ASPIRE INSPIRE LEAD RN to BSN Program
1 You can do the best work of your life! Graceland University s online RN to BSN program As an RN, you re already doing important work, and you re part of the fastest growing industry in the United States. But you aspire to be more, to inspire others and lead. Our online RN-BSN program makes it possible for you to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) online, accommodating your busy life and schedule. And helping you elevate yourself and your career to new heights. If you, aspire to grow in your career, inspire others in your field and lead your organization to excellence, then you ll want to learn more about our fully online RN-BSN degree program. Ten Questions Asked About Online Programs As you consider your options for an online program, be sure to ask these important questions. Each question will be explored in more detail on each of the next pages. 1. 2. 3. ` 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. How can I tell if the online degree program is from a trusted and established school? When are class times? Is it flexible to my schedule, or do I need to be online at certain times? Are there options for various start dates? Is the degree affordable? I ve never taken an online course before. What help is available? How can I build collaboration with faculty and my classmates in an online environment? How long will it take to complete my degree? Will I need to come to campus to complete some of the coursework? How can I leverage my online learning to apply to my work and life? What is my next step?
1. 2 Is the online degree from a trusted and established school? There are more opportunities for registered nurses like you to receive an online degree than ever before, and as you likely know, online learning has become widely accepted. You ll find that there are many schools that called themselves universities, but few that have stood the test of time with true academic rigor that gives hard working professional students like you the edge for advancement. Knowing that you ll be getting a degree from a trusted and established school will help ensure you re not seen as just another number to boost graduation rates. A recent Gallup poll titled, What America Needs to Know about Higher Education Redesign, noted that only 11% of business leaders agree that higher education institutions are graduating students with the skills and competencies their business needs. Not only does an online degree from a trusted and established school give executives confidence in the candidates they re interviewing, but it empowers you to assess the qualifications of the faculty you ll be learning from. Quality schools are accredited through a voluntary process of self-regulation and peer review designed to ensure that a university provides a quality of education that the general public has the right to expect and that the educational community recognizes. Founded in 1895, Graceland University is more than just a school. It is recognized by the Princeton Review as a top school in the Midwest, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HCL), and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA). Graceland offers online degree programs to 900 students in education, nursing and religion and has an active alumni network.
2. 3 When are class times? Is it flexible to my schedule, or do I need to be online a certain times? As a working professional balancing family life, it s easy to feel overwhelmed. When you re at work you feel like you should be at home, and when you re at home you ve got tomorrow s to-do list pressing in the back of your mind. Establishing and communicating a course pace and pattern of work is one of the best practices noted in 10 Principles of Effective Online Teaching: Best Practices in Distance Education. A big part of this question will also come down to your personal commitment to achieving your goal. Michael Hyatt, Consultant and Virtual mentor, notes that humility is the act of disciplining ourselves to do what we need to do to achieve a desired goal. At Graceland University we developed our online nursing programs to provide the most flexibility possible. As one of the pioneers in online learning, we provide each student with a program consultant dedicated to their success, and we have a faculty advisor available to counsel students. With our online degree program, you can achieve and maintain a work-life balance because our classes on 100% online and flexible for your specific needs. Start your program when you re ready; take a full-time course load when you have the time, switch to a part-time load when life gets busy. You are in control!
3. 4 Are there options for various start dates? Most nursing degree programs have specific admission and application deadlines. In addition, our research indicates that most appear to start in fall and spring semesters in accordance with traditional university semesters. Options will vary by school and programs. Graceland University offers start dates every eight weeks, giving you the flexibility you need to start as soon as possible, or whenever best fits your needs.
4. 5 Is the degree affordable? It s no secret that universities are competing for students like you every day, making transparency more important than ever. You should be able to simply add up the cost of the degree based upon the required hours and the cost per credit hour. You know the importance of getting your degree, and you should be able to quickly and confidently find information regarding fees on the university s website you are considering. While the debate on whether college is worth the cost rages on with differing viewpoints, there is no confusion about giving prospective students like you the information you need to make the best possible decision. Graceland University provides straightforward and easy-to-understand information about tuition and fees. Tuition for online RN-BSN core courses is $465 per credit hour, and there are 28 credits required in the major, with a total of 120 required to earn the degree. Tuition for all other courses (such as general education and support courses) is $395 per credit hour, plus a $110 technology fee per course. You may earn 28 semester credit hours for your previous nursing courses, regardless of how long ago you earned them. Upon receipt of your unofficial transcripts and verification of your RN licence, we would be happy to perform a tentative evaluation of transfer credit and prior nursing courses to help you estimate total tuition and fees. If the other universities you re considering don t make it easy to understand the cost, run.
