Which is best?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2007

About which college is best in Phoenix it might be best to ask on the Arizona board.

I think choosing a school is important. It depends on your lifestyle, how you study and if you need a live person. I find that internet schoolling fits my lifestyle and study habits just fine.

One is not better than the other in my opinion.

If you choose online make sure it is an NLN approved program so it will transfer without drama to a grad school. Some grad schools take only NLN approved degrees.

emybaby2 · Jan 30, 2007

About which college is best in Phoenix it might be best to ask on the Arizona board.
I think choosing a school is important. It depends on your lifestyle, how you study and if you need a live person. I find that internet schoolling fits my lifestyle and study habits just fine.
One is not better than the other in my opinion.
If you choose online make sure it is an NLN approved program so it will transfer without drama to a grad school. Some grad schools take only NLN approved degrees.

Does it mean that i can get the online degree for the uscf? Cos their admission process is a bit tough and i want to enrol in a particular specialist degree

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 30, 2007

You would want to contact the schools you consider to learn their specific requirements. Best wishes.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2007

Does it mean that i can get the online degree for the uscf? Cos their admission process is a bit tough and i want to enrol in a particular specialist degree

Is "the uscf" a master's program?

If it is a grad school more than likely yes, they will take a BSN from an online program, especially if it's NLN approved.

changeagent1 · Jan 31, 2007

Before you decide whether or not to take a degree via online or not, there is an important thing to consider. You must consider how it is that you learn. Each of us has a learning style. some are visual, some are auditory, some are kinesthetic others are hands on. If your style is hands on, an online program may not be for you. I know that i love classroom discussion. i like to hear lectures becuase i absorb more learning by hearing than i do by reading or looking.

I had to take one online college course for my job. I got through it ok, but i was frustrated by not being able to ask immediate questions or talk to my classmate. i ended up calling them offline. I did not really retain that much from class becuase i had to read so much, and i don't really learn from reading.

I got my BSN from an external degree program which was the "new way" in the early 80's for not having to attend a regular program. but at least it got me in a classroom where i could learn. My MSN was from a traditional program at a university.

I would not want to do my MSN at an online program becuase that is a degree that requires interaction between peers. At a masters level, it is not so much that you learn new things, it is more taking what you already know and looking at it from a new perspective, questioning it and rearranging your paradigms. I would find that really hard to do without being able to immediately interact with people. typing conversations out is just not the same.

So after 30 years of nursing, would I say go for your masters: yes. does it matter where you go: ;not really, alhtough ucsf is a great nursing school. there are other great nursing schools. but go the traditional program is my recommendation.

if online is the ONLY way you can do it, then your decision is made for you. do it no matter what. if you have a choice, go traditional. you will get more out of it.

that is my thought.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2007

Before you decide whether or not to take a degree via online or not, there is an important thing to consider. You must consider how it is that you learn. Each of us has a learning style. some are visual, some are auditory, some are kinesthetic others are hands on. If your style is hands on, an online program may not be for you. I know that i love classroom discussion. i like to hear lectures becuase i absorb more learning by hearing than i do by reading or looking.
I had to take one online college course for my job. I got through it ok, but i was frustrated by not being able to ask immediate questions or talk to my classmate. i ended up calling them offline. I did not really retain that much from class becuase i had to read so much, and i don't really learn from reading.
I got my BSN from an external degree program which was the "new way" in the early 80's for not having to attend a regular program. but at least it got me in a classroom where i could learn. My MSN was from a traditional program at a university.
I would not want to do my MSN at an online program becuase that is a degree that requires interaction between peers. At a masters level, it is not so much that you learn new things, it is more taking what you already know and looking at it from a new perspective, questioning it and rearranging your paradigms. I would find that really hard to do without being able to immediately interact with people. typing conversations out is just not the same.
So after 30 years of nursing, would I say go for your masters: yes. does it matter where you go: ;not really, alhtough ucsf is a great nursing school. there are other great nursing schools. but go the traditional program is my recommendation.
if online is the ONLY way you can do it, then your decision is made for you. do it no matter what. if you have a choice, go traditional. you will get more out of it.
that is my thought.

I think this is so interesting; it shows how very different we all are. I have found that I get more out of my online classes compared to my traditional classes. I find that my online classes go into a bit more depth, and free me up to dig in deep. My traditional classes tend to wander and waste time with useless talk and busy-work, often.

I know my experience is valid and I know yours' is, too. It just goes to show how differently we all learn.

changeagent1 · Feb 1, 2007

to respond to the above, You are right in that on line classes may go more in depth. But I think it is what you make it. if it is a subject that interests you, won't you be motivated to explore and read more.

the important thing is to know yourself and the best way you learn. I learn best by discussion. i can't type as fast as i can speak, so it is very laborious to type out my thoughts. also i find that others do not type exactly what they want to say, and it comes accross the discussion thread in a convoluted or not clear manner.

i am also a relationship oriented person. to me, in life, it is about relationships. I like to create them and maintain them. so to sit at computer at home alone, is not a great way for me. And unfortunately, i still have only dial up which makes transactions on the computer even slower.

