Fastest RN-BSN programs?

featherzRN, MSN · Sep 23, 2013

I did WGU in 14 weeks. However, that required me to give up any semblance of a life for those 14 weeks and is not necessarily possible for everyone. You do need to come up with 90 hours to do a community health practicum, but how fast you can do the other classes is entirely up to you!! :)

BadMoonOnTheRise · Sep 24, 2013

Thanks, featherz. I just skimmed WGU's website and it definitely looks like what I want. Do you know how long students have to complete the community health practicum? I have unlimited overtime at my job and usually work 48-60hr/wk. Fitting in 90 hours in, say, four weeks would be a challenge. But if it's more open scheduling I could definitely do it.

Also, how are classes generally evaluated? Tests, papers, discussion board, a mix of all? Sorry for all the questions, I just like to be over prepared.

featherzRN, MSN · Sep 24, 2013

Everything is self paced and competency based. Some classes you write papers to pass "performance assessment", others you take an 'objective assessment' which is pretty much a final exam. If you know the stuff already, you can take the final right away (or write the paper). EVERYTHING is at your own pace, assisted by a mentor to guide you in what classes should be taken when, yada yada.

As for the practicum, you have as long as it takes to get it done, but if you run out of time in your term you'll be graded as a 'not passed' and have to pick it up in the next term. So most of the time you won't be allowed to start that near the end of a term. I had four months left when I started my practicum, so I could have taken 3.5 of that to get it done (need some grading time LOL). As it's 'community based' you can pick a topic that will fit your schedule - I did disaster preparedness, which allowed me to pick up time on off hours and weekends. If you are in California, there's a few other requirements, but that's it for everyone else.

BadMoonOnTheRise · Sep 25, 2013

This is sounding like it could be a very good fit for me. I signed up for more information, so I should be hearing from someone soon. Do you know when the semesters start? Is it the traditional January, June, and August?

featherzRN, MSN · Sep 25, 2013

A term starts every month, on the first. So it depends on when you sign up. :)

iLOVEbees · Sep 28, 2013

UTA is 13 months, assuming you have all your gen ed already.

FYI, since it is in Texas, you have extra history requirements. It's state law. That could add to your time frame if you're not wanting to take it concomitantly.

BadMoonOnTheRise · Sep 30, 2013

Featherz, what was the readiness assessment like? Is it a way to test out of certain classes or just to see if you can handle college coursework?

featherzRN, MSN · Sep 30, 2013

readiness assessment is just a basic math and english test, plus a short essay. nothing too taxing. =) If you can get through basic algebra and can handle 'passive vs. active voice' level in english, should be a cakewalk.

Have had several people besides me recently graduate in one term or less (

claudianyc · Oct 19, 2013

Do you think that the fact that WGU only assigns a GPA of 3.0, that it might hurt you in the long run if you want to do a NP or CRNA program?

I like its price/convenience but worry about the implications for the future due to GPA,

Any thoughts?

featherzRN, MSN · Oct 19, 2013

Lots of my fellow graduates have gotten into NP programs - there's a thread on here somewhere about it. Most of the ones I see require a 3.0 GPA. That said, I have no interest in being an NP, so it wasn't an issue for me. :)