Pros/Cons of a Western Governors degree

Nursing Students Western Governors

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Can anyone tell me the pro/cons of a Western Governors degree. I've heard conflicting views and don't know what to believe.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
First, I"m not the one who claimed it was optional
.

*** Ooops, my bad. You are right it was [COLOR=#003366]gypsyatheart who made that claim.

Secondly, I"m confused as to why you state that it's not an RN to MSN program.

*** Cause it's not.

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

Right, I understand you keep saying that, but you haven't answered my question as to why you state it's not.

*** What kind of job will only hire BSN nurses but not nurses with MSNs? I suspect that any job you got with a BSN you could have also gotten with an MSN.

I hope you don't feel picked on, I'm just trying to understand why NOT obtaining a BSN would benefit someone? Especially if the MSN program costs less and can be somewhat accelerated. If I'm able to complete my goal in the timeframe I've chosen, I'll have paid less than $10k for both my BSN and MSN.

I didn't say the job didn't hire MSN nurses, they don't hire ADN. The fact that a RN-MSN would have taken me at minimum 18 months, most likely more time in a different RN-MSN program, it was very beneficial to earn my BSN on my path to obtaining my MSN. I was able to get the job in 6 months from beginning my degree program versus 18+ months. No doubt my new boss is ecstatic that I'm going on in my education to obtain a MSN.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I hope you don't feel picked on, I'm just trying to understand why NOT obtaining a BSN would benefit someone?

*** We don't all start at the same place. For example some ADNs have associates of applied science degree (like me), some have associates of science. They are different. Those with associates of science degrees can do the RN to BSN program through in only 7 classes. However those with applied science ADNs can't do this. The will have to complete the same 7 classes, plus any that WGU will require after a transcript review. For someone like me that would be a lot since I only took 32 credits to obtain my ADN, plus CLEP'ed some others. The advantage to an RN to MSN program is that those that I am aware of like University of Arizona and American Sentinal University only require an associates degree from an accredited college. They don't even look at what classes you took to obtain that degree. Even though I am a huge fan of WGU and often recomend it to my nursing students and orientees for me it would require a large number of classes beyond the 7 BSN classes. When I had a transcript review they wanted me to take a whole raft of classes before I could start their BSN program. Also since both the BSN and MSN are totaly free for me it doesn't really matter if the degree cost $10K or $40K. The RN to MSN programs will allow those who hold an associates degree in nursing to directly enter their MSN program. For example the RN to MSN program at University of Arizona is 44 credits. This is far fewer credits than I would have to take to get my BSN then MSN through WGU.

Obviously those who come with different education backgrounds may or may not find the RN to MSN program to benifit them vs the RN to BSN to MSN. I hope everybody is aware of the options available to them so they can make an informed decision as to what is best for them.

I can think of no advantage of having a BSN if one holds and MSN with the exception of CRNA school witch absolutly requires a bachelors degree.

None of this even applies to me. However I am in a position to advise many students and new grads so I try to keep up with what is available. In particular since I live in Wisconsin where military medics and corpsmen are given a lot of advanced standing in the public ADN programs and may approch getting their degree without having taken many of the classes most ADNs traditionaly take.

Especially if the MSN program costs less and can be somewhat accelerated. If I'm able to complete my goal in the timeframe I've chosen, I'll have paid less than $10k for both my BSN and MSN.

*** That is SWEET! Good for you. Others, who are in a different education situation may find other options are better for them. For example a former navy corpsman who challenged the LPN NCLEX and then did a two semester LPN to ADN RN program (like I did) will likely find the path you are taking much longer than it is for you.

Ok, I'm seeing the bigger picture now thanks to your additional information. It comes down to a numbers game with credits earned and credits required...I understand that. I've always viewed my program as an RN to MSN, and to be honest I'll continue to do so, mainly when recruiting others who are interested in obtaining an MSN degree. Without all the semantics, it really is just that...but again, I see your point. I hope you're also sharing with your students that is very flexible. My husband is in a master's program for fire service management (or something like that) and his biggest complaint is the set dates that assignments, papers and tests are due...plus required postings to community boards by specific days and times. I'm hoping he'll give WGU a try in the future for his MSN, but we'll see. I'll be curious what his transcription review would look like!

Thanks for clarifying your responses. I'm in Wisconsin myself, so it's always nice to chat with a fellow Wisconsinite!

Hi TWiersch - I'm in the RN to BSN program.

This is the RN to BSN programs they have.

