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A Monster Under the Bed – The Hidden Fees in Online Nursing Programs

By admin | April 29, 2015

Pursuing a college degree is one of the most important decisions in one’s life and can be one of the largest investments. When dealing with college affordability and the cost of earning a college education, hidden fees can truly be the feared monster under the bed. The extra, unplanned or out-of-pocket expenses can interfere with students’ ability to successfully complete their program of study and can also deter employers from providing integral tuition assistance.

As the healthcare industry continues to grow and to require properly credentialed workforce, more colleges are joining the trend of offering nursing programs and courses online. In an effort to gain a competitive edge, some schools create an artificial affordability perception by only disclosing the tuition rate per credit hour and leaving out the additional charges for use of technology, convenience or online learning platform access. Thus, it is becoming increasingly difficult for future students to navigate through schools’ websites, with their ambiguous or cryptic marketing jargon, in order to find the true cost of specific degree programs.

That is not the case at the University of Louisville (UofL), an accredited, nationally recognized, research university that has built a rich history of collegiate excellence. In the healthcare realm, UofL has always been at the forefront in educating medical professionals, not just simply to perform their jobs, but to excel at their careers and prepare to become leaders in their organizations, both now and into the future.

UofL’s School of Nursing offers highly competitive and quality programs, including the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing delivered completely online, that are 100% free of hidden fees. At UofL, the published tuition rates represent the actual cost for the programs (plus books), clearly disclosed up front. There are no additional technology, convenience, lab, library, online learning or accessibility charges to be tacked on at a later date. This is a very important differentiator that sets UofL apart from other institutions.

The CCNE Accredited, RN-BSN online program, provides the opportunity for working nursing professionals who currently hold an associate degree in nursing to earn their bachelor’s degree at a reputable research university. This program requires students to pay for 31 core nursing credits, plus textbooks, with no other additional fees. In fact, this program offers valuable, cost-saving incentives, including 30 tuition-free credit hours for new students who create a professional portfolio, financial aid for online students, and tuition discounts for members of the military and the KY National Guard. Also, the lack of hidden fees means far less out-of-pocket expenses for students with tuition reimbursement programs through their employers, who often do not cover miscellaneous additional fees.

The cost for the online RN-BSN program at the University of Louisville is one of the most affordable in the state and in the nation. Also, the online program costs the same, regardless of whether a student lives in or out of state, thus providing equal access to excellent education for all students and not making tuition prohibitive for out-of-state students, as it is the practice at other schools.

While students enrolled in online nursing programs at other institutions may find themselves blindsided by hidden fees that were not immediately apparent, UofL’s online students need not worry about the monster under the bed (hidden fees) – they can rest easy in their choice of a quality and truly affordable online education, and focus on advancing their professional knowledge while simultaneously – and most importantly – utilizing their skills to help the patients in their care.

Visit our RN-BSN online program’s page to learn more about the degree, entrance requirements, benefits and… of course… cost!

RN-to-BSN Program’s Revised Curriculum Results in Cost Savings

By admin | March 25, 2015

Saving future nursing students nearly $5,000 is one benefit of the University of Louisville School of Nursing’s revamped RN-to-BSN online program that reflects the evolving nature of health care. Some courses have been restructured and others, such as population health and nursing leadership and health policy, are new to the program.

“In Kentucky, only 33 percent of the nursing workforce is baccalaureate-prepared. The Institute of Medicine has recommended that 80 percent of nurses receive a bachelor’s degree by the year 2020,”said Marcia J. Hern, Ed.D., CNS, RN, dean, UofL School of Nursing. “It is well documented that baccalaureate–prepared nurses have decreased patient deaths and better outcomes in caring for patients with complex diseases.”

The online RN-to-BSN program provides a flexible, cost-effective opportunity for nurses with an associate’s degree or a nursing diploma to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at their own pace. Students can finish the program in as few as 16 months, although they may take more time if needed.

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the RN-to-BSN program requires 31 core credits plus 30 portfolio credits. The portfolio consists of a resume, goal statement, professional development documentation, and other materials to support practice as a professional nurse. These 30 tuition-free credit hours count toward graduation requirements – a value of more than $14,000 in tuition costs.

