Trying to decide on an RN-BSN program

mtsteelhorse · Feb 23, 2011

You've picked a great forum to help you sort through this. There are a lot of us here! If cost is an issue you might want to make a list of programs you're considering in order of expense. Secondly consider your personal situation and whether or not you can attend traditional classes; consider gas, time, etc and then weigh that out with the cost of on-line. I can tell you upfront the online private for profit schools are going to be $20,000 and up for the BSN. I am in the process of applying to Ohio University on line. The cost is $155/credit hr and I need approx 50 credits to complete the BSN. It's entirely online. Peruse this forum and you will find lots of options. Then contact the school directly to get answers to your specific questions. Also determine if you are one that does better with face to face learning vs traditional brick and mortar. You are lucky to have local programs in your area. Those tend to be less expensive. If you work FT those may be hard to fit into your schedule, however. If you think you want an MSN you can do a bridge program that will take you that route. Be aware that most RN-MSN programs do not award a BSN along the way. Depending on your goals that may or may not be an issue. What is your area of interest? You'll find lots of support here! Good luck in your journey and keep us posted.

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Feb 23, 2011

There are a number of factors other than cost that you should also take into consideration in choosing. One of them will be how your clinical rotations will be handled. If your are attending a brick-and-mortar school, they should handle that for you. Not having been through an on-line program, I don't don't for sure but it seems this is not the case for most of those schools. While I would guess that some will handle scheduling clinicals just as your local nursing college would, I know that others require you to do it, with a varying level of assistance provided (e. g., some schools maintain lists of partnering institutions and clinical nurse educators to assist you, others require you to find your own institutions and preceptors). Personally, I can't imagine having to arrange for my own clinicals, even with assistance.

Also, as mtsteelhorse indicates, the online, for-profit schools such as Kaplan and Phoenix tend to be quite expensive and are usually quite bit more costly than even private brick-and.mortar schools. The least expensive alternative is almost certainly a BSN program at state-supported college/university, so if cost is the primary criterion, your answer is clear.

Alternatively, you could consider an ADN program at a local CC. This would allow you to get your RN relatively quickly and fairly inexpensively and you could then do an RN-BSN program - either on-line or at a brick-and-mortar school. You may even be able to find employment in nursing after CC and get your employer to pay for the BSN.

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2011

I already have my ADN and my RN, but the school I went to limits my choices when it comes to RN-BSN programs as it's nationally not regionally accreditted. I took two online classes during my ADN and enjoyed them, but I also liked being able to actually ask questions face to face when it came to my nursing courses. I hadn't thought about the clinical component that RN-BSN programs have, the two brick and mortar programs I'm considering would be better for that than an online one since I'm unemployed and have no real contacts for something like that.

I'll check out the Ohio school, Chamberlain is too expensive...even more so than University of Phoenix :eek:

I've been perusing this forum :yeah: You are all right, lots of good information here.

lsilva7 · Feb 26, 2011

HI I am looking into University of Texas Arlington and Western Governors University both are online completely for RN to BSn and fairlly inexpensive.Good Luck

luv2b_a_nurs · Feb 26, 2011

whatever you end up deciding on, make sure that whatever school you plan to get your MSN through will accept your BSN. There are some schools that will not accept just any BSN.

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2011

That's why I'm leaning torwards the two I am, they are well known in the state. One is one of the oldest schools in the state. Also I can get state grants as well as federal aid. It would really be nice for one of these $155 per credit hour programs was in my state instead of the next state over LOL But, like I said I don't know if I want a straight online program. The two I'm leaning towards has in class time as well as online. The more I think about it, the more I think that format is best for me.