Its on the website:

[h=4]Master's Degree Programs:[/h]

Well, I'm glad I have an Associates of Science degree...this sounds more and more interesting to me..hopefully I will only have the 7 classes that you have mentioned in your post :)

*** We don't all start at the same place. For example some ADNs have associates of applied science degree (like me), some have associates of science. They are different. Those with associates of science degrees can do the RN to BSN program through WGU in only 7 classes. However those with applied science ADNs can't do this. The will have to complete the same 7 classes, plus any that WGU will require after a transcript review. For someone like me that would be a lot since I only took 32 credits to obtain my ADN, plus CLEP'ed some others. The advantage to an RN to MSN program is that those that I am aware of like University of Arizona and American Sentinal University only require an associates degree from an accredited college. They don't even look at what classes you took to obtain that degree. Even though I am a huge fan of WGU and often recomend it to my nursing students and orientees for me it would require a large number of classes beyond the 7 BSN classes. When I had a transcript review they wanted me to take a whole raft of classes before I could start their BSN program. Also since both the BSN and MSN are totaly free for me it doesn't really matter if the degree cost $10K or $40K. The RN to MSN programs will allow those who hold an associates degree in nursing to directly enter their MSN program. For example the RN to MSN program at University of Arizona is 44 credits. This is far fewer credits than I would have to take to get my BSN then MSN through WGU.

Obviously those who come with different education backgrounds may or may not find the RN to MSN program to benifit them vs the RN to BSN to MSN. I hope everybody is aware of the options available to them so they can make an informed decision as to what is best for them.

I can think of no advantage of having a BSN if one holds and MSN with the exception of CRNA school witch absolutly requires a bachelors degree.

None of this even applies to me. However I am in a position to advise many students and new grads so I try to keep up with what is available. In particular since I live in Wisconsin where military medics and corpsmen are given a lot of advanced standing in the public ADN programs and may approch getting their degree without having taken many of the classes most ADNs traditionaly take.

*** That is SWEET! Good for you. Others, who are in a different education situation may find other options are better for them. For example a former navy corpsman who challenged the LPN NCLEX and then did a two semester LPN to ADN RN program (like I did) will likely find the path you are taking much longer than it is for you.

I have an Associates in Science, so does that mean most of my credits will in fact transfer over? I'm hoping so...this is very encouraging to me if I only have to take 7 classes!

2btraumaRN2008- I think that the statement PMFB made about AAS vs AS vs AA vs ADN used to be true when evaluated transcripts in years past. But it seems that most recently transcripts are evaluated based on individual merit instead of the type of degree earned.

The other thing to note is that the core nursing classes for RN to BSN are:

Assessment

Nutrition

Evidence Based Practice

Professional roles and Values

Project for Professional Roles and Values

Care of the Older Adult

Community Health

Information Management

Community Health practicum

Organizational systems and Leadership

Leadership Experience

Professional Portfolio

So that is 12 "core" classes that you can't receive credit for. Those nursing courses alone are 28 credits. And you can only receive credit for Statistics if you have taken it in the last 5 years. Most people will need Biochemistry as well, you are not given credit for that without past credit for a course with a title of "biochemistry". So that is another 6 CU's for a minimum of 34 CU's required from most applicants. Many will need more if they do not have the credit for humanities/history/math/social science or other foundation classes.

2btraumaRN2008- I think that the statement PMFB made about AAS vs AS vs AA vs ADN used to be true when WGU evaluated transcripts in years past. But it seems that most recently transcripts are evaluated based on individual merit instead of the type of degree earned.

The other thing to note is that the core nursing classes for RN to BSN are:

Assessment

Nutrition

Evidence Based Practice

Professional roles and Values

Project for Professional Roles and Values

Care of the Older Adult

Community Health

Information Management

Community Health practicum

Organizational systems and Leadership

Leadership Experience

Professional Portfolio

So that is 12 "core" classes that you can't receive credit for. Those nursing courses alone are 28 credits. And you can only receive credit for Statistics if you have taken it in the last 5 years. Most people will need Biochemistry as well, you are not given credit for that without past credit for a course with a title of "biochemistry". So that is another 6 CU's for a minimum of 34 CU's required from most applicants. Many will need more if they do not have the credit for humanities/history/math/social science or other foundation classes.

I took Statistics 3 years ago and I've also taken 3 Health Assessment classes at another school, each a little more in depth than the other. I have taken many other Gen Ed classes at another 4 year university working towards my BSN, but have now decided to switch over to , so I'm hoping most of them transfer over in addition to my Assoc. in Science degree classes.

The statistics should transfer over for you based on the information they give out. I have no idea about the Assessment course, I can only tell you that most I see posting are taking it. And the Gen Eds will transfer where they apply. Have you looked at the transfer evaluation guidelines to see what might be filled by the classes you have taken in the past?

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