Can anyone help clarify the Comm Health req for CA? On the fence in regard to WGU.

[jeffrdl]

I am about to apply to WGU, as it seems to be the most appealing program thus far. However, the enrollment counselor drops the news about the Community Health Nursing requirement at the end of the call. He says it is only CA residents that have to complete a 90 hour practicum. "It's not a WGU requirement," he says, "It is a CA BRN requirement we have to comply with, but you'll be able to sit for certification at the end." I have a few issues with this and I am waiting for a call back to clarify with someone from the nursing program.

Can someone that is WGU-CA savvy answer a few questions? I would really appreciate the help.

1. Why does the Board of Registered Nursing dictate what an accredited college requires for an RN-BSN program, post-licensure? I can see for a pre-licensure class, but once you're licensed, there is no further approval from the BRN on a BSN level. No other accredited school that I know of requires this for CA residents.

2. Okay, so they require it. Nothing I can say will dissuade them. How do the 90 hours breakdown in regard to the practicum? How many hours can be spent doing what? How do you go about finding a local preceptor? Does anyone have suggestions/tips to streamline this?

3. I work way more than full time to support my family. I am completely willing to give up my precious few days off, late nights, downtime at work, etc., to do the coursework. I am very motivated. How many weeks/months have these 90 hours added to the completion time? I foresee a huge hit to my income in trying to free up clinic hours to complete this.

4. Am I looking at this too critically? Is it not as difficult as I anticipate? I don't mean to whine, but I have all but applied based on the flexibility of being able to complete the course work independently. Then I am told that I have to spend 90 hours of clinical time and arrange my own preceptor. And, only CA residents have to do this.

I don't mean to sound like I am focusing on the negative, so please be kind in your replies. I am just trying to understand this so that I can get started with the right perspective. I am so ready to get started. Lots of 'pros' and only 2 'cons' that I can see: I have to retake Stat (5 yr exp date for WGU) and the 90 hr community health requirement.

Thanks!

[featherzRN, MSN]

I'm not in California, but all students have to complete the 90 hours. Those of us NOT in california just don't need to have a 'home base' and don't need to have a signature on our hours. The hours are spent within the community and are not 'clinical' - you pick a topic and go out and interview people, attend classes, etc. Depending on your topic, you might be able to do this on off hours and weekends. My topic is disaster management and planning and I'm interviewing local officials, emergency services, etc. It does take a while, but it's doable so far. In California, as I understand it, you find a base like your local health department, and that person approves your hours - someone from California can probably explain it better than I can.

A lot of people pick an obesity related topic, then you can attend cooking classes, weight watchers, etc.

[jeffrdl]

Thanks FeatherzRN. I was unaware that those outside of CA had the 90 hr requirement as well. That's good info and I feel less singled out. I am wondering if they make you wait to start racking up the hours until a certain point, or if you can start early while completing other coursework to spread the time out over a few months. I can see how the selection of the topic can make it more manageable as well. Thanks for your reply!

[featherzRN, MSN]

You have to wait to be enrolled in the class to start getting hours, but you can be enrolled as soon as you pass the theory portion of community health. After you pass that class, if there's enough time in your term to finish, you can ask to be enrolled in the practicum and work on that while working on other classes. But yes, everyone gets the joy of the 90 hours, it's just stricter in California. :)

[HHLinda]

I completed the RN-BSN Program in June. CA is a regulated state. Anyone obtaining a BSN must also apply for the PHN certificate. Do you work in a hospital/ home health/ hospice? WGU has contracts with most hospitals. If you know someone with a BSN and doesn't work on the same unit as you that person can be your preceptor. Looks harder than it is. Don't over think it.

[jeffrdl]

Thanks for the feedback. Congratulations on your degree! The enrollment counselor was vague as to who a preceptor could be. I didn't know if there was a requirement that the preceptor work in a public health nurse position/role or if it could be any mentor-type RN at work. I have several options, then. My nursing education director would be happy to do it, I am sure. I appreciate the information. I will be applying this week and go down the checklist to enroll. Thanks again!