talk with but one person I spoke with gave me exactly what the class entailed. Small papers versus one large paper that you work on over the 8 weeks. They can tell you if there is a mid term and final. This is helpful when you are choosing your electives. Next time I had to choose a class, I knew to ask about the class work.

Good Luck.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, lifetime Diabetes Education.

I'm taking both Transitions into Prof Nursing and Cultural Diversity courses. The Transitions course seems very easy but I am already feeling overwhelmed by all that is required for the Cultural Diversity course. I did not realize that all of the online postings for both courses require evidence-based responses using APA formatting. Writing is not my strong point and neither is research. I'm not sure how well I will do.

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Specializes in Emergency.
So I am considering starting online RN-BSN this September. I am hoping they will transfer most of my previous credits from BS in Business and I only have to take 10 courses. I joined the ANA and got 10% discount. Not much, but anything helps at this point because I'm planning on paying out of pocket. I am a new grad nurse with no job. I'm hoping I will find a job soon and that new job will help me pay some of the tuition, but if not, the paycheck will help for sure! Since I'm paying out of pocket, I want to take as many classes as possible to speed up my time spent in school, so I am thinking about taking at least 2 classes at a time.

But I'm worried about my writing skills. English being my second language, I have, and will always have, problems with use of articles. Use/nonuse of "A" and "THE" is so confusing I gave up trying to learn it :( Plus I never liked APA format when I wrote all those papers in ADN program.

How picky are the paper graded? I will be happy as long as I can carry 3.0...

They are very liberal with credit transfers, I also have another Bachelor's Degree and I will be done very quickly. I started 2 months ago and I'll be done by April. While you can transfer many credits, you will be required to me a 36 unit residency requirement. I had to choose two elective courses to fulfill the unit requirements because I cleared most of the GEs.

As far as your writing goes, you seem like you write just fine. I found Transitions to be ridiculously easy, because it goes over topics like academic writing and APA format which I am already very familiar with. I went from my BS in Business, to my ASN and straight into the RN-BSN program at chamberlain so I'm pretty up to date on academic writings. It is a course designed to help bridge the gap for people who have been out of school or are not strong with writing skills. If you are weak in this area the course will help you tons.

I work full time, and have been taking two classes at a time and it's just fine. I have plenty of time left over for social fun. I could take three courses if I wanted to give up my social time, but I don't. I'm happy with being done in April. That will be just fine for me. :)

Best of luck.

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What school are you attending?

please email me at [email protected]

thanks! and good luck

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