Whats best Online RN to BSN

vetnrse · Aug 30, 2016

Same here, test taking is great. Writing long drawn out research papers, ugh.. And now in APA, which I never heard of until recently, . And protect models for chem? Which I had 2 chems already ? My kid will be helping me with my homework now

Carabella · Aug 30, 2016

It may end up working for you! After Biochemistry I just decided to withdraw (and I got a lot of my tuition back). If you have kids to help, that's great! I was looking for a degree that didn't feel like torture! As I said, maybe their style of learning just hit me the wrong way. There are people who really like the program. I agree with the poster who advised to pay attention only to the 2016 and after students. However, I really don't want to spend 20 hours a week on school 10-15 is max for me! I'm just in a different place and want a bachelors degree... Preferably psych or behavioral health, but any degree works for me :) Luckily, I don't need it for the work I do!

JustMeRN · Aug 30, 2016

Ok, thanks for your opinion. It's just a little confusing when some say they did the whole program in 9 or 10 months and others were longer, with similar credits. I still don't get why they are only accepting 59 of my previous credits. That leaves me with around 61 credits to do. I will ask them tomorrow. They need to accept more than that

if you are already enrolled (sounds like you might be) you can't challenge your

credit transfers. That needs to be

done prior to enrolling.

WGU had a plethora of resources, find them and use them! If you struggle with writing or apa formatting connect with the writing center right away. Use your course mentors, schedule some one on one time if needed. ALWAYS read through the course tips and course comment sections in the course of study before starting. Follow along the course of study in order as its laid out. Join cohorts whenever they are offered, they will provide you with a ton f extra info to complete tasks. The tasks should not be easy, they should challenge you. But, if you ever feel overwhelmed or lost reach out for help because it is available!

featherzRN, MSN · Sep 2, 2016

Same here, test taking is great. Writing long drawn out research papers, ugh.. And now in APA, which I never heard of until recently, . And protect models for chem? Which I had 2 chems already ? My kid will be helping me with my homework now

I am betting that ALL of the RN-BSN programs will require APA format.

While biochem has changed since I did it (I had to do powerpoints), we still had to make the models. I thought it was kinda fun. Personally, I'm glad to hear they've changed it up a bit!

smartnurse1982 · Sep 2, 2016

I want to add something... WGU does have some tests (which are pretty easy) but it also has a LOT of papers to write and some of them are not that short! Biochemistry has 5 tasks which are projects (you make physical models and answer questions from a rubric)... They are redesigning that course because people are having a lot of trouble getting the information they need. And this is not the first redesign. There is a physical assessment course in which you have to video yourself. There are big research papers in some of the courses. You need to know APA formatting and then your papers go through a turn it in program for plagurism. The program was redone within the past couple of years. I signed up with high hopes, and I will tell you it is not that easy. Sorry, but after signing up I became really upset. I am very pro online, but this degree is now a lot of work and people are taking much longer to do it. They do not tell you prior to signing up that they have made it a lot harder for accreditation...

I totally agree.

It took 6 months for me to get through 4 courses-Biochem,Humanities,Nutrition,and Care of the Older Adult. I have spent 2.5 months on Biochem,and even after contacting a course mentor who was completely useless I struggled.

I really do not understand when some on here say they swept through 10 courses in 6 months,and worked 60 hours while doing so.

smartnurse1982 · Sep 2, 2016

It may end up working for you! After Biochemistry I just decided to withdraw (and I got a lot of my tuition back). If you have kids to help, that's great! I was looking for a degree that didn't feel like torture! As I said, maybe their style of learning just hit me the wrong way. There are people who really like the program. I agree with the poster who advised to pay attention only to the 2016 and after students. However, I really don't want to spend 20 hours a week on school 10-15 is max for me! I'm just in a different place and want a bachelors degree... Preferably psych or behavioral health, but any degree works for me :) Luckily, I don't need it for the work I do!

I am hearing from lots of students on Facebook(and even my student mentor) that lots of people are not passing Biochem and having a hard time with it.

The school must do something,otherwise too many students are going to fail and that is a red flag.

I personally think many students paid for someone to write their Research papers online,but that is another topic.

vetnrse · Sep 2, 2016

Well, it sounds nuts. I'll give it a shot but after 6 mo if it's too slow going, I'll just switch to another online program... Which one I don't know. So I need a plan B here. Has anyone out there been satisfied with a program they took? Mind you , it's been 20 yrs since I've been in school, I'm doing this not for the lines of it but to open up job opportunities and increase income.

Carabella · Sep 2, 2016

Smartnurse1982, Thank you so much for your input! While I don't doubt WGU has worked for a lot of people, my student mentor shared similar info and validated that it is quite difficult to get what is needed to pass that course!!! She said they are redoing it. She also clarified that in the past two years, nobody who had been assigned to her has graduated in six months (apparently this was doable before - especially with 40 credits or less needed). They recently changed Biochemistry and other courses! Some have done it in a year (frequently they just need the ten mandatory courses)... But the average is eighteen months. I know there are always exceptions, but I hated the school after Biochemistry... I just want any degree. And actually, I just want it for me... My job does not require it.