We all learn differently, so if you go to school, know what method works for you and go for it.

Also, i found that once you have a masters, it does not really matter where it is from. It is just the fact that you have it. So if ucsf has your speciality that you want, that will be the place to go. but explore other universtities that may not cost as much or be in a less expensive place to live.

that is all. could go on withthis thread forever. Exactly what i am trying to say. i use too many words becuase i am verbal person, where as the previous speaker said it in a few words.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2007

Excellent advise. You have to first assess how it is that you personally learn. This is a very important step.

I'm doing quite well with online learning. I know a lot of people that need the classroom. One is not more superior than the other in my opinion because I've done both. Online learning for me is fine because I'm self-motivated, and don't need instant answers to any questions I have, and I like the flexibility.

I always recommend that anyone that goes the online route, make sure the school has the proper accreditations, like NLN.

changeagent1 · Feb 2, 2007

I want to go thru an ADN degree to BSN. I want to know which is best, online or classroom? I want to get a BSN so that i can get into study for a master's degree in the university of California, San francisco. I wish to know if the online degree will be accepted for a master's degree in UCSF.
Secondly, i want to get a BSN in Phoenix, Arizona. Which college offers an ADN to BSN program in nursing?

Getting back to your original question about which is best for schools, you stated that you wanted to go to a Masters program to become a nurse midwife. I have found a website that may help you in your search. it lists all the schoolsl that have courses in this field. what is really exciting is that many of them have a RN to BSN program in the undergrad and some hve RN to MSn with a program in midwifery. if you are willing to move for graduate school there are some of these universities that are in very inexpense places. What i just found out is there are online schools for advanced practice for midwifery. How about that. anyway, here is the link.

http://www.allnursingschools.com/featured/nurse-midwife/ I can vouch for the Emory School of nursing here in Atlanta because i have attended an orientation program for their graduate programs. They all were excellent. Very strongly clinical based.

Good luck. keep going. the BSN will seem like it takes forever, but it will go by fast. Graduate school will go much quicker. Keep on going. I am excited for you to know what you want and to go for it!!!! Wish all nurses had your determination.

emybaby2 · Feb 3, 2007

Thanks so much for all your replies. It's so encouraging. Like changeagent1 said that he[sorry if u are a she] likes the relationships and discussion in the classroom, i like that too but am also thinking of managing time. Won't it be so stressful to go to classroom then get to work? Other responsibilities are there. I so much appreciate your advise and contributions, it taking away my ignorance. I didnt want to get a loan for my BSN only for an MSN. How do i go about it?

changeagent1 · Feb 5, 2007

hi. (just to let you know, i am a she)

regarding school and loans. loan information can be obtained at the school to which you apply. they always have a financial aid office. do not be so quick to file for loans, though. there are many more grants for nursing education especially to go into advanced practice. there are programs with the federal government that if you offer to serve in an underserved area, such as rural america or indian health service, there are g rants and loan forgiveness.

all this requires mobility. i don't know what your status is as far as mobility to move, but the more mobile you are willing to be, the more opportunities are for you.

time management is an issue regarding school. school is stressful no matter what. i liked class room because my bsn was done in an external degree program. it was the statewide nursing program in ca. the program has probably become more online now, but back then, they offered courses at local hospitals. you went to class once every two or three weeks for 4 or so hours. i liked that rather than sitting at computer every night trying to understand what someone was saying in their thread on line. rabbit trails happen a lot when on line.

my msn was in a traditional university setting, however, they program was geared to working nurses. class was once a week and then sometimes you had to meet with your work group during the week. it was more of a team approach for some classes. but class was after work like 6-10. i liked it like that because you usually got out early.

i worked different shifts while i was going to school, 12-hr nights for the bsn and 8-5 weekdays for my msn. i liked working the night shift because when i was quiet at night, i could get some work done.

face it, when you are in school, it is stressful, no matter what program you take because it are using up personal time with requirements. there is always something else you have to do. to complete school, you have to have tunnel vision to get to your final goal of being a midwife. always keep that in sight.

like i said, the bsn will seem to take forever, that is why i recommended some of the previous schools that have a bsn to msn program. you can do it all at once and graduate much sooner. but you may have to relocate. if you can't relocate, that changes your options. if i had to do it over again, that is what i would do. however, they did not have those types of programs around in the early 80's (wow, it sounds like so long ago, yet it seems like yesterday). the external degree program that i attended is now run out of cal state at dominquez hills. they have it all over the state of california.

but i know there is a lot of federal grant money out there to get nurses to do advanced practice degrees because we are desperately needed.

so you see why i would like classroom much better, i just have too much to say. i am trying to keep it brief and i still rattle on. and on and on and on....

oh well, keep exploring until you find the program right for you. talk to a lot of nurses especially ones in the field you are in. find them in the professional organization of their field and interview them. find out if that is what you really want to do.

good luck.