Can you work full-time as an RN and work towards your bachelors with WGU?

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Apr 3, 2018

Yes, yes and yes!

The overwhelming majority of WGU's RN-to-BSN and MSN students work full time. That translates to >20,000 people. I worked full-time plus while a WGU student. VERY doable!

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 3, 2018

I would say it depends on a lot of individual factors that I don't know about you. I've known some people who have sped right through WGU with no problems. They got a decent education at a reasonable cost. However, I have also known people who have had to slow down their academic progress for a variety of personal reasons -- and lengthening their programs got really expensive because of WGU's payment structure.

smartnurse1982 · Apr 4, 2018

I've worked 80+ hours a week,but I also decided I wasn't going to kill myself completing the program in 1 year.

But I do admit most people whether in school or not work don't work 80 hours a week.

featherzRN, MSN · Apr 4, 2018

I worked full time through three WGU degrees, no problem.

Murse901, MSN, RN · Apr 5, 2018

I worked full-time through my BSN and my MBA with WGU. It can be done.

However, your full question was "can [you] work full-time, work towards your bachelors and still have some what of a life". The answer to that is, it depends.

If your goal is to finish in one term, then most likely not. Finishing in one term requires a tremendous investment of time, and I would guess that most people are not able to spend more than a couple of hours a day with friends/family while working 8 hours a day at the FT grind, getting 6-8 hours of sleep, and putting in 20-30 hours a week into coursework.

If your goal is to finish in two or more terms, it's much more manageable to balance a social life. Your mileage may vary, of course.

In the end, you have to decide what matters to you. Is it worth it to put off your friends and family for six months while you put your nose to the grindstone and knock the degree out? If so, don't worry about it and just do it. :)

javadown2, BSN · Apr 13, 2018

Yes you can do it, I finished my BSN in 2017 with new marriage and a new baby/pregnant wife for the last year :) and now I'm going to start an MSN Education program at WGU in May!