Question about education (Online ADN?)

[Edson!]

LOL...

[insenescence1]

Nothing at all wrong with taking the nursing filler classes online. Nothing at all (well, except the lab portion of A/P was the most valuable part of the class, IMO, and that would probably be lacking from a non-brick/mortar class).
Maybe my nursing program was unique, but we spent time in a simulated clinical lab with our instructors learning hands-on patient assessment with mannequins, and each other, and real disposable equipment (re-used of course to save money). I'm doubting that entry-level exposure to these skills should be performed in the actual hospital for the first time. I may be wrong, but I honestly wouldn't want a student giving anyone from my family an injection who hasn't practiced it in a real skills lab...that's what would be missing in an on-line nursing program.
My impression was that the OP was looking for some such alternative. There actually may be some programs that exist like this, but I'm not likely to recommend them to anyone.
I hope my suggestions were reasonable; skip LPN school, go to a brick/mortar nursing school. I don't see what's so piped up about that, and I think my comparison to any other medical training is legit.
But then, there is little to say to someone who includes the influence of ROMANCE into the process!!! Maybe they could engage in an online romance until she finishes school!! He can pick her up at eight...
http://www.kahunaburger.com/2008/03/...e-up-at-eight/

[nursing1958]

Skip the LPN program, depending on where you live, LPN's are becoming a thing of the past. If she already has a bach ( you didn't say what in), some of her pre-req's, humanity classes, etc. may tranfer in to the BSN program. In this day and age, if she wants to get her RN as soon as possible, she should enroll into an ADN program, then continue on to the BSN program on a part time basis so that she can still work while going to school. She needs to evaluate both programs very carefully, what will transfer, what will she need to take that are basically the same classes-these things all end up costing more in the long run. I am telling you this from experience. I started out at a diploma school, transferred to an ADN program (there were no diploma programs where I had to move to with my husband); graduated from the ADN program 1 year later. A few years later I decided I wanted to get my BSN, went back to school for that, took 1 class a quarter, as by this tiime I was a single parent and working full time and I didn't want to cheat my kids out of things because I was going to school. Their father refused to babysit for me while I was in school, so I always had to hire a sitter. However, after 5 long years I finally graduated with my BSN degree. A few years after that I decided to obtain my MSN, I did this through the University of Phoenix, online. There is much to be said for online courses, you get to meet some of the greatest people and it offers one the opportunity to learn what others are doing in the healthcare field because you are online with people from all over the world. Even with the online MSN program there was still a limited amount of clinical time that had to be completed. So as you can see I have had the advantage of attending different types of programs. But what is an absolute must in my opinion is the hands on experiences one receives when attending class and clinicals. Its one thing to read a procedure in a book, but an entirely different thing to actually apply it. As someone else mentioned, check with your state board of nursing or the national league of nursing for lists of nursing programs. Good luck with her adventure, and welcome aboard. We need more well trained nurses!

[Edson!]

? Huh?

LOL... Insen, you are a bit whack w/ that utube blurb. Oh my, she's a real keeper isn't she? I fear you may really see it that way. Dear God, and you say you're French? I for one hope that you really don't think that way...at least for the sake of the joie de vivre. *smile* Actually, I think Strong Bad produced that video. *grin* I am now thinking that I should start my own business for singles...like a harmoniousslapandmatch.com... Of course my program would involve intense psychoanalysis coupled w/ mudwrestling.


Back to the thread...Sometimes the nursing labs are OK, other times not so much. IMO the real key is one-on-one mentorship/preceptorship in the clinical field. I've been a nurse for a long time, I don't remember injecting into a whole lot of oranges before going into the clinical practicuum and diving in w/o guidance. Once the clinical instructor saw us doing something, they signed us off on it and expected that we would continued to do the similar function with competence in similar situations.


Nursing labs mostly were like a visual overview. Most of us didn't find the dummies real helpful or similar to real-time, human practice. I guarantee, most medical personnel will say the same thing. Heck, nowadays they have visually-guided, "sim" surgery. It's helpful—actually it’s kind of cool; but it can only do so much for the learner. Eventually he/she will have to jump in and work with real people. The fear about having someone inject you family member...Look, that's what the clinical instructor or instructor resident/attending is for. Unless you are talking about some real major surgery or seriously invasive procedure, come on. If the person is being supervised by an experienced and reputable practitioner, their guidance should be enough to quell your fears for most of the basic procedures. We all start out green...and we all need to work on and with real people. Personally, I thought the dummies were about 10-20% helpful…if that. And you can't simulate the experience of giving a very irritable and agitated baby SQ epi or some such thing. We need to deal with the whole experience--on all levels--with the whole person--and his/her family present. We don't like that kind of stress; but it's good for us. We need to be able to learn and bite the bullet with real life experiences, b/c that's exactly what we will be dealing with. Dummies are a cursory base and have their little place in learning--just as the lab...but it's a small piece in the grand scheme of things.


