Which RN-BSN online program did you chose and why ?

caliotter3 · Mar 20, 2010

Although not ready to move on to that step, I am seriously considering two programs because they are located in my area. One is a somewhat expensive private program and the other is less expensive but new and lesser known. When it gets down to that decision, it will most likely be one of these two.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 20, 2010

It came down to a few things for me: accreditation, total cost, my perceived quality of the program, and how many credits they wanted me to take. I already had 3 associates degrees/206 credits before starting, and I didn't feel the need to take a bunch more general ed stuff that I'd already had. With Chamberlain, the only gen ed classes I had to take were ones I hadn't had before -- Economics and an upper-level sociology. I am really enjoying Chamberlain. There aren't clinicals, but there are some experiential learning assignments, which were actually pretty cool.

mondragon · Mar 20, 2010

LunahRN, thank you for the info. I have spent a lot of time researching which program would be best for me. Chamberlain is on my list. I have an ASN from EC and want to get my BSN. I love online education,so that is the route I will take for my BSN. I have narrowed it : Thomas Edison, Regis Univ., Univ. of Wyoming, Fort Hayes Univ., Western Governers Univ. and Chamberlain. All are NLN or CCNE accredited, I thought I would look over them again, see if I can eliminate a few, then apply to maybe 4 and see what my career path would be with each. I have Sociology,Psychology,Algebra,Humanities,A & P (x2),Micro.,College Writing, Life Span Psych.World Religions,Ethics. I want a program that allows the student to log on 24/7, instead of at specified times. I work full time,so I need flexibility,I also worked 40 + hrs/wk when I did my ASN. I have read a lot of positive responses about Chamberlain, I have read pages & pages here,this is a big investment,and I want to make the right choice.So I was looking for input from other students about their choices. :clown:

mamablueyes · Mar 21, 2010

I am currently enrolled at Chamberlain for my RN to BSN. I love it! It is all online with no clinicals. There are a few papers based on experiments but it is all on your own. You are able to log in 24/7 which is a huge plus. Discussion questions have to have the first post done my Wednesday at 11:59 pm and assignments must be done by Sunday at 11:59pm. The classes offer Live Chat sessions but it is optional. I am a mother of 3 so it is great for me to be able to do class when the kids go to bed. The classes are busy but doable. I hope this helps. If you have any further questions, I will be glad to help.

Angela

FLOBRN · Mar 21, 2010

Chamberlain is currently my #2. I am putting #1 as Thomas Edison State. Has anyone been through this program?

LA_StudentNurse · Mar 22, 2010

I chose distant learning LVN/LPN-->BSN through Indiana State University. I have 3 AA's and one bachelor's.

My parameters: a total distant learning program, acceptance of my prerequisites and other university classes, accepting lab science classes older than 5 years, accreditation, acceptance of the school in my state, cost, and clinicals.

Since I am a caretaker of an elderly parent and commuting in traffic in Los Angeles is a huge waste of time, the ISU program was a good fit.

:twocents:

WEST1014, RN,BSN · Mar 23, 2010

LunahRN, thank you for the info. I have spent a lot of time researching which program would be best for me. Chamberlain is on my list. I have an ASN from EC and want to get my BSN. I love online education,so that is the route I will take for my BSN. I have narrowed it : Thomas Edison, Regis Univ., Univ. of Wyoming, Fort Hayes Univ., Western Governers Univ. and Chamberlain. All are NLN or CCNE accredited, I thought I would look over them again, see if I can eliminate a few, then apply to maybe 4 and see what my career path would be with each. I have Sociology,Psychology,Algebra,Humanities,A & P (x2),Micro.,College Writing, Life Span Psych.World Religions,Ethics. I want a program that allows the student to log on 24/7, instead of at specified times. I work full time,so I need flexibility,I also worked 40 + hrs/wk when I did my ASN. I have read a lot of positive responses about Chamberlain, I have read pages & pages here,this is a big investment,and I want to make the right choice.So I was looking for input from other students about their choices.

Your prerequisites are similar to mine. This is the school I'm leaning towards (based on accreditation and cost):

http://www.muw.edu/nursing2/tupelo/

mondragon · Mar 23, 2010

west1014, I went to the site,it looks like a good program,I may consider this too.I could not figure out the tuition,though,guess I have to read more to understand it. thank you so much. Are you currently in the program or enrolling ?

WEST1014, RN,BSN · Mar 23, 2010

west1014, I went to the site,it looks like a good program,I may consider this too.I could not figure out the tuition,though,guess I have to read more to understand it. thank you so much. Are you currently in the program or enrolling ?

I am thinking of enrolling. I haven't even taken my NCLEX yet (lol). I'm still waiting on EC to send my transcripts to board of nursing. If I can test in the next couple of weeks, I will be enrolling in the summer term to this program. I emailed them. They need me to send in transcripts, immunization forms, copy of license, so they can do the unofficial evaluation. I did do my fasfa yesterday and added that school. The tuition cost is somewhere around 2200 per semester. Somewhere on there it says that the books total around 600.00. If I can't get any kind of financial aid, I will do the payment plan per semester. That's kind of how i did Excelsior.

mondragon · Mar 23, 2010

I did my ASN thru Excelsior,also.Just passed my NCLEX on 02/02/2010,and EC totally prepares you to pass.I read the same as you,$ 2200 per semester and $ 600 for books for the entire program.I am going to read more,but this program sounds really good.Will keep you posted on what I decide.Thanks for the info.

BrookeeLou_RN · Mar 23, 2010

I started Grand Canyon University, they accepted everything, classes were 5 wk one at a time, but they are mostly group projects, finished Professional Dynamics, got an A but next class was even more groups. Then my father went into ICU and I had to drop, well apparently, not very acceptable, nasty woman called me demanding to know when I would come back etc. I finally just withdrew, my enrollment person was totally the best but otherwise academic and financial people got promoted after one contact with me and no one went in their places. And they have no calendar at this point in March, and they changed the class schedules 3x since I enrolled in Jan and never told anyone.

I have applied at Jacksonville Univ, no group projects!! and they are still evaluating my transcripts, I have 128 credits plus that one upper level class. I had picked Chamberlain before Grand Canyon talked me out of it with the online(not brick and mortar school) degree not being "good enough" I fell for it! Top goal is nurse practitioner, 2nd would be nurse educator. I checked out Thomas Edison but found their web site confusing.

Has anyone actually gone to any classes at Thomas Edison? How much group work is there at Chamberlain? Anyone at Chamberlain who is willing to share more about classes would be appreciated.

Anyone know anything concrete about Jacksonville Univ?