Currently LPN, so can I get into Western Gov Online? Or do I need RN to start?

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  1. If you have gone to WGU, is it a program you would highly recommend for nursing?

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I know this question has probably been asked, but I am confused, bare with me! I currently have my LPN license in the state of Missouri. I am wanting to get my RN online and at a pretty good pace. If I go to Western Governors online, do they take LPN into RN? Or is it strictly RN to BSN and so on? Please help! ?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

You can attempt to get admitted into WGU's prelicensure BSN degree program. However, it would not be online because you would need to complete clinical rotations.

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Can you do the clinical rotations at a hospital near your hometown?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Can you do the clinical rotations at a hospital near your hometown?
No. The prelicensure BSN program is only offered in California, Texas, Indiana and a few other states. You either need to live in one of the states where the program is offered, or be willing to travel to the clinical sites if you do not live nearby.

This program is not an arrange-your-own clinical practicum, freestyle type of program. WGU arranges the prelicensure clinical rotations and you are expected to attend.

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Thank You. I appreciate it.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Where in MO are you? I have a friend who had her LPN, and she did an LPN-RN program at Fort Hays. She lived in Denver, and would drive to Hays (KS - right in the middle of the state) and stay overnight in order to do her clinical rotation. I believe she did it in about a year or so.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

To answer your original question, yes, you must be an RN to complete the 100% online BSN program. As Commuter has stated, the pre-licensure BSN program is only available in Indiana, California, Florida, Washington, Utah and Texas. I am a clinical instructor in the Indiana aprogram and would be happy to answer any questions about it. I HAVE had students commute to complete clinicals from as far away as Nashville and Pittsburgh. The clinicals are concentrated into two week periods (except Capstone and Community Health)- so it's doable if you have someone to stay with in the area.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Where in MO are you? I have a friend who had her LPN, and she did an LPN-RN program at Fort Hays. She lived in Denver, and would drive to Hays (KS - right in the middle of the state) and stay overnight in order to do her clinical rotation. I believe she did it in about a year or so.
I also commuted across state lines to attend an LPN-to-RN program. I lived in Texas, commuted 225 miles to Oklahoma City for school, maintained full-time employment along the way, and graduated in 14 months.
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Specializes in ICU.

But she will be starting over completely. I was told by an enrollment advisor that WGU does not accept any nursing credits from any other schools. Whereas, if she was just looking at LPN to RN she could do that at any community college in about 9 months to a year. It would make more sense to do that locally than starting completely over at WGU and travel 5 hours to Indiana to do clinical. It seemed kind of odd to me that they accept all of your nursing credits once you graduate from a program but they don't work beforehand. That's just my 2 cents.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
But she will be starting over completely. I was told by an enrollment advisor that WGU does not accept any nursing credits from any other schools. Whereas, if she was just looking at LPN to RN she could do that at any community college in about 9 months to a year. It would make more sense to do that locally than starting completely over at WGU and travel 5 hours to Indiana to do clinical. It seemed kind of odd to me that they accept all of your nursing credits once you graduate from a program but they don't work beforehand. That's just my 2 cents.

I wasn't suggesting she start over, and I don't think Commuter was, either. I think we were both suggesting she do an LPN-RN program nearby where she lives and consider a school that might not exactly be local, but would offer the didactics online and would just require travel for the clinicals.

I was certainly not suggesting she commute from MO to IN, and I don't think Commuter was, either.

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Meanmaryjean,

Thanks for that info. Am from Wa: they don't have the pre-licensure bsn program: I would like to get started on one of the programs soon: I don't know which one.

I would have to commute for clinicals, so I would need to go where clinicals are concentrated in blocks of say 2 weeks. Please advise.

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Meanmaryjean,

Thanks for that info. Am from Wa: they don't have the pre-licensure bsn program: I would like to get started on one of the programs soon: I don't know which one.

I would have to commute for clinicals, so I would need to go where clinicals are concentrated in blocks of say 2 weeks. Please advise.

So far only in Utah, Florida, Indiana, California, and Texas. If you are in Washington I think that'd be next to impossible to do.

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