Finished my MBA-HM last week. Ask me anything!

Nursing Students Western Governors

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Not completely nursing school related, but I have been concurrently enrolled in 's MBA Healthcare Management while working on my MSN/FNP. As of last week, I've completed all requirements and submitted for graduation. It's a great feeling to have the first of two Master's degrees done!

If anyone is interested in this program, feel free to ask me anything. I was enrolled in the "old" MBA program. The new MBA program has replaced many of the papers with exams, and I know nothing about them. I definitely would have rather taken the exams!

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How long did it take?

From start to finish, it took me 10 months. I probably could have gone more quickly, but 1) I wouldn't have retained much information, and 2) I was (and still am) also working on my MSN. I wouldn't recommend attempting to go any faster, unless you truly know the material. There is no value in the credential if you have no clue what you're doing when it's all said and done!

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Why did you do it, if you're working on becoming an NP?

So many NP's, PA's, physicians, and other healthcare providers have absolutely no idea how to actually run a business -- or at least how to run one efficiently. I wanted to differentiate myself on job applications, particularly when applying to practices that are not managed by a larger healthcare organization.

Additionally, I want to eventually open my own practice after getting a lot of solid clinical experience. I need to have that business foundation in addition to clinical skills to be able to operate a successful practice.

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Did your wife hate you for working on two Master's degrees at the same time while you have a new baby to raise?

No, my wife was very supportive and understanding. But, it was (and still is) definitely tough to focus on school while taking care of my awesome baby girl. I figure, why not get school out of the way now, while she's little and won't remember that daddy stared at his laptop all the time? ;)

I never knew had an MBA in HM route, and it looks pretty affordable!

What jobs immediately following graduation can you find with that degree, and do recruiters interview you during your coursework? What kind of in person training is there outside of the online learning environment? How many hours are there in the field?

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Congrats! I'll be starting my MSN FNP at Chamberlain in a few weeks and will also be starting MSN for Nursing Education at in July. I'm kind of a crazy person like you and do everything at the same time, lol! My ultimate goals are to work from home the majority of the time (online instructor) and work as an FNP one or two days a week. I'll most likely apply for a DNP program immediately after finishing my NP so I have more teaching opportunities also. My hubby and I have four kids, all of which we will be starting to homeschool next year.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
What jobs immediately following graduation can you find with that degree

Because I'm still working on my MSN/FNP, I have not looked for any jobs. However, the vast majority of director-level and above positions in my organization require a Master's degree in nursing, business, or a related discipline. I work for a healthcare system that owns 13 hospitals and dozens of primary care and specialty clinics, so there are a lot of opportunities for advancement if I chose to continue on this path.

My primary reason for getting the MBA was not to find another job, but to differentiate myself in the NP/PA job market, as well as to give me some grounding in business for when I decide I'm ready to open my own practice.

do recruiters interview you during your coursework?

WGU's Career Services departments offers these kinds of opportunities, but I didn't seek them out.

What kind of in person training is there outside of the online learning environment? How many hours are there in the field?

This is definitely a weakness for the program. There is no internship incorporated, so there is little opportunity for guidance from other business professionals in real world situations. However, the capstone incorporates a consulting project where the student will have to work with a business to solve a business problem, incorporating many facets of the MBA education. Most students seem to do this at their place of employment, so there is some mentoring that naturally happens. I actually learned quite a bit about project management during my capstone.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
Congrats! I'll be starting my MSN FNP at Chamberlain in a few weeks and will also be starting MSN for Nursing Education at WGU in July. I'm kind of a crazy person like you and do everything at the same time, lol! My ultimate goals are to work from home the majority of the time (online instructor) and work as an FNP one or two days a week. I'll most likely apply for a DNP program immediately after finishing my NP so I have more teaching opportunities also. My hubby and I have four kids, all of which we will be starting to homeschool next year.

Congrats on starting the FNP program and on having a solid plan for your future. I'm wondering, though -- why bother with the second MSN in Nursing Education if you're going to go back for your DNP? Seems like you would be qualified to teach after obtaining the MSN/FNP, and even moreso after the DNP.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I have a question:

If I stare at my paper long enough, will it write itself?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Klone....to date I have had no luck with that strategy, but please do share if you succeed where I did not...

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

Finished with everything except capstone as of today - 8.5 weeks, 10 classes. My capsim starts in two weeks, so I guess this next two weeks I'll start on the capstone project. Taking a one day break. So if anyone has any questions on the *new* MBA-HM, feel free to ask! :)

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

Hey Murse, is that you I am talking to over on another site? About our wonderful 99th percentile capsim score?

I am done with all requirements for the Healthcare MBA, just under three months in (YAY) (2 months, 28 days)!!!!

I am not *officially* done yet, however - my portions of the group project/paper are in to our CEO, but we are still waiting for one group member to turn in his portion. That's all I need to be officially an MBA.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
Hey Murse, is that you I am talking to over on another site? About our wonderful 99th percentile capsim score?

Yep, that's me. ;)

Congrats on finishing in record time!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I wonder if would let a student concurrently work on both the MBA and MSN ?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
I wonder if WGU would let a student concurrently work on both the MBA and MSN ?

I do not believe so. I think I asked about that when I started my MSN and they said no, it would have to be done one after the other.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
I wonder if WGU would let a student concurrently work on both the MBA and MSN ?

I highly doubt it. initially wasn't keen on letting me do the MBA while concurrently enrolled in my MSN at another university. Even when I explained that I would be taking a short break from the other program to get a strong start on the MBA, my enrollment counselor wouldn't go for it. After I had been working on my MSN for some time and could prove myself in grad school, I was allowed to enter the MBA program concurrent with my MSN.

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