Published Jan 12, 2014
DeterminedRN15
4 Posts
Hello. I just graduated with my ADN in May of 2013. I was just blessed to get a job in a hospital in Rockford, IL (which is almost unheard of in IL getting a hospital job without a BSN). I want to get back and get my BSN out of the way and was wondering if anyone has gone to or is going to WGU currently. Any issues, good or bad, advice, or any trouble with only being able to get a 3.0.....THank you for your time!!!
featherzRN, MSN
1,012 Posts
I graduated in September, but I'm still active on the facebook page for the BSN. Haven't heard of anyone having problems with the 3.0. I love WGU! The only problems I have seen here are people not getting in due to no job, but you are employed so that's not a problem. There are quite a few graduates here on allnurses - what questions did you have?
THank you for your response!!!!! I am just nervous for I have only been at my job for a month and have no prior experience so I am very scared that I am going to really struggle through this program.....and I have no idea how to write APA papers. How long did it take you to get through the program?
I'm an unusual case - I got through it in just over three months. But generally it takes 6 months to a year. Don't worry about APA - I graduated over 20 years ago from my ADN and had never even HEARD of APA. A lot of us use PERRLA, which will format the paper and references for you. It really was no big deal. If an old fartette RN like me can do it, you can as well. :)
CONGRATS that is amazing! THANK YOU!!!! That really helps alot about the papers.....Testing....do you have to pay anything extra for the tests? Also but not having any previous nursing experience, do you think the program is do-able?
There are several new grads in the program now. It's definitely doable IMO. No, the tests, materials, books, etc, are all included in the price. You can take tests at home via a webcam (which they will send you) or go to a testing center. There is a 90-hour community health practicum so keep that in mind - you'll need to make room in your schedule for that. Try WGU RN TO BSN DISCUSSION GROUP on facebook if you want to speak with more peeps..
The only negatives I can think of - the 3.0 GPA (doesn't seem to be much of a problem, but if you have a school in mind for after WGU check with them first) plus the webcam system for tests can be finicky (seems to be improving). Keep in mind that WGU is competency based so there are no 'classes' - but there are webinars, study guides, etc, to help you prepare for tests.
It is a rather 'no frills' school so you do run into glitches from time to time, but I am glad I 'attended'.
Can you tell me more about what the community health practicum entales? and thank you for the facebook tip im checking it out right now!!
Dunno if you are the new person we are all greeting over on facebook, but if so, hi! I am Heather over there. As for the practicum - it's 90 hours of interviews/classes/surveys associated with a community topic that you pick. If you are in california, the procedure is a bit different. Then you need to write up a paper r/t those interviews and submit that along with your timelog.
The topic is based on Healthy people - obesity and disaster planning are big choices, I've also seen promotion of breastfeeding, childhood safety and some other good ones.
futureeastcoastNP
533 Posts
I don't know about the nursing program but I had a friend who went to WGU for another field and it's a great school!
Murse901, MSN, RN
731 Posts
Graduated from WGU last May with my BSN, and am now in my second semester of a local university MSN/FNP program. I'll agree with everything posted in this thread thus far. WGU is awesome, and I would have been seriously delayed in getting into my FNP program if not for WGU.
missy26
34 Posts
Hi, for the people that finished WGU, how many cu's did you do in each term, on average, and about how many hrs did you study per wk? I'm looking into WGU and GCU. wgu sounds more appealing, but I still don't know what I have to take for the RN-BSN program. Still waiting for my transcripts to come over. Thanks!
thenursemandy
276 Posts
I dislike the 3.0 gpa. If not for that I would have chosen WGU. I'd like to apply to NP programs and having a 3.0 limits my options.