Walden University MSN - Education students

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Sep 7, 2009

Checking to see if there are any current or recent graduates from Walden University for MSN in Education. Can you give me the pro's and cons. I would greatly appreciate it. For those of you that have graduated do you feel it has helped you with teaching nursing students. I currently teach LPN at community college and want to advance my career.

I just graduated from the MSN - Nursing Education program with Walden University. It was a wonderful program and I learned a great deal. The program is truly great for those nurses that plan on teaching. The nursing speciality courses taught me a great deal about adult learning principles, student-centered learning theory and how to be a better, more informed nurse educator.

It took me three years to finish, but you can finish the program in 2 years if you don't take any time off. I found the faculty to be great and the responsiveness of the university to be very good.

Best wishes and I am sure you will really enjoy your time with Walden.

Moogie · Sep 7, 2009

I just graduated from the MSN - Nursing Education program with Walden University. It was a wonderful program and I learned a great deal. The program is truly great for those nurses that plan on teaching. The nursing speciality courses taught me a great deal about adult learning principles, student-centered learning theory and how to be a better, more informed nurse educator.

Just curious: I've read other posts that say students are required to do many group projects. IMHO, group projects are tough enough when everyone lives in the same geographical area. Does Walden require group projects or is it more individualized learning?

thanks!

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Sep 7, 2009

No - during my MSN there were no group projects required. All projects and assignments were student centered and did not require group involvement.

Moogie · Sep 7, 2009

No - during my MSN there were no group projects required. All projects and assignments were student centered and did not require group involvement.

Thanks! I understand the importance of group projects but think they can be logistically very difficult when the group members don't live within the same geographical area.

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Sep 7, 2009

I agree ... I have never been very fond of group projects with distance learning.

lepew · Sep 20, 2009

how did you prep for the practicums? Also, how tough was the portfolio? I have 7 more classes to go....I can't wait to graduate.....I have however enjoyed my classes, and feel I have learned a great deal.

Shari

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Sep 20, 2009

how did you prep for the practicums? Also, how tough was the portfolio? I have 7 more classes to go....I can't wait to graduate.....I have however enjoyed my classes, and feel I have learned a great deal.
Shari

Hi Shari,

First - congratulations on your progress in the program. The 7 classes will go pretty quickly. I remember when I was at that stage and thinking I would never get this done. But the time does pass and all of the sudden you are completing your last class and wondering where the time went!

One of the things I did to prepare for my portfolio was to make sure that I saved every single document I had ever created in the program. I kept my files on my computer hard drive under a separate folder and also kept another copy of files on a thumb drive. This helped me a great deal. When I did my portfolio - I had all the documents they wanted on the first go round without having to find things. Some of the students in my class could not find papers they completed at the start of the program. They had to call tech support, have them locate the paper from 1 or 2 years ago - it was really crazy. I had them all because I saved everything!

In terms of the practicum - start thinking about who you would like to do your practicum with and ask them early. The person you do your practicum with needs to be a MSN prepared nurse. You need to identify a project that you want to do for your practicum. For me - I was in the education track so I selected an educator that I respected and we developed a online Nutrition course that was for credit. I helped to co-facilitate this course for my practicum. It was great because I could do most of my hours from the computer as I graded papers and added to the student's discussions posts for each week.

It feels stressful as you are approaching this portfolio and practicum courses - but Walden really does a wonderful job of making sure you have what you need to get everything done. My course instructor was the same for my last two classes and she was AWESOME!

Best wishes for your success.

lepew · Sep 20, 2009

Thank you for your reply. I feel a little less stressed now! Actually I have an idea in mind for my practicum. There is no new instructor orientation, so I am going to create an online orientation program for new instructors! I already have spoken to an MSN prepared nurse. Thank you for the help. I appreciate it.

Shari

Go Green Girl Jr. · Sep 24, 2009

Hi All!

Just started looking into RNto MSN programs and so far Walden looks pretty good. I do have a few questions, some answers I've seen on here somewhere but cant remember so I'll just ask again!

- If I already have a BS (not BSN) will that cut down on the time it takes me to complete the program?

-Do you actually receive a BSN on your way to your MSN?

- Is Walden accredited?

- Each class is approx 8 weeks long? and then you start in on your next class?

Thanks in advance, I looked on their website but didn't receive much help!

lepew · Sep 26, 2009

GO Green girl Jr:

TO answer youer questions:

If you have a BS it will cut down on some classes. You can get a BSN if you want to go on that track, but it will take you longer to get the the MSN. for example, I did not have a BSN, I enrolled on the RN-MSN track. It would have taken me 6 months longer to get my BSN then MSN, so I opted to go the MSN route.

Walden is accredited. The classes are 8weeks, tehn you start another class. After that 8 weeks you get two weeks off. They automatically send you your books. I have 7 more classes to go. I have found the classes enjoyable, and would enroll again if i had it to do over again.

Feel free to ask any more questions.

Shari

KarenSMI · Nov 11, 2009

There are group projects at Walden if you do their ADN-MSN program. Each of the classes that are required the first year require a project and they were very difficult. Groups were randomly assigned. There are always the people who absolutely nothing. It was a relief to get that year over with. If you start the program as a BSN, you have no group projects.