Why would nurses voluntarily sign up at for profit schools?

[RNdynamic]

Some backdrop: I went to a traditional 4 year school for my first degree then went to a community college for my associate degree in nursing. While I worked as a nurse, I received my BSN online from Penn State University, which is a flagship state school in PA which a very good academic reputation. It is currently the highest ranked school in the country that offers a totally online RN to BSN option.

My question is, in contrast to attending a highly reputable, cheaper state school, why do many associate degree nurses opt to complete their BSN online at for profit universities like Kaplan, Phoenix, Chamberlain, and Grand Canyon? The for-profits are way more expensive and encourage you to take out loans. Those schools cost more, are less reputable, and aren't any more convenient than the online public state school options. They are also notorious for piranha-like, harassing recruiting tactics and baracuda-style collection practices. So for what purpose..? To what end..?

I recognize that a large portion of the nursing world does not care where you got your nursing degree. But, a significant portion does. One of the most frequent questions I get asked by my colleagues in a new unit is "where did you go to school?" I would be horrified and embarrassed if I had to reply with "University of Phoenix," "Kaplan," or "The Grand Canyon." So what piece of information am I missing here? Why are those schools so attractive?

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

So.. no one answered my question as to why they wouldn't go to a brick and mortar school that had an online program for RN to BSN that is way cheaper than for profits... UT arlington and penn state are both totally online RN to BSN programs that are extremely affordable. I went to PSU world campus for RN to BSN and there is no differentiation between out of state and instate tuition. It's a flat, affordable fee. And getting in is easy. So why would someone pay 3x the amount for grand canyon, chamberlain, or phoenix? What is the advantage..?!??! Especially when the aforementioned schools such as UT and PSU are highly reputable...

Dude...we don't HAVE to justify our accrediated degrees to an underling like you. It's none of your business. If you had any common sense, you would have known that Grand Canyon University isn't IN the Grand Canyon itself . I have no respect for ignorance.

You love to start threads that shoot others down, and if you want to beat the dead horse, have at it.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

RN dynamic when I think of Penn State, it isn't nursing degrees I'm thinking of. Don't you find that embarrassing?

[ahad153]

Why online "for profit" versus brick and mortar? UAMS (Arkansas) has a problem with lack of instructors, their FNP program takes 3.5 years starting with a BSN, 5 years if bridge program. UT-Tyler is at least 3, same same with Tx A&M Corpus, all three over 2.5 hour drive away, UT - Arlington is the same. Price is about the same as well. I started in a MSN program at our local TxA&M branch, but it is nursing ed, and I am not interested in being an instructor. So, working full time, spending at least 15-20 hours a week on homework (and the course work is not a do nothing post and answer, requires research, reading, thought provoking and evidence based or get that F), I am now finishing my first clinical course (144 hours of clinical on top of course work in 12 weeks). It is all about timing and convience as well as education. You get out of it what you put in. I have 3 friends that completed their Walden FNP in the last six months and are 3/3 passing the FNP cert boards. Key is that they all have been nurses greater that 5 years and are mature learners.

[Zhuriel, MSN]

Thanks for the nod houstonrnhopeful, and believe me, you will never again read a post of mine where I waste my energy on this subject. As tokmom said back on page 1, been there, done that, don't really need another topic thread fueling animosity amongst ourselves on a subject that apparently some people just can't get past. The need to feel superior to others and put them down is just in some people's DNA. I was just over at another thread that is remarkably similar to this, and the infighting is simply ridiculous. Frankly, I'm disgusted. I'm not going to go all "why can't we all just get along" on everyone, but truly, this is embarrassing behavior for professionals such as ourselves. Engaging in healthy and lively debate is one thing, but rude, holier-than-thou remarks and needless nitpicking at the actual building (or absence of a building, as it were) or profit vs. non-profit institution from which one chooses to obtain their advanced education is making me cringe (trust me, the other thread is ugly). Every time this subject is brought up, we digress. All that really needs to be offered here is supportive advice to fellow nurses who are genuinely looking for the experiences of others, and the stern reminder to thoroughly investigate all potentials for proper accreditations, transferability, etc. That's it. Yet, we can't seem to help ourselves. There will always be those that feel the need to stir the pot (and then stealthily disappear, as this OP apparently has). The words "diploma mill" and "real school" will continue to rear their ugly heads on AN long after I'm dead and gone, so I choose to no longer allow it to make me want to stick a fork in someone's eye. If my peers on AN think I'm an idiot because I chose an ADN-BSN program that people actually think is down inside the Grand Canyon, I'd say the learning curve is not necessarily on my end.

People are mean because we live in an entitled and narcissistic world. People want to be at the top so they will try their best with their own opinions belittle everyone in their way. I heard about this on a podcast episode OPTIMAL DAILY LIVING

[Zhuriel, MSN]

I went to a for profit vocational school for my associates degree where I received a 3.3 GPA and then a non profit brick and mortar university where I received a 3.7 GPA for my BSN. I enjoyed both education and worked really hard for my associates and bachelors degree. I really think it's what you put into your studies etc. My husband went to the Naval Academy and that school is considered very prestigious and him all his classmates consider their education there mediocre w/ some(not all) incompetent instructors but hey its free and tax payers money. Then he went to an online non-profit university for his Masters and told me he got a better education there than fr the Naval Academy (acceptance rate is in the single digit percentile at USNA). My leadership at the Naval Hospital have degrees from for profits and non profits and my experience when I use to work for the civilian sector in a Magnet hospital (Southern Cali) the leaderships education was the same. It's all about who you know and how present yourself in the end. If you look like crap with a *meh* resume w/ no experience and you're from the #1 School for Nursing or the lowest ranking school...no one is going to care. You have no experience. They will select that nurse who has more experience than you with bachelors degree from a non profit/ for profit university. As for the a leadership position... do you think they will select a nurse at a very respectable hospital that belittle nurses online regarding what kind of education they received? All the leadership I worked with have been so kind, humble, and helpful when it came to discussing continuing your education and as long as it's from an accredited (regionally & nationally)university you are safe! it's your own individual preference. It's also ignorant to even hate and discredit anyone who worked so hard for their RN license no matter where it came from. If you are competent then you are good!

[broughden]

Thank you for resurrecting a four year old thread.

[Vee D, ADN]

On 6/10/2014 at 5:03 AM, openyourmind said:

I was not referring to GCU. I don't think I even mentioned GCU on my post anywhere. However I have heard of schools like chamberlain that have ridiculous tuition costs for a nursing degree. I admit I haven't really done "my homework" because I have no intentions of attending such a school. I don't have to. I didn't even know chamberlain was strictly an online school? I wasn't referring even refering to online schools, just for profits in general. Not sure what point you are trying to make here, but consider it made.

Mind your business