U of Phoenix online MSN??

USFguy · Feb 10, 2005

Hi all! Graduated with my BSN in 97 from a brick and mortar university. Seriously looking into the MSN option through University of Phoenix which is entirely online. My question is this.... Does anyone know just how reputable this degree really is?? I know the university is NLN accredited, but will a future employer think highly of an "online" master's degree? Any advice, input, or experience would really help me out. I am a military wife hanging out here overseas, so a brick and mortar school really isn't an option right now. I currently stay home with my kiddos, but will go back as a reentry staff nurse with a masters after I complete graduate school.

I am a nursing student in a BSN program, so any advice I give herein take with a grain of salt. I think an online MSN degree in say Healthcare Administration Systems Leadership or Nursing Informatics--really anything non-clinical is fine and should be just as valid as a brick and mortar degree. I think a online clinical degree, like nurse practioner or clinical nurse specialist is suspect and I would think employers would look twice. However, there are some really reputable schools that have online degree programs like Stony Brook-State University of New York, Univ. of Maryland (I think), Univ. of Colorado, and a few others. These are actual brick and mortar schools, so an amployer would never know if you got your degree online or not. University of Phoenix is well known and famous for their online programs, so you could not get away with this with a degree from thier school, although they are brick and mortar too and have several campuses throughout the country.

Hope this helps. Thats my two cents. :)

USFguy · Feb 10, 2005

I am a nursing student in a BSN program, so any advice I give herein take with a grain of salt. I think an online MSN degree in say Healthcare Administration Systems Leadership or Nursing Informatics--really anything non-clinical is fine and should be just as valid as a brick and mortar degree. I think a online clinical degree, like nurse practioner or clinical nurse specialist is suspect and I would think employers would look twice. However, there are some really reputable schools that have online degree programs like Stony Brook-State University of New York, Univ. of Maryland (I think), Univ. of Colorado, and a few others. These are actual brick and mortar schools, so an amployer would never know if you got your degree online or not. University of Phoenix is well known and famous for their online programs, so you could not get away with this with a degree from thier school, although they are brick and mortar too and have several campuses throughout the country.
Hope this helps. Thats my two cents. :)

Go to http://www.allnursingschools.com and click on the option for online RN to BSN. That will bring all the schools offering online degrees, many, offering Master's--and yes clinical master's like nurse practioner, nurse midwife, etc.

Good luck.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2005

If it's NLN approved, it's good enough for me. Your degree is going to say "University of Pheonix", not "THIS WAS AN ONLINE STUDENT!". My spouse as a Masters he got 100% online from Bellview Uni. in Omaha. He went to graduation with the rest of the students and got the same Masters degree that they did.

I don't work in an area where there are masters prepared people, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I think as more and more students take online degrees it's becoming common place and just as respected as traditional degrees.

Good luck.

Trauma Columnist · Feb 10, 2005

Okay - I'm in the University of Phoenix online MSN degree. Its a true MSN with a concentration in management and leadership (nonclinical degree). I live near a brick and mortar university (Bradley University in Peoria, IL) which offers the same exact degree utilizing many of the same courses and books! UofP is fully accredited and counts (at least in my area of the country - midwest) fully as a masters degree. I did my BSN completion with UofP and again have had no problems. Most people don't even know where you go to school! I will be finished June 8th!

Just curious - (I too was a military wife for many years) - where are you stationed? I wasn't able to finish my nursing degree until I returned to the states but got many pre-reqs out of the way overseas at the local ed centers on base. Good luck - if you have any specific questions - I would be glad to address them - just pm me...judi

spazbeanie · Feb 10, 2005

Judi-

Thanks so much for the info. That really helps, especially if I plan on sinking a TON of money into the program! Hanging out over here in Japan and I figured I might as well get back into school. What exactly is the nursing practicum I am reading about, along with the clinical hours? Write me at your convenience ([email protected]). I appreciate any info especially since you are in the program. Thanks again!

Alicia

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 10, 2005

I think the honest answer is that you may receive a mixed reaction from potential employers and you will need to be prepared for that. I have a good friend who went to the Univ. of Phoenix (partly online and partly not) and she received a good education. The school in general has a good reputation.

However, I have another friend currently doing the on-line program. When she recently applied for a leadership job, a few people did look down their noses a bit.

I'm not saying it's fair ... or that on-line programs are not gaining in the quality ... just that there is some bias out there and you need to be prepared to deal with it. You may want to prepare a portfolio of your work to show prospective employers and/or be sure that your resume includes evidence of high achievement to counteract any bias that you might encounter.

llg

rickybear · Feb 10, 2005

I think the honest answer is that you may receive a mixed reaction from potential employers and you will need to be prepared for that.llg

There are a lot of universities these days that have online programs and offer classes over the Internet. you can take every class online and get the very same degree that the students who attended classes do. there is no distinction. that would be my choice seeing as the tuition is similar.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 10, 2005

There are a lot of universities these days that have online programs and offer classes over the Internet. you can take every class online and get the very same degree that the students who attended classes do. there is no distinction. that would be my choice seeing as the tuition is similar.

I know.

If you read my whole post, you'll see that I was not trying to criticize the person's program or her for taking it -- just trying to help her succeed in her career by being prepared for the fact that bias still exists.

The education literature is still mixed on this subject. While a lot of on-line courses (and whole programs) are being developed, not everyone is convinced that the quality of the educational experience is the same. In the past, some of the on-line courses have not met the same standards as the on-campus courses. The general concensus seems to be that the quality is improving as faculty members develop the expertise to teach on-line. So, I would guess that the bias against on-line education will be decreasing in the future.

However ... that wasn't the topic that I was addressing in my post. I was just trying to help out the original poster by saying that, "Yes, some people do have a bias against on-line education" and suggesting that she prepare to present her qualifications well to overcome any bias she might encounter in the future.

I wish her well in her studies and in her future career.

llg

spazbeanie · Feb 11, 2005

I appreciate your insight. I, myself, am a bit skeptical about the whole "online education" hence that is why I wrote my original post. Un of Phoenix is a pricey, private and for profit school. I am trying to get as many opinions as possible before enrolling. If the curriculum is indeed hard and demanding, I sure would want to be rewarded for it and not looked down upon because the school is online. I know we are still in the trial stages of online education. Anyone out there with an online MSN come across any bias? Or, is there anyone out there that had success securing a leadership job with their online MSN? Suggestions, advice, insight welcomed!

BETSRN · Feb 15, 2005

Hi all! Graduated with my BSN in 97 from a brick and mortar university. Seriously looking into the MSN option through University of Phoenix which is entirely online. My question is this.... Does anyone know just how reputable this degree really is?? I know the university is NLN accredited, but will a future employer think highly of an "online" master's degree? Any advice, input, or experience would really help me out. I am a military wife hanging out here overseas, so a brick and mortar school really isn't an option right now. I currently stay home with my kiddos, but will go back as a reentry staff nurse with a masters after I complete graduate school.

I have a colleague who is going through this program. It is extremely reputable. It is her second masters (first online).

Trauma Columnist · Feb 15, 2005

Spazbeanie - where are you at in Japan? Hubby and I were stationed (I was in the Navy, he Air Force) at Yokota AB and we both worked at FEN-Tokyo from 79 to 82. We got married in the chapel there and had our first son at the hospital. I have wonderful memories of Japan. So far I have not encountered any bias towards my UofP degree. However, I truly respect llg and believe her when she says her friend has encountered bias.