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Consider a ‘Bridge’ Program as an Online Nursing Student

By U.S. News & World Report

Stacey-Ann Hamilton, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, has an associate degree in nursing, along with a bachelor’s in business and professional studies. She works in geriatrics, but eventually wants to get a master’s to advance her career.

So she enrolled in the online RN-to-Master of Science in Nursing bridge program at Excelsior College to earn the higher-level degree without having to separately pursue a bachelor’s in nursing, which experts say is typically needed for graduate-level study in the field. The “bridge” portion of the program covers the important material she would have learned had she received that degree.

“It sets me on a path where I wouldn’t quit on myself,” the 42-year-old says.

For students looking to quickly advance their nursing education, an online “bridge” program might be a good option. In an RN-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing online program, for instance, students can earn a bachelor’s without having to relearn what they already know as a registered nurse — it’s similar to any student transferring credits from a community college to a four-year university.

[Discoverfive questions to ask when choosing an online graduate nursing program.]

But in an RN-to-Master of Science in Nursing online program, students might first learn the critical components of the field that they missed at the bachelor’s level, enabling them to progress smoothly into the master’s portion, says Patricia Pearce, interim director of the school of nursing at Loyola University New Orleans, which offers these programs.

“The key is that the bridge program is fulfilling a need to help move people from point A to point B,” says Pearce. “In order to get to B, there’s some information that you have to have. And if you didn’t get it at point A, it’s that in-between space where we need to provide that information, that substance, that content.”

An RN-to-MSN bridge program might appeal to somebody like Hamilton, who has a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, or somebody without a bachelor’s degree at all.

“I think there are some people who believe the RN-to-MSN programs circumvent the baccalaureate-level content; it’s not the case at all,” says Carol Eliadi, dean of graduate nursing studies at MCPHS University, another school offering online nursing bridge options. The knowledge a student didn’t get in their associate degree program “is embedded into the bridge program to prepare the student for success in the graduate programs.”

[Learn thequestions to ask about flexibility in online degree programs.]

Amid the growing popularity of online nursing education in general, these programs benefit nurses who oftentimes work odd hours and need greater flexibility, experts say.

Other types of bridge programs beyond RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN also exist: Hutchinson Community College in Kansas offers an online LPN-to-RN option, for example, and the for-profit Capella University has a BSN-to-Doctorate in Nursing Practice online program.

How a bridge program is structured varies among online programs. In Drexel University Online’s RN-to-MSN program, school officials look at what classes students took at the associate level, and then determine what they need to learn at the bachelor’s level before pursuing the master’s, says Fran Cornelius, chair of the MSN Advanced Practice Role Department at Drexel.

In some online bridge programs, master’s degree courses might substitute bachelor’s-level courses on the same topic; in other cases, there may be a certain number of “bridge” courses students must complete — or a combination of these approaches.

After deciding whether online learning is right for them in the first place, prospective students considering a nursing bridge program should determine their long-term career goals to see if this is the ideal path to take, experts say.

[Exploretips to decide whether online education is right for you.]

If a student today wants to really advance his or her career, especially in a hospital setting, “You’ve got to understand that you’ve got to move on and get a bachelor’s degree, or you need to move on and get a master’s degree,” says Eliadi.

When choosing a specific online bridge program, it’s important for prospective students to understand the licensing requirements of the state where they want to practice, says Pearce, of Loyola.

At Loyola, for instance, RN-to-MSN students receive a bachelor’s equivalency rather than a full degree, and then go on to get a full master’s, Pearce says. She cautions students that they should research beforehand if the state they want to practice in will accept it.

And as with any nursing program, students should keep in mind that the program must be regionally and nationally accredited to eventually be accepted by employers, or other institutions should they transfer, experts say.

Prospective online learners should also determine whether there’s an in-person requirement to the program, says Barbara B. Pieper, associate dean of RN, bachelor’s and master’s programs in nursing at Excelsior.

“That becomes burdensome for some adults,” she says.

Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Education center.

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Consider a ‘Bridge’ Program as an Online Nursing Student originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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