The Biochemistry class mentors (multiple) did not help me at all irrespective of practically begging them - in profound frustration. I got all my info from outside sources. One gentleman tried to help, and gave me very partial info, but was then going to be off... At least he tried. I spoke to one mentor in particular who was obnoxious and indifferent. At that point I decided to withdraw once the courses in progress were completed. My entire tuition and fees ended up being about $1500 and I can take those credits elsewhere.

i honestly was shocked at the course design. One should not have to go on a search and destroy mission to get basic info. And while I don't want to spend 20+ hours per week on school, I have always been able to easily absorb info and pass with flying colors (mostly As, a few B+s). APA was annoying but doable... It was everything all together that ended up being a frustrating experience.

I too, have been out of school for 20+ years. I have NEVER been held back by being an ADN prepared RN. So I decided I will get a BS/BA in something I like, and in a way that is not emotional torture...

p.s. For me, there is nothing "fun" about making models for Biochemistry. I found it extremely annoying. Just give me the course material and a test"

JustMeRN · Sep 3, 2016

I really enjoyed biochem, and though it was quite easy. The course mentor videos were fantastic. The only class I found was poorly designed was community health. I didn't struggle with any of the classes. Some of them were more of a challenge, but if you work through the course of study everything you need is literally right there! If you aren't willing or able to commit 15- 20 hours a week to school then why are you pursuing a higher degree? If WGU style wasn't for you I get that, but you sound like you want a degree without the work, or feel that your experience means the degree will be easy, but that's not the way it works.

heres my take on why people in the Facebook group struggled. Nearly every time it was the same thing. People would open the task instructions, and then have a hissy fit because it was too hard and they couldn't figure it out. Some of us would suggest opening the course of study and completing the assigned reading and modules. The answer was almost alway "I don't have time for that". I didn't understand then, and I still don't understand now, why anyone would think they could write a paper that would pass without first learning he content through self directed study. The learning style at Wgu is different, and not for everyone, but everything you need to be successful is at your fingertips. You have to be self driven and self motivated to work through it though, no one is going to hold your hand.

OP, as to your plan B. Wgu credits may not transfer everywhere (due to credi hour and grade structuring), so if you really are not sure it may be a waste of your time and money to even start.

smartnurse1982 · Sep 3, 2016

I really enjoyed biochem, and though it was quite easy. The course mentor videos were fantastic. The only class I found was poorly designed was community health. I didn't struggle with any of the classes. Some of them were more of a challenge, but if you work through the course of study everything you need is literally right there! If you aren't willing or able to commit 15- 20 hours a week to school then why are you pursuing a higher degree? If WGU style wasn't for you I get that, but you sound like you want a degree without the work, or feel that your experience means the degree will be easy, but that's not the way it works.
heres my take on why people in the Facebook group struggled. Nearly every time it was the same thing. People would open the task instructions, and then have a hissy fit because it was too hard and they couldn't figure it out. Some of us would suggest opening the course of study and completing the assigned reading and modules. The answer was almost alway "I don't have time for that". I didn't understand then, and I still don't understand now, why anyone would think they could write a paper that would pass without first learning he content through self directed study. The learning style at Wgu is different, and not for everyone, but everything you need to be successful is at your fingertips. You have to be self driven and self motivated to work through it though, no one is going to hold your hand.
OP, as to your plan B. Wgu credits may not transfer everywhere (due to credi hour and grade structuring), so if you really are not sure it may be a waste of your time and money to even start.

Actually,it was suggested by some members on Allnurses to open Taskstream and work backward.

That actually worked for Nutrition,Humanities,and Care of the Older adult.

The school says it tests you on what you know,not time.

Yet you have to go through the COS,watch videos,and make projects.

Sorry,but that is testing by way of time.

If they really wanted to test competency,they would have a Multiple choice test for Biochem or have us do a research paper.

For myself,the Biochem class is really a turn off with WGU,so much that i might just drop out and try TESU.

Carabella · Sep 3, 2016

I completely agree smart nurse! As do many in this community.

JustMeRN · Sep 3, 2016

Actually,it was suggested by some members on Allnurses to open Taskstream and work backward.
That actually worked for Nutrition,Humanities,and Care of the Older adult.
The school says it tests you on what you know,not time.
Yet you have to go through the COS,watch videos,and make projects.
Sorry,but that is testing by way of time.
If they really wanted to test competency,they would have a Multiple choice test for Biochem or have us do a research paper.
For myself,the Biochem class is really a turn off with WGU,so much that i might just drop out and try TESU.

You can't work backwards in a class where the information is new, and it's very bad advice to try. The program most certainly is competancy based. If you have a biochem background you can knock out the projects quickly. If you do not have a biochem background you watch the recorded lectures and then do the projects. Competancy based most definitely does not exclude paper writing and projects. If you didn't know the information well enough to do the projects, why is it wrong to be required to learn the information to pass the class?

Courses like care care of the older adult and health assessment could be knocked out quickly by hospital nurses because that's our bread and butter, it's what we are competent at. Courses like evidence based practice and applied nursing research and community health, well not so much. Any nurse without a background in those specific fields who thinks they will be able to write the papers without doing the assigned coursework is delusional. The content, theory, and practices are all new information that needs to be

learned.

You our seem to think that you already have all the knowledge to have a bsn and it should just be a matter of testing out of the classes (which seems to be a common feeling amount experienced nurses, I'm not trying to pick at you personally) but it's just not the case. Getting a

BSN is challenging, even if you have years, decades even, of experience.