Finished my MSN this morning - ask me anything!

Nursing Students Western Governors

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I completed the final oral defense for my MSN through this morning. I also have my BSN from WGU.

Completed RN-to-BSN in one, six month term, and the MSN in 11 months and five days (not that I'm counting!)

Two degrees for under $10K out of pocket, including books. (I received a total of $2K in scholarships)

So----- I'm going to put myself out there and if you would like info about either program from a recent grad -hit me up!

Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Education, Community Health.

I start October 1st :-o

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Specializes in FNP, Hospitalist.

Is the Cohorts in Biochemistry through ? I start October 1st as well.

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I have accepted in the school they are waiting on me to do my entrance exam the teas I have read great experience about this school

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Correct. No deadlines, other than the end-of-semester deadline (all classes you have enrolled in for that semester must be completed or any outstanding class will get an F, and there is a minimum credit requirement each semester of 12 in the BSN program and 8 in the MSN program). The program works really well for my husband, who has to travel a lot for work. He might be on a business trip for a week, where he can't do anything school related, but then he'll be working from home for two weeks, where he can get a lot done in that time.

You don't have to be a stellar writer to do well. You do need self-discipline, though!

I was told by the admissions person that if I didn't finish a course by then the end of a term then I could just continue it in my next term. You are saying it's automatically an F and I would have to start that class from the beginning next term? The F stays on my record?

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[h=1]marycarney[/h]thank you so much for your advice and info. I just finished by BSN at ULL and was hoping to start a MSN PROGRAM in Jan 2015. I pray that i can complete my program as fast as you. So far western governors is at the top of my list.

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Mary,

I have an assignment due for my BSN completion program asking me to "interview" a master's prepared nurse. Unfortunately in my small town, and at my SNF, my DON only has her ADN. Would you (or anyone on this board) be willing to answer questions for me? I'm desperate. I came to you because when I search MSN your post is the first that popped up. I will post questions. Anyone willing to answer, I appreciate any assistance you can provide.

Thank you,

AAB

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  1. Do you feel your education and training has given you adequate knowledge in the use of quality processes and improvement science to evaluate care and ensure patient safety for individuals and communities? Can you give an example of a quality improvement process that you participated in or would like to implement to improve healthcare outcomes?
  2. Have you ever been involved in writing policies in the workplace? Can you give an example of a time you advocated for a policy to improve the health of the public and/or the profession of nursing?

3. Have you completed any peer-reviews for EBP articles?

4. In your work-place, have you helped in making new policies?

5. What type of leadership creates the most effective working environment, vertical or horizontal? Which do you see most at your place of employment?

6. Where do you go from here (DNP, PhD)? Do you want to further your education?

7. How did your Master's degree affect your decision making process delivering patient education on diagnosis, illness prevention and health promotion?

8. What are the top three practice habits that you changed at this point to support your deeper knowledge of evidence based theory?

9. With the advancement of technology taking into account the EMR, do you feel a "quality" of care has been removed from patient care?

10. Give an example of how a Master's degree has increased your competency in the nursing field.

11. How has your role of patient advocate changed, if at all, as a Master's prepared nurse compared to a BSN?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I would look further out into the community. Do you have any acute care hospitals? If so, I'm sure you can find a few master's prepared nurses. The purpose of the assignment is less about the answers to your questions, and more about pushing you outside your comfort zone, talking to strangers, asking them questions, and perhaps making some valuable networking contacts in the community.

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I completed my BSN through and loved it. Debating on MSN. There are no job opportunities for MSN nor will I get a pay raise. A potential thought I had was to become a WGU mentor, if they were hiring. What was required (in general) for capstone?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

You have to identify a quality improvement need where you work, create a project to address the need/improvement, implement it, measure the outcome, and present your project and findings to both the capstone evaluators, as well as stakeholders at your facility.

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Specializes in CCM.

Great thread! Lots of useful info on here. I need some advice from you grads and Guru's in the field. ;) I initially applied for RN to BSN but while in the process of applying quickly changed my major to MBA Health Care track. Now I'm in MBA program (not far gone yet) think that my initial instincts were right. I've been an RN for 23 years. I have B.S in bio/chem (did it for premed) and and M.S in Acupuncture. I love business side of things but not sure an MBA degree will do much for me in terms of career advancement. Just like BSN probably won't, but at least it's in the profession I'm employed in. The problem for me applying to RN-BSN, or rather just requesting to switch major at WGU is that I'm a foreign grad. Both mu B.S and M.S degrees were completed in U.S, but initial nursing degree is foreign diploma. The Country where I was born has disintegrated in early 90's, and so have most of its health and educational structures. I hold RN license in 3 States and a compact one in TX where I live now. Not sure what my options are but I really wanted to get either BSN or MSN/Ed, considering I already hold B.S and BPS/M.S in health-related fields, but not nursing. I know for sure it will be impossible for me to get anything out of the Country which I left as a political refugee, and which nullified my citizenship as soon as I declared intentions to leave it (back in late 80s). If anybody could advise what I can possibly do. I don't think that WGU will have a problem with my switching the major, but getting into BSN or MSN seems like a challenge to me.

Thank You for your advice and help in advance.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.
Great thread! Lots of useful info on here. I need some advice from you WGU grads and Guru's in the field. ;) I initially applied for RN to BSN but while in the process of applying quickly changed my major to MBA Health Care track. Now I'm in MBA program (not far gone yet) think that my initial instincts were right. I've been an RN for 23 years. I have B.S in bio/chem (did it for premed) and and M.S in Acupuncture. I love business side of things but not sure an MBA degree will do much for me in terms of career advancement. Just like BSN probably won't, but at least it's in the profession I'm employed in. The problem for me applying to RN-BSN, or rather just requesting to switch major at WGU is that I'm a foreign grad. Both mu B.S and M.S degrees were completed in U.S, but initial nursing degree is foreign diploma. The Country where I was born has disintegrated in early 90's, and so have most of its health and educational structures. I hold RN license in 3 States and a compact one in TX where I live now. Not sure what my options are but I really wanted to get either BSN or MSN/Ed, considering I already hold B.S and BPS/M.S in health-related fields, but not nursing. I know for sure it will be impossible for me to get anything out of the Country which I left as a political refugee, and which nullified my citizenship as soon as I declared intentions to leave it (back in late 80s). If anybody could advise what I can possibly do. I don't think that WGU will have a problem with my switching the major, but getting into BSN or MSN seems like a challenge to me.

Thank You for your advice and help in advance.

I've seen a few other foreign grads enter the program. Worst case, you enter with the full 70 units to complete (you get 50 for being an RN). You'd have to take history,etc, at if they can't find any credits to give you from your old school. If they cannot FIND your transcripts, you will probably have to apply for an exclusion waiver (I had to do one of these when unable to get a certain transcript due to no records).

How do you like the MBA, btw? Was thinking of doing that myself.

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