University of Wyoming

nursetee627 · Jul 29, 2005

I graduated from U. Wyoming's online BSN completion program. I am glad I did it and am now enrolled in an online MSN program at another school. They can be a little slow to get back to you during the summer months, and the "administrative" side is always a little slow (at any time of year) but once you are enrolled, the actual instructors/advisors are usually much better about getting back to you and answering your questions in a timely fashion.
Let me know if I can be of any help :)

how was the program and what did it consist of thanks

Jo Dirt · Jul 29, 2005

I checked out that program as well, and almost had a stroke when I did the math! The total number of hours for their RN-to-MSN is 65. Multiplied by $800 per credit hour, that adds up to $52,000 just for tuition, not fees, travel to campus and hotel expenses for the time you are there (which IS required for Vandy's program), books, the required PDA (for the NNP program), or anything else. The tuition alone alone is 3.5 times the cost of my BSN completion and my MSN programs put together! By the time you add in the other expenses....
I would loved to have done Vandy's program, but not having a money tree in my back yard, I had to opt for something more affordable. It would have been different if I could demand a higher salary upon graduation because I had attended an expensive private school, but that is not the way things work in nursing...advanced practice or otherwise.

Vanderbilt's RN-MSN program does not have a good reputation in Tennessee and many graduates report having a difficult time finding doctor's to sponsor them.

NNPStudent · Jul 30, 2005

Vanderbilt's RN-MSN program does not have a good reputation in Tennessee and many graduates report having a difficult time finding doctor's to sponsor them.

Wow - I didn't know that! What is the reasoning behind their poor reputation in TN, do you know? Is it particular to one or two specialties or is the problem present with all of their programs? For as much as they have the audacity to charge to go there, you would think that they would offer the best instruction available. Unfortunately, in most cases, that seems to not be the reality. I was reading an article online, just today, that says that student satisfaction is lowest among Ivy League and other "big name" universities. I believe Harvard was 8th from the bottom of the student satisfaction ratings (for all majors at all the schools).

I have only attended a private university once, and I felt that I got a very good education there, but it was just too expensive to continue - even with a scholarship that covered half my tuition. Yet, even though the instruction I received there was very good, it did not surpass that of the state university from which I graduated, nor the state university which I now attend.

I can't even imagine how frustrating it must be for Vanderbilt grads to have spent all that money on their educations and then to face difficulty in finding work because others apparently do not think as highly of Vandy as Vandy thinks of itself. I would be fit to be tied! Thanks for the heads up about their rep.

luv4nursing · Jul 30, 2005

can someone tell me the price of this program and the length of time it takes?

Jo Dirt · Jul 30, 2005

A lot of doctors here look at the RN to MSN program at Vanderbilt as a "quickie" diploma mill. Apparently, it looks better to them to get the BSN before trying to bump up to MSN. I'm sure they could tell you more about it on the MSN page.