A&P is different, and most schools require a course with real lab hours. One might not need real lab hours for microbiology, unless he or she is planning on working in the technology of such a lab. Personally I'd still require it with a lab. There's nothing like having someone knock the concentrated staph or e. coli, or whatever on to the floor in the microbiology lab and having that smell permeate the entire science hall and surrounding rooms. LOL. I liked working directly in such labs and seeing the stuff grow and whether it would respond to antibiotics or not. And even though I love humans and animals, I don't have a problem working and learning from them in the natural science lab if they are dead--if we are respectful in doing so. I am not great, however, about having to actually kill something first before I learn from it. I am not saying if I am for or against that necessarily. I just don't feel great about killing something first. Yes, I am a bit of a hypocrite; b/c though I try to limit meat, I still eat it. I like fresh fish; but I don’t like to see them struggling for oxygen—jumping around all over the place. (It’s that aspect of things that would make me a vegetarian—and maybe one day I will be.) On the other hand, however, the struggle of life and death is part of life; and I can learn about the machinery and physiology of life dispassionately when I have to do so. At any rate, many distance type programs require certain sciences have actual labs—so you either go to their campus to take those courses directly, or they allow you take them at another accredited school so long as they have a lab. But the nursing labs…really, with a few exceptions, they were somewhat of a waste of time—no replacement for direct clinical practicum with a good teacher in the field.
This poster is talking about a program that works in distance but incorporates meeting the clinical competencies and practicuum experiences in accredited hospitals and other facilities in her area. In this she should consider if this or any nursing program is fully affilitated with a reputable accredited institute of higher learning, and if the nursing program is NLN accredited. Also, I would tend to skip the LPN route; but some people having certain time constraints and demands on their lives that make it difficult to go through a straight-through RN program. I know one such student right now. She is struggling with a similar decision; b/c she is newly divorced, and the terms of their settlement financially will change dramtically within one year. So, for her, right now she sees the LPN route as the more practical way to go, even though what she really wants is the RN. Frankly with the particulars of her situations, I not sure what to tell her, and her lawyer feels the same way. The point is that some people can't go the straight route with their current situations. Interestingly, in local hospitals, I have recently seen many adds for LPNs--though I think they are used more in nursing homes and some doctor's offices.



A lot of the distance programs work with the distance learner to meet the practicum needs at hospitals and facilities close to the student. They usually spell out what’s expected and have to interact with the facility and approve the site and instructor or mentor/preceptor. So it’s really like a misnomer to think that a number of the distance programs are 100% online for those without actual nursing or medical experience. It’s unfair to dismiss many distance programs that work hard to put together a solid, well-rounded program, simply b/c a good deal of it may be online. Even the hard sciences can be taught in online- hybrid mode with good learning experiences and good results!!! One has to look at all the particulars of the individual program. Again, wasted time in travel and other non-essential things should not be a prerequisite for a “good” program of learning. If we can’t use technology to get more out of the time we have, what’s the point? Many distance programs produce learners with excellent insight and help them to develop sound core skills. Mostly it’s about this…one more time: It's not the modality of learning necessarily; it is the motivation of the individual learner!!!

[foresttrailacade]

Well, I think you consult with an expert to get an advice. You can even talk to people who have done similar kind of courses and know their experiences. This will give better idea. Hope that helps!

Regards,
ForestTrailAcademy.com

[jennastiltz1986]

Definitely tell her to go for the RN and to go to school in a metro area. LVN is a waste of money. I swear RN jobs are not easy, but the money is at least twice that of LVN.

[DutchgirlRN]

Online education is challenging, it is not easy. Where there are clinicals required they are arranged in your local area. The reason I do online is because I do not have to go to class and I can do my work at home at anytime, wearing anything.

[DutchgirlRN]

LVN/LPN is not a waste of money if it's the only way you can get your foot in the door. Once you have your LVN/LPN you can move onto RN by going to school online with no waiting list. I was an LPN for 23 years and it served me very well.

[springsong]

I agree with your post. There is nothing wrong with online education. I finished my MSN online and now on my journey for a doctorate degree. Advancing a career is a challenge but with determination and perseverance it can be done. You have to be self-directed to be online students. Time management is very important. We are group in teams to share our concerns and discuss our assignments. It can be lonely and frustrating because you are on your own. But you will meet friends that you can be intimate and call to discuss any questions about assignments. Online education is convenient for me because of my work schedule but it can be very expensive. The motivating aspect is to aim high for better grades to get the value of the money you paid. Online in now the future of education.

[crystly448]

As my knowledge, if she wants to do the BSN course in nursing then she would only prefer that course not the other one. The LPN course will not be prove beneficial for her as this is not her dream so I will suggest go for BSN to achieve the goal and to complete the dream.