Has anyone accepted a residency while attending WGU online?

[LilstrideRN]

I am considering enrolling in WGU's RN to BSN program. From what I understand, you must be working in a nursing related field for 20 or more hours per week in order to be eligible for enrollment. I am currently working 30 hours a MONTH as an Independent Provider CNA (I just graduated last month and passed the NCLEX last week). I could take on 20 hours a week with my client as a CNA and I don't think that would really be too much of a problem. I don't believe he is eligible for any RN hours, but I will check with his case manager Monday.

Anyway, I am feeling like maybe I should be applying for residencies, but from what I understand a residency works out to 40 a week between online assignments and in class lectures plus working on the floor. Maybe I am answering my own question here... I really want the BSN, but I want to be successful and not stressed out... this is seeming stressful. Maybe I should just stay where I am, or possibly look for another home healthcare position as an RN.

Please tell me what it is you did, or do, for work while completing your degree at WGU.

Thanks!

[schnookimz]

You need to be employed as an RN to do the WGU program. I was a new grad and easily worked forty plus hours weekly as an RN and completed the wgu program with no issues. I start the masters program next week!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I started WGU's online RN-to-BSN program in May 2014 with 34 credits to complete. I finished the program 10 months later, in March 2015, while working three to four 12-hour night shifts per week at a specialty hospital as the RN house supervisor.

I earned 27 credits during my first six month term at WGU. Some people have earned 50+ credits in one term while working full-time, such as our frequent poster featherzRN. She and meanmaryjean completed the RN-to-BSN program in one term while working full-time.

WGU's program is competency-based. It is not that difficult.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Here's another thought. Find an RN job, and then enroll after you've settled in. WGU offers enrollment the first of every month of the year- so it's not like you have to wait until January if you miss September 1.

Congratulations on passing NCLEX!

[LilstrideRN]

You need to be employed as an RN to do the WGU program. I was a new grad and easily worked forty plus hours weekly as an RN and completed the wgu program with no issues. I start the masters program next week!

My enrollment counselor for WGU told me I could be working as a CNA, as long as I was working in the healthcare field, using nursing skills and that many people are working in home healthcare as CNA's. Is that not true?

I have already been accepted to the RN to BSN program at the school I attended to get my ADN, I would not have to work as an RN to be enrolled full time. However, the hospital we have here offers the Versant Residency program and they tell the new grads, who have been accepted, they may not work on their BSN while in their program. I realize that not all residencies are as rigorous as Versant.

I already feel like my age (46) has played a factor in me not getting some of the interviews or residency positions I am seeing my cohort get. I want to get my BSN as quickly as possible so I feel more competitive. I am seeing people with no experience in healthcare or management get called for interviews while I am being emailed and told "we have found a candidate with more experience..." I am getting discouraged. Maybe it is my Resume that stinks, or maybe I should have gone through the ACLS course my clinical instructors advised against (saying, "why would you take that now, when your employer will pay for it once you are employed?" I know most of the people who took the ACLS did in fact get residencies... I feel frustrated with the bad advice :/ )

[schnookimz]

Wgu has very active Facebook message boards. Check those out.

I have never seen anyone say that they were working as a CNA while completing the program. I mean why would you want to work for less money when you could make RN pay?