What to look for in a program?

Nursing Students School Programs

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Hey guys,

So..I have quite a favor to ask. I am an ADN and have been for a couple of years, I've been in labor and delivery and home health. Both were requiring way more time and energy than I had in order to accomplish my major goal of continuing my education through either a BSN or MSN. I love that there is such a wide variety of options to continue on and get another degree, but my head is just honest to gosh swimming with all the info I've managed to round up in the recent weeks.

I want to consider an RN to MSN program and wondering what your guys' thoughts/opinions are on those. I of course want one that will award a BSN as well. Is there anything else I should be aware of? I would love it to be somewhat affordable.

How about financial aid? I have used some pell grants and such for my ADN program and I believe I still have some available, but what did you guys all figure out in terms of student loans and the like? I have never had a student loan and I'm not really sure what to expect or look out for in this respect.

I also read a couple posts of people who say their employer was not accepting of certain MSN degrees because the college is not "regionally accredited" but only nationally accredited. What does this mean, and is this a problem I should look for on many programs? Do some programs have both or is it an either/or situation? I don't want to lose out on a great job or what have you because of a gray area like that. Is there a certain accreditation that I should DEFINITELY look for? Do you guys see a big demand for a certain area in terms of an MSN specialty? I am leading towards informatics because it really appeals to me, but I wonder what the job outlook is for that. I wonder about education as well but I just don't think I am the type of personality to fit that well.

What does the field of public health look like?

Also, I was looking at a program the other day ( I believe?? Not sure...) And it had mentioned that the courses were not "credits" per se, but CU's or some kind of "unit". Is this common, acceptable, etc. or is this something fish or to be wary of?

Guys, I know this is a HUGE list of questions and I am so sorry. I just think I need to kind of work my thoughts out with people who have been through this instead of reading all the schpeels on the program websites. They are obviously selling hard, and I just want a student/past students perspective on this. I was going to go through my local university system to do their bridge program but it was going to be expensive, and they "compete" somewhat with my local tech school I got my ADN from, so they won't accept as many credits of previous learning as I would like, and I hardly want to repeat classes over again.

Plus, some of these programs have the option to fast track it, and in my current position as an Occ health RN working part time (20 hrs/wk) I feel like I finally found the "butter zone" of work/personal life balance so that I can go back to school.

Any help is TRULY appreciated. You guys are the best!!

There has to be some wiki how or bible for this stuff.....

Even if you answer one or two questions that would be awesome. I will take what I can get!! Better to hear it from my peers :happy:

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Anyone? There's got to be some great advice everyone has. I feel super overwhelmed choosing!

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*****

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I can speak to the part:

WGU is regionally accredited, nationally accredited and an NLN Center of Excellence for Nursing Education. They have over 24,000 grads employed in all 50 states. Largest producer (not the right word I know) of minority MSN grad in the country. 25,000+ currently enrolled in nursing degrees.

VERY well-respected degree. The 'credit hour' equivalent (since they are a competency-based program) is 'CU' meaning 'competency unit'. They are 1:1 equivalent to credit hours. WGU degrees require 120 of them to complete, just like a typical credit hour-based degree.

Here in Indiana, WGU grads are CNOs, managers, NPs, bedside nurses, and the governor just appointed a WGU MSN grad as chief of the Department of Children and Family Services.

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