just finished my BSN..... my story, if anyone is interested....

Nursing Students Western Governors

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I finished my RN to BSN program at this week! WGU was not necessarily my first choice when I started, but it turned out to be great. Due to medical complications in my immediate family, I have maintained 2 full-time nursing jobs (12 hour night shifts, 6-7 nights per week, usually 7 nights per week) in order to support my wife and the kids (3 and 5), along with my mother-in-law who lives with us to take care of my wife and the kids while I work non-stop. I did not really see how I was going to manage to do a BSN program with that kind of work schedule. I even started a program at a different school that had a more traditional online setup, with deadlines for assignments and whatnot. I couldn't hold it together with that program, as the deadlines were just eating me up. So, I moved to WGU, knowing it would be more self-paced. Looking back now, I don't think I could have made the BSN without WGU. One of my jobs is in an ICU, so that keeps me plenty busy 3-4 nights a week. My second job is home health, where I am at the bedside of a single patient for 12-hour shifts. The family of the patient has been very liberal with me in allowing me to do homework and stuff while on the job during downtime, as I have always made sure to take really good care of their son. Since I spend most of those nights sitting at his bedside, doing the occasional tube feed or nebulizer treatment, or "cleanup," I have lots of down time. I did the vast majority of my school work on my laptop at that job. Some weeks I was really busy and didn't get much school work done. Other weeks were smooth, and I banged out papers pretty fast. The only hitch was the community health practicum, which requires 90 hours of work out in the community. So, I had to dip into my vacation time at the hospital and take time off to get this done. Otherwise, I was able to work the entirety of the coursework for the whole program around my schedule, at my convenience, and according to my own self-set deadlines.

I found the program to be both challenging and academically appropriate, but also reasonable and doable. As they advertise, I was able to breeze through some areas where I already had a good working knowledge, while some areas required pretty extensive research and work. The program took me a year and a half (3 of their 6-month terms). I could have done it a lot faster if not for my complicated personal life and endless work schedule. But, WGU provided me with the type of school program that worked for me in my unique situation, and allowed me to further my education.

I guess the moral of the story is that, if I can do it, anybody can do it!

So, I will be happy to answer any questions about WGU and my experience if it will be of assistance to others.

This degree represents a major accomplishment to me personally, not just getting the degree, but also the personal and professional hurdles I had to clear to get it done. Sorry, I know that is sappy and dramatic.

Anyway, thanks for listening. Again, let me know if I can help in any way on answering WGU questions.

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
Congratulations!

My question for you is......do you suggest WGU to someone that does not have their license at all? I've been looking for a program that would allow me to work and go to school. I'm currently waiting to hear back from Mount St. Marys. I have no medical experience at all just starting from scratch. I have all prerequisites done and I've taking the TeasV. I was planning to do the ADN program and than do BSN program. I feel for myself that in the beginning I need a classroom. So looking at what you've gone through do you think you would have done WGU to get your original RN license?

Do they have a regular RN program because you will need clinicals.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

OP,

Congrats on the BSN! As a new RN-BSN grad, I know the feeling of having those three initials behind your name. It offers a sense of security and pride knowing you accomplished such a huge feat despite having a lot of odds against you. :)

Let me know how the MSN program goes. I'm looking into it, but with student loans from my kids and my own small loan for my BSN, I'm not sure I could afford it. My work offers 3000 per year for tuition reimbursement, and I was hoping I could slowly earn my masters for free by only taking 3000 worth of classes per year. Not sure if once enrolled if any extensive breaks are allowed.

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

Yes, does have a pre-licensure BSN program in certain states

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Well, probably won't be able to cut back anytime really soon, but I suppose it will come eventually. It is unclear when (or if) my wife, who is also a nurse, will ever work again. She had a major brain surgery at age 30 in 2012, followed closely by a pretty severe stroke while recovering, and then another major brain surgery about 2 months ago. This all left her both physically and cognitively disabled. She had a chiari malformation, if anyone is familiar with that. At the time of the first surgery and stroke in 2012, she was 30 and I was 32, and one of our kids was 2 years old, and the other was only 4 months old. Her mom dropped her job, apartment, independence, etc to move in with us and take care of her and the kids so I could work. Otherwise, don't know what we would have done. Meanwhile, I certainly feel quite blessed to have been working in a profession where I have been able to work in 2 full-time jobs the way I have (full time RN salary times 2!).

I am thinking pretty seriously about jumping right into the WGU MSN program and continuing on the way I have been doing. So, maybe with time, promotion at work, etc, I will get to cut back some. But, in the meantime, we feel very blessed to have held it all together and for me to be able to continue further my education and career!

thanks everyone for all the kind words and support. I don't post much on allnurses, but I am always on here reading for information and motivation. This has been a great support community for me!

aww thats so sad your wife has to go through that. however its a testimony how great family is/can be. your such a good man, if only they made copies of you W_W

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Specializes in critical care.

WGU does have an initial-licensure program, which I assume is a BSN program, as opposed to an ADN program. However, I do not have any knowledge or experience in this area. I initially became an LVN through the traditional classroom setting, and later bridged to RN via Excelsior College, and then finished my RN to BSN work at . As others have mentioned, the process of starting from scratch and getting a nursing license requires extensive and exhaustive clinical hours in a variety of healthcare settings. I know they only offer the initial licensure program in certain areas of the country, in order to be able to do local clinical rotations somewhere. But, that is about the extent of my knowledge. I would encourage you to contact them. They have always been very receptive and helpful with any questions or concerns I had before I applied, and along the way.

