Half way through BSN, options for finishing online???

[sanantone]

She's been too busy with her current BSN program (on campus) to finish her prep study for NCLEX. She went straight from the Associates into the BSN program. She's long completed all her gen eds, she's just down to the required nursing courses.

She's willing to transfer to a different BSN program if it would enable her to complete the BSN faster/cheaper than with her current school, even if that means she has to take an extra course or two, especially if some of them she could test out of (like excelsior?). Her current school costs $600 per credit, and they aren't geared up real well for online, even though they offer it. Scheduling with their online classes is really difficult because they only offer classes one period during the year, which is a pretty lousy arrangement. Especially to someone like me who comes from TESC where I could take any class any month!

I think the challenge is that she doesn't have NCLEX behind her. But, her semester ends in a couple weeks and then she plans on spending January and the first part of February studying for and taking the exam. Is there any way for her to better figure out her options before she finishes NCLEX?

Even TESC would be cheaper than that. Under the Comprehensive Tuition Plan, she would be paying about $240 per credit hour if she takes 36 credits per year. Regardless of how many credits she takes, she will pay a flat rate of $8,647. There might be cheaper online BSN programs out there, but TESC's out-of-state tuition rate is about the same as the average in-state tuition rate. Like I said earlier, there is WGU. The only issue with them is that they don't award a GPA.

[Ubuntu_user]

Even TESC would be cheaper than that. Under the Comprehensive Tuition Plan, she would be paying about $240 per credit hour if she takes 36 credits per year. Regardless of how many credits she takes, she will pay a flat rate of $8,647. There might be cheaper online BSN programs out there, but TESC's out-of-state tuition rate is about the same as the average in-state tuition rate. Like I said earlier, there is WGU. The only issue with them is that they don't award a GPA.

Yeah, it certainly would be a lot less expensive. The question though is whether all/most of her UL nursing credits would transfer over into TESC's BSN program?

[clep3705]

Being an ADN graduate changes everything. She should focus on passing the NCLEX. If she can't pass the NCLEX, BSN courses are a complete and total waste of money. WGU is pretty flexible on accepting courses from elsewhere. Pass the NCLEX and switch to WGU.

[cookderosa]

She's been too busy with her current BSN program (on campus) to finish her prep study for NCLEX. She went straight from the Associates into the BSN program. She's long completed all her gen eds, she's just down to the required nursing courses.

She's willing to transfer to a different BSN program if it would enable her to complete the BSN faster/cheaper than with her current school, even if that means she has to take an extra course or two, especially if some of them she could test out of (like excelsior?). Her current school costs $600 per credit, and they aren't geared up real well for online, even though they offer it. Scheduling with their online classes is really difficult because they only offer classes one period during the year, which is a pretty lousy arrangement. Especially to someone like me who comes from TESC where I could take any class any month!

I think the challenge is that she doesn't have NCLEX behind her. But, her semester ends in a couple weeks and then she plans on spending January and the first part of February studying for and taking the exam. Is there any way for her to better figure out her options before she finishes NCLEX?

I hope this doesn't sound too preachy, mainly because I can't wrap my brain around $600/credit undergrad tuition, but why spend 5 seconds in her BSN program when she hasn't passed her her NCLEX? Her credential is something she could have -literally tomorrow- if she'd go take her exam, and upon her eligibility, she could drop to part time and start working for a hospital with education benefits that reimburse all of her BNS work. This path could be free.

P.S. I asked about gen eds because you mentioned chemistry. If she doesn't need gen eds, then I still maintain the straightest line is in her current program.

[Ubuntu_user]

I hope this doesn't sound too preachy, mainly because I can't wrap my brain around $600/credit undergrad tuition, but why spend 5 seconds in her BSN program when she hasn't passed her her NCLEX? Her credential is something she could have -literally tomorrow- if she'd go take her exam, and upon her eligibility, she could drop to part time and start working for a hospital with education benefits that reimburse all of her BNS work. This path could be free.

P.S. I asked about gen eds because you mentioned chemistry. If she doesn't need gen eds, then I still maintain the straightest line is in her current program.

Ha, I know! I can't imagine paying that much!!

She went straight in from her Associates into summer school and then her BSN. She took NCLEX once but without enough study beforehand, and so she didn't pass. For her, there's no question as to whether she will be able to pass NCLEX - she's top of her class and gets straight As. That's a good point about an employer paying for her tuition... I'll mention that to her.

[cookderosa]

Ha, I know! I can't imagine paying that much!!

She went straight in from her Associates into summer school and then her BSN. She took NCLEX once but without enough study beforehand, and so she didn't pass. For her, there's no question as to whether she will be able to pass NCLEX - she's top of her class and gets straight As. That's a good point about an employer paying for her tuition... I'll mention that to her.

...I had a feeling you were going to say that. <sigh> I think how she does in Feb (that's her retake right?) might better direct her next step.

[Ubuntu_user]

...I had a feeling you were going to say that. <sigh> I think how she does in Feb (that's her retake right?) might better direct her next step.

Yes, she will retake in beginning of February.

I think she's leaning towards sticking with her current program, because that way she knows what she has left and can continue working on it even while studying for NCLEX. If that is the case, she needs Chemistry from another college - any ideas of where she could get that from?

[sanantone]

Did she check community colleges in her state? Clovis Community College would be one of the cheaper options. I can't remember if New Mexico Junior College offers an online chemistry course, but they're also cheap. More expensive options would be EduKan, Ocean County College, and University of New England.

There are some more recommendations on AllNurses.com like Weber State University and the Iowa Community College System.

[cookderosa]

Did she check community colleges in her state? Clovis Community College would be one of the cheaper options. I can't remember if New Mexico Junior College offers an online chemistry course, but they're also cheap. More expensive options would be EduKan, Ocean County College, and University of New England.

There are some more recommendations on AllNurses.com like Weber State University and the Iowa Community College System.

I took my chemistry through Ocean. It has hands on labs at home. Besides it being a hard subject (for me) the requirements were very straight forward. Every nursing program I applied to accepted that credit, but she would need to confirm that her school will accept a distance learning course and the level of the course. Intro w/lab for 4 credits is considered non-science major, and General w/lab 1 and 2 for 4+4 credits is considered FOR science majors. Also, if her BSN will require organic chemistry / biochem next, she'll need to plan ahead and check that the prereq for that course is lined up with her chemistry choice.

[Ubuntu_user]

Thanks Sanantone and Cookderosa!

Based on further research, it looks like it's going to be easiest for her to just finish her program from her current school. Yes, it will cost more, but it will result in the least amount of work. Also, I found out that she was needing Chemistry II (she already has Chemistry I), but that is no longer a necessity since the school changed its degree requirements. That means she's 12 to 15 credits from knocking her BSN out.