5. 6 I ve never taken an online course before. What help is available? At many universities the technical support role can be loosely defined or not even addressed. Although online learning has grown in prevalence, there is evidence that the technical support required to help students has not kept pace. In an article from elearn Magazine, reporter Jennifer Shamsy notes that, many institutions still assume the instructor/trainer will handle a majority of learner technical issues. Technical support is something you don t want to overlook. Knowing that you have the support you need when you need it ensures you ll have time to stay focused on the important things, such as balancing your family, work, and education goals. It also brings peace-of-mind confidently knowing you can utilize every possible free moment for optimal study. While technical issues are not commonplace, it s good for you to understand where to go when you are experiencing an issue. Graceland provides a couple of ways to assist you. Graceland Lamoni InfoCentral can assist with computer-related issues including: email, passwords and my.graceland.edu. A toll-free number is provided for students. ecollege Help Desk can assist with issues inside courses: drop boxes, doc sharing, grade books, etc. Again a toll-free number is provided for students, as well as an email address. Hours are as follows: Monday-Friday 8 AM to 8 PM CDT, Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM CDT, Closed Sunday & Holidays.
6. 7 How can I build collaboration with faculty and my classmates in an online environment? As a professional it s likely you ve learned the value of collaborating in the workplace and the impact it can have on problem solving and getting to a better answer faster. According to Cornell University Center for teaching excellence, research shows that educational experiences that are active, social, contextual, engaging and student-owned lead to deeper learning. There is little doubt that the sharing of ideas and allowing ourselves some simmer time to let those ideas bloom can increase retention and develop a higher level of thinking. Collaborating with fellow students can also give us the opportunity to share real-world experience that is applicable to the lesson we re learning. It s where theory and real-world practice collide that we increase the value of our education. Knowing you re going to be a part of a collaborative environment can make the difference between just having knowledge of a principle or theory and truly understanding and applying it in the workplace. The mission of the Graceland University School of Nursing is to create learning communities where professional nursing students develop their potential for meaningful and productive lives as baccalaureate generalist nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse educators. Graceland s ecampus environment adds additional collaboration beyond your current classes to engage with other students. This virtual coffee shop is a place to meet with students you have shared past classes and experiences.
7. 8 How long will it take to complete my degree? According to All Nursing Schools, an online directory of nursing education and careers, it should take about two years to complete your degree if you are enrolled full-time. Based on how much flexibility you need and time you have, it could take longer. Many universities do offer part-time programs. Graceland University offers flexible and creative options to leverage your experience toward your BSN: You may receive up to 28 semester hours of credit for your previous undergraduate nursing courses, regardless of how long ago you earned them. General education credit may be awarded through transfer, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or online courses. Graduates will be awarded the BSN upon completion of all requirements for the nursing degree. These credits can help you achieve your goals faster! Graceland University also offers the option of a full-time or part-time course load. Perhaps you have the ability to focus more time on your studies during one session; you may choose to take a full-time load. But there may be times during the year when your family demands more of your time; during those times you can reduce your load to a part-time status. The flexibility is there to assure your success both professionally and personally! Graceland University offers start dates every eight weeks, giving you the flexibility you need to start as soon as possible.
8. 9 Will I need to come to campus to complete some of the coursework? According to Top 10 Online Bachelor of Nursing (RN to BSN) Degree Programs of 2015, most universities do not require campus visits and allow practicums and clinicals to be completed at the student s place of employment or at a nearby health facility. This is true of Graceland University as well. Graceland University s RN-BSN degree program has 100% of the coursework offered online. Your clinical experience can be completed at your place of employment or within a facility near you. These non-traditional clinicals are hands-on practice experiences in your local community, anywhere in the United States. You ll never need to visit Graceland University s campus, unless you would prefer to visit the campus.
9. 10 How can I leverage my online learning to apply to my work and life? Be sure you understand any programs with options in experiential learning and what experience you may already have that can be applied to the BSN program. As a Graceland University RN-BSN student, you will receive 28 hours of credit for your prior training upon successfully completing your first nursing course. You may also be eligible to bring in transfer work from your previous school(s) toward your 120 hour total graduation requirement! Graceland University allows practice experiences to be completed at your place of employment or within a facility in your local community for ultimate flexibilty. Taking initiative and seeking opportunities to assist BSN nurses at your current place of employment will not only give you great opportunities to apply what you are learning in the classroom, but it will show your current employer you re serious about advancing your career.
10. 11 What is my next step? Since you downloaded this ebook, you ll be contacted personally by a helpful and knowledgeable representative who can help you discover how Graceland University s online RN-BSN program degree can change your career and impact your life! Our representative can assist you with getting started in one of our upcoming class sessions, work with you to answer any additional questions, discuss transfer options, and help get you ready for success both professionally and personally to do the best work of your life! If you need immediate assistance, you can contact 816-866-5418 to speak with our representative.