I completed my BSN today. Feel free to ask any questions

sachmo61691 · Dec 29, 2015

What would you guys recommend as the best sequence of the nursing courses to take in order to finish in 6 months for the RN to BSN?

I have 31 credits left

LM NY · Dec 31, 2015

Awesome! You both said four weeks, which is definitely doable. I think once I am enrolled in that course I will get right to it and start the interviews. I will probably designate entire days to just doing that. Thanks guys!

sachmo61691- The most important thing you are not asking is how much time do these tasks take to complete. I am telling you now when I first started I would dedicate hours and hours each day. Be realistic with your goals. You have to remember there will be days when you don't want to be bothered with schoolwork. I have three kids and a full time job so sometimes I just want to sleep. I was blessed with an amazing mentor that is very supportive of my goals. Don't just assume the mentors don't know what they're talking about. They are there to help and guide you. Utilize all your resources, they are there for a reason. At first, I used to be discouraged contacting a course mentor. Now, I can't see myself not contacting one even for the slightest help. They really are awesome and know their stuff.

Good luck!

ichiro12 · Jan 4, 2016

I am starting Feb 16 and was wondering what is the best way to complete the RN-BSN the fastest? I would like to finish in six months if possible due to a deployment. I heard it's not a great idea to tell the advisors that because they want to make sure the college gets more money by keeping you longer. I also heard other things like not being able to do a community practicum class until I'm done with the community health class, etc. At this point I really just want to know where to start? I've done all my non-nursing courses except biochemistry. Just not sure what classes to take first or even what 12 credits to take first?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2016

Care of the Older Adult (DPV1) is a good course to start with because it can be completed in a week or two if you are extremely motivated and your lifestyle allows for it.

As far as the community practicum is concerned, perhaps you could get creative and do it during your deployment. After all, disaster nursing is a subspecialty of community based nursing, so perhaps you could do a practicum on that during your deployment.

Good luck to you and thank you for your service!

I am starting Feb 16 and was wondering what is the best way to complete the RN-BSN the fastest? I would like to finish in six months if possible due to a deployment. I heard it's not a great idea to tell the advisors that because they want to make sure the college gets more money by keeping you longer. I also heard other things like not being able to do a community practicum class until I'm done with the community health class, etc. At this point I really just want to know where to start? I've done all my non-nursing courses except biochemistry. Just not sure what classes to take first or even what 12 credits to take first?

ichiro12 · Jan 4, 2016

Do you recall what classes you took in order? I'm not trying to copy your method but it would give me an idea of what classes I can expect to take. I appreciate your response. I'm real nervous.

ParvulusPuella · Jan 4, 2016

I did Care of the Older Adult, Health Assessment, Information Management and Technology, Professional Roles and Values, Community Health 228, Community Health 229, Evidence Based Practice, Organizational Systems, and Leadership. I took Biochem between Care of the Older Adult and Health Assessment. I had a few other gen-eds to finish as well, I did all of them between Care of the Older Adult and Health Assessment. I finished 26 CUs my first term. However, my mentor pretty much had them set up in that order, and I just did them that way.

ichiro12 · Jan 4, 2016

I see. It sounds like the way to go is to the Com Health class before the practicum. I also have biochemistry. That's the only non nursing class I have. I don't remember how many CUs I need, have to look at that. Just focused on the number of classes and thanking the Lord I don't have to take math! :) Wish me luck on this journey and congrats for getting through your's

sachmo61691 · Jan 5, 2016

I am starting Feb 16 and was wondering what is the best way to complete the RN-BSN the fastest? I would like to finish in six months if possible due to a deployment. I heard it's not a great idea to tell the advisors that because they want to make sure the college gets more money by keeping you longer. I also heard other things like not being able to do a community practicum class until I'm done with the community health class, etc. At this point I really just want to know where to start? I've done all my non-nursing courses except biochemistry. Just not sure what classes to take first or even what 12 credits to take first?

this was my fear about the advisers slowing me down if i wanted to complete the course in 6 months which is why i had originally asked my question on this thread. So does any have any experience with this situation with their adviser? Should we not tell them that we wante to finish in 6 months?