“The affordability and convenience of the online education platform combined with the strong support of award-winning faculty and access to all university support services makes the online RN-to-BSN program ideal for nurses seeking a baccalaureate degree,” Hern said.

There’s still time to apply for this summer! In addition, July 1 is the application deadline for fall classes, along with December 1 for spring classes.

Learn more about UofL’s 100% online RN-to-BSN program here.

University of Louisville — A Military Friendly School for 2015

By admin | October 22, 2014

For the sixth consecutive year, the University of Louisville (UofL) has been recognized by G.I. Jobs as a Military Friendly School. G.I. Jobs, operated by Victory Media Inc., is an extensive web resource and monthly magazine that helps veterans make the transition from military service to the civilian workforce.

The list identifies the top 20 percent of U.S. colleges, universities and trade schools for their success in providing quality services, creating smooth processes and making education affordable for active duty and veterans who want to start, advance or complete their college education.

Victory Media, which was founded by a U.S. Navy veteran in 2001, says UofL helps veterans and their families find financial aid, works with them to make sure they receive full transfer credit and assists them when they have to withdraw from classes (or resume classes) due to deployment. Veterans attending UofL are eligible for free job counseling and discounted child care, as well.

Among other programs called out by G.I. Jobs in the announcement was the Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Learning, one of several programs at UofL available online.

“To be honored by G.I. Jobs as one of the military friendly schools, year after year, is a great testament to the collectively devoted efforts to ensure that our students who have served our country get the best education for the career they want at an affordable cost.” said Laura Dorman, marketing manager for online learning, at UofL. “Our online community of learners is much enhanced as a result of the experience, talent and skills that military students bring to the classroom and share with our civilian students. Their leadership and motivation continuously raise the bar for all learners.”

Military students consistently cite the availability of online education at UofL as a factor in their school choice, because they can attend online classes and online programs from any location in the world. Whether pursuing a career in criminal justice, nursing, organizational leadership, HR or engineering, they appreciate the innovative learning methods, schedule flexibility, career-relevant curriculum and the extensive expertise of the faculty leading the learning journey.

To learn more about the military benefits offered at UofL, visit our dedicated page http://louisville.edu/online/military. To view all available online programs at UofL, visit http://louisville.edu/online.

Engaging Your Workforce — A Three Stage Model

By admin | September 29, 2014

Corporations should focus on HOW work gets done – instead of the standard HOW MUCH work gets done. It’s all about engagement, according to Dr. Brad Shuck an assistant professor in the Organizational Leadership and Learning Program at the University of Louisville, and a pioneer in employee engagement research.

Reflecting on his own past experience with less effective work environments, Dr. Shuck points out that the places he worked at were not bad companies, but they were filled with bad managers, “People,” he says, “were being promoted into positions with responsibilities they were not ready for. These managers only wanted to know how much I could get done, not how I was getting it done.”

Dr. Shuck’s research focuses on employee engagement to help design organizations where corporate leaders learn to increase engagement to reduce turnover and meet business objectives. Results suggests that people who rate themselves as being more engaged at work experience less exhaustion, have a higher sense of personal accomplishment and practice better collaboration in their workplace.

Dr. Shuck’s employee engagement model is called “Think it, Feel it, Do it.” and determines the employee’s level of engagement in three steps:

“Think it” stage — employees encounter situations everyday and ask themselves whether the work is a) meaningful, b) safe and c) offers the right resources. A ‘no’ answer to any of these questions makes engagement levels plummet.
“Feel it” stage – If employees make a positive appraisal from the first question, then they emotionally commit.
“Do it” stage — employees change their behavior.

“Worldwide research shows that only 30 percent of workers go to work every day fully engaged. I am looking to reach out and partner with the Louisville community so we trump that figure,” he says.

Dr. Brad Shuck is an Assistant Professor in the Organizational Leadership and Learning (OLL) Program at UofL. The OLL Program offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees to foster leadership, learning, and performance. Programs are available 100% online and on campus.

This article was adapted from an original piece about Dr. Shuck’s research, written by Dr. Denise M. Cumberland, Assistant Professor in the OLL Program at UofL.

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