The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) RN-BSN Reviews

[DowntheRiver]

Hello!

I just graduated from University of Texas at Arlington's RN-BSN program. If anyone has any questions about the program, feel free to ask and comment below.

[flicker_rn]

I'm halfway through the program now, and am trying to figure out what classes to take for the next two semesters. I have to do my two electives, which I was planning on doing the work co-op for, and then health policy, research, management, vulnerable populations and capstone. In addition I need to do a literature class. My plan was to do one of the electives this summer. And then do the literature class at the community college while I take health policy, the second elective and either the research or management class. My question is which class do you feel like is easier and/or less work, research or management? My plan is in the spring to do the other one of those two, and then vulnerable populations and capstone. I'm hoping to get it all done and graduate next spring.

[DowntheRiver]

Management is much easier. The assignments are mostly fill in the blank and discussion board posts. Research is time consuming and should be taken by itself. You could easily take Management + elective or Health Policy + elective. I'd advise against taking Research, Vulnerable Populations, or Capstone with any other class as they are just too intense.

[penny reverential, ADN, BSN]

Which classes were the toughest, and what made them the toughest? Which classes are best to be doubled up on? I'm trying to gather as many opinions on these questions as possible. Thanks!

[Mdurham1]

I am starting the program in the fall. How do you feel about the overall program? Did you finish in a year? How did you pace yourself, as far as classes each semester? Or do they tell you which ones to take.

I've been out of school for a couple of years, so I'm nervous about going back...thanks for any advice you can offer

[DowntheRiver]

penny reverential said:

Which classes were the toughest, and what made them the toughest? Which classes are best to be doubled up on? I'm trying to gather as many opinions on these questions as possible. Thanks!

Toughest non-nursing classes were Statistics and History II. These classes were tough because I took them with other nursing classes and they were a lot of busy work. If you must take these classes, take them individually or at your local school. They are very heavy with tedious busy work.

Toughest nursing classes were Research and Vulnerable Populations. Research is tough because you must actually read the material and the assigned textbook. Other classes I was able to skim through the chapters and get the gist. Research has two quizzes that require you thoroughly read the book in order to do well on the quizzes. Your APA format must be perfect. The assignments require attention to detail and took double the amount of time of any other class other than Vulnerable Populations. Vulnerable Populations is NOT difficult. However, the assignment that you complete is over the course of three weeks and involves A LOT of independent research. So, VP is difficult because it is VERY time consuming, and I would strongly suggest not taking it with any other course.

All the other nursing courses are pretty easy and I would classify as busywork. Health Assessment seems to be difficult for others but I thought it was pretty easy; however, I believe I have great assessment skills already so I didn't stress about that class. For Health Assessment, carefully review the example assessment, see their mistakes and document exactly what they want. Capstone was not hard but it was somewhat time consuming. If you can, try to take that class by itself. I took Capstone with History I and managed to make A's in both classes. I just had no life for 6 weeks!

[DowntheRiver]

Mdurham1 said:

I am starting the program in the fall. How do you feel about the overall program? Did you finish in a year? How did you pace yourself, as far as classes each semester? Or do they tell you which ones to take.

I've been out of school for a couple of years, so I'm nervous about going back...thanks for any advice you can offer

I enjoyed the program overall. I have some friends who are doing or who have done the local RN to BSN program (USF) and their program is WAY more intense than mine, requires campus visits, and they are no better off than me. We all learned the same stuff. Essentially it is just theory, theory, theory. I did not complete the program in a year. It took me two years. However, I did 4 months of travel nursing for my company and always took some time off around the holidays (December) to be able to enjoy them. I know plenty of people who knocked this program out in a year; most of them just had to take the core 11 courses. I already have a BS from FSU but UTA did not accept my Roman Classics courses as History courses so I had to take both history classes, Government, and and Texas Politics. In Florida we have something called Gordon Rule courses which mean you must write 5,000+ words in the course and you must take at least 4 of them. I have no interest in history so of course I took Roman History, Greek History, Classical History, and Greek/Roman mythology. That said, I did enjoy History I but NOT History II. History II was very time consuming and they purposefully made the course very difficult, I believe. I took it concurrently with another nursing course; I received an A in the nursing course but a B in History II. The only other non-nursing class which I struggled with was Statistics. Again, it was busywork and I took it with another non-nursing class, received an A in nursing class but B in Stats. It is not hard, just A LOT of busy work.

They do not tell your which courses to take in order other than Intro to Nursing (must be first) and Capstone (must be last). Other than that you go at your own pace. I do believe they limit you to 15 credits a semester, which is usually 5 classes. If you want to knock if out in a year it is possible however, I will say that you probably will have no social life if doing so.

Don't worry about going back! You can do this! I graduated with ASN in early 2014 and went back in Spring 2016 and just graduated in Spring 2018. I finished with a 3.9 GPA and was just accepted to their MSN Ed. program with I will start part time (2 classes a semester) in August. Please feel free to reach out to me with any other questions.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

The thing to remember about the non-nursing classes is that--at least when I was a UTA student--they are not 5 week classes, nor are they specially modified for the RN-BSN students. They're the same History, Government, etc., classes that everyone else takes, but condensed into 8 weeks as opposed to being spread over 16.

Also, the US History 1&2, Texas State History and US Government classes are required by Texas law: all college students in bachelor's programs must take them. Even the RN-BSN students.

[evierosales93]

Do you know if all those basic classes will transfer from TCC? planning on taking those before at TCC, if possible. Also, is it a very competitive online program to get into? I can't seem to find that info online

[NrsNi1]

I just finished my ADN program in may and passed NCLEX at the beginning of June. I applied to this program in May and they got all my final transcripts. I was accepted to the university and was told by one of the reps that I'm just waiting for the RN -BSN program to accept and send degree plan. They said it should be soon because I applied for the 7/2 start. But alas, the start date is MONDAY and I still have not gotten an update. The rep had me email the program advisers who then told me they're still processing applications for 7/2. So I'm on edge because the rep told me that registration will close in 2 days! Then there's the whole payment and getting books thing. I just can't believe it has taken this long since I was accepted into the university weeks ago. The rep seemed surprised as well.

I turned down Houston Baptist RN-BSN because of all the credits they would not accept. Now I'm wondering if that was a bad move.

[Shleigh42]

Hi,

I am currently in Patho and would love any advice

I applied for spring 2019 and should hear around October.

Thanks

[NrsNi1]

Shleigh42 said:

Hi,

I am currently in Patho and would love any advice

I applied for Spring 2019 and should hear around October.

Thanks

I just started. The instructors and coaches got in touch a few days before class started and they opened up the courses on blackboard so we were able to go ahead and start working. It's going well. I had the first week of work completed before class even started.

Since I'm new, not much advice I can give yet EXCEPT, If they try to get you to take legacy of family as an elective, steer clear LOL .. it's a tedious pain.