ParvulusPuella · Jan 5, 2016

You have to do the comm health class before the field experience, because thats how you figure out your topic for it.

awshh3 · Jan 6, 2016

Congrats!! So what I have gathered so far about the WGU rn-bsn program

1) No group projects.

2) A few papers.

3) Some Proctored exams and some taken in the comfort of your home.

Is this correct?

Would you say that grades in most classes are based on exams then? If so, how are the exams? Multiple choice? Very difficult? Are any "open book"? If you fail, is there a possiblity to retake? I'm so scared to pursue my RN-BSN again -- the last program I attempted were all discussion boards/group projects. I want to get a feel how the classes at WGU are.

One more thing. You mentioned your second term was prorated. Is this only because to fulfill your degree, there was less than 7 credits? Or if you take less than 12 credits in any given term, they will prorate it rather than charge you the flat fee?

I have so many questions! This will do for now, I think. THANK YOU!! And congrats again!!

benegesserit · Jan 6, 2016

Congrats!! So what I have gathered so far about the WGU rn-bsn program
1) No group projects.
2) A few papers.
3) Some Proctored exams and some taken in the comfort of your home.
Is this correct?

1. There are absolutely no required assignments that involve working with other students (group projects, discussion boards, etc.). There are projects that will require the willing participation of people other than yourself.

2. Define "a few". There are about 10 papers in the core nursing program (more if you have prerequisites), as well as projects like the video for health assessment.

3. All exams are proctored (closed book, no notes). However, they have an online proctoring service, so you can take them at home and don't have to go to a testing center (with the possible exception of community health, which is through ATI - they've flip-flopped numerous times on the availability of online proctoring for that one, and I have no clue where it currently stands).

Would you say that grades in most classes are based on exams then? If so, how are the exams? Multiple choice? Very difficult? Are any "open book"? If you fail, is there a possiblity to retake? I'm so scared to pursue my RN-BSN again -- the last program I attempted were all discussion boards/group projects. I want to get a feel how the classes at WGU are.

It is pass/fail. You don't get grades.

So, there are two types of assessments - Objective Assessments (tests) and Performance Assessments (essays, projects, etc.). You must pass them all in order to pass the class - you can't fail the test, do well on the essay, and still pass (or vice versa). Some classes have and OA, some have a PA (or multiple PAs), and some have both.

The OAs are mostly multiple choice (with the occasional select all that apply) - no essay or fill in the blank questions. What is considered a passing score varies from class to class. None of them are open book. Tests with a math component will allow the use of a calculator.

You can redo both PAs and OAs a limited number of times if you don't pass the first time.

(Note that people will use PA to mean both Performance Assessment and the pre-test that you take before an Objective Assessment. You just have to figure out which one from context.)

One more thing. You mentioned your second term was prorated. Is this only because to fulfill your degree, there was less than 7 credits? Or if you take less than 12 credits in any given term, they will prorate it rather than charge you the flat fee?

If you have less than 12 units remaining at the start of your term, the term will be prorated based on the number of units remaining. But if there are 12 or more units remaining, you must sign up for at least 12.

ParvulusPuella · Jan 7, 2016

3. All exams are proctored (closed book, no notes). However, they have an online proctoring service, so you can take them at home and don't have to go to a testing center (with the possible exception of community health, which is through ATI - they've flip-flopped numerous times on the availability of online proctoring for that one, and I have no clue where it currently stands).

I took the community health OA at home, just like the rest of the exams. It is still through ATI, but you still use the provided webcam and it's just set up a little differently. I took it in November.

The first 3 attempts at an objective exam are free, it is $65 for each attempt thereafter. My mentor said she hasn't had anyone who has needed more than 3 attempts for a very long time; if you don't pass they help with remediation so you can pass the next time.