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Specializes in critical care.
So looking at what you've gone through do you think you would have done WGU to get your original RN license?

I am a little unsure on this question. I sort of took the long way to get to where I am. I have a bachelors degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin, and then went to work in the business world. When I decided to become a nurse, I already was married with bills and debt and responsibilities and things. I opted to go through an LVN program, which took one year and had no prerequisites. In looking at ADN/RN school, I found that it would have taken me a year just to finish the prerequisites needed, and then time spent waiting to get accepted into RN school, and then 2 years of school to become and RN. So, I did the LVN program and then was able to go to work and make a reasonable living as an LVN while working on my RN. I did Excelsior College for my LVN-RN bridge in 2010 and 2011, because that was when my wife started having health problems and was no longer working, and I was already working my two jobs. So, as my earlier story says, I had this home-health job where I did most of my BSN work, and that was also where I did all of my online LVN-RN work through Excelsior. So, overall, I have assembled my educational path around work and personal life in a way that worked for me. However, if you have the time and financial ability and the patience to follow a more traditional path, such as straight into an ADN or BSN program, I definitely recommend that, versus the long path I have taken. As far as goes for initial licensure, I suppose they are accredited and it works, so I can't say anything bad about it. But, just knowing what it takes to be a nurse and learn nursing from scratch, I would personally be more comfortable with a classroom-based program, even if it is LVN/LPN. I guess overall, if I had to do it all over again, I would probably stick with the way I did it, but that is just because of my preference for classroom learning for initial nursing licensure. Of course, you are going to get out of a program what you put in. So, if you do an online program and just squeak through projects and just study to pass tests, you will be in trouble when you get in the real world. If you really participate in learning what they are trying to teach you, I suspect WGU initial licensure is just as good as the next school.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Not sure if once enrolled if any extensive breaks are allowed.
WGU does offer term breaks that last six months at a time. In fact, my coworker is presently on a term break due to a busy home life combined with full time employment.

So, theoretically, you could do your MSN degree coursework six months out of every year as long as you earn the minimum number of credit hours per six month term. I believe 's minimum requirement is 8 credits earned per six month term for the online MSN degree program.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Specialty.

What did you have to do for the community health practicum?

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Specializes in critical care.

The community health practicum is a project that you complete, and requires at least 90 hours of work in the community. These 90 hours are not satisfied by doing "clinical rotations" or something. The 90 hours is spent more on researching the community by direct contact with people and organizations. So, for example, you pick your topic, and spend 90 hours interviewing those in the community who are pertinent to that topic. I did disaster preparedness, and spent the time interviewing numerous members of local government, ems, fire, law enforcement, hospital, school, local nursing homes, etc. I also attended lots of meetings and training sessions for these various entities. You then develop a plan of action to address a community health concern, and write a lengthy paper explaining all you did and your plan, etc. So, again, you can't just spend a total of 90 hours hanging out and helping at the local health department or free clinic. This is more of a hands-on community-based research project, which requires 90 hours of documented interviews, meetings, facility tours, etc.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.
The community health practicum is a project that you complete, and requires at least 90 hours of work in the community. These 90 hours are not satisfied by doing "clinical rotations" or something. The 90 hours is spent more on researching the community by direct contact with people and organizations. So, for example, you pick your topic, and spend 90 hours interviewing those in the community who are pertinent to that topic. I did disaster preparedness, and spent the time interviewing numerous members of local government, ems, fire, law enforcement, hospital, school, local nursing homes, etc. I also attended lots of meetings and training sessions for these various entities. You then develop a plan of action to address a community health concern, and write a lengthy paper explaining all you did and your plan, etc. So, again, you can't just spend a total of 90 hours hanging out and helping at the local health department or free clinic. This is more of a hands-on community-based research project, which requires 90 hours of documented interviews, meetings, facility tours, etc.

That's very similar to the practicing that I did to get my MPH. I worked with a health department for 300 hours revising and implementing a comprehensive mental health disaster plan. Disaster management is a fascinating world. Really gave me a different perspective on how things work.

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Hey there, congrats on your graduation, and prayers for you and your family!

I'm considering going back to school for my bsn because so many hospitals are becoming magnet. I know that has proctored exams, do you feel that you were able to take them at convenient times for you considering you work nights. I work nights and I love my current schedule. I would hate to completely change my schedule around to get up to take exams when I normally would be sleeping. I know this sounds like a minor concern but if I don't stay on my steady schedule I'm a complete monster lol.

Thanks in advance :)

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I love also! I am a few classes away from completing my BSN also & am toying with the MSN. They have a wonderful program. The thing I like the most is that they are practical in their teaching. I love that they have you make presentations & Power Points as though you are doing a teaching. It makes the material so much more real than droning through another research or term paper. I have been recommending them to all of my friends. The tuition is SO much cheaper than my RN program & I love being able to use the webcam for proctored exams at my convenience. Congratulations on your accomplishment. You sound like an incredible husband, father & nurse!!

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