Need Advice! CA BRN Will Not Accept My WGU Advanced Pharm Classes!

Specialties NP

Updated:   Published

I am a new graduate FNP in California with 6 years of RN critical care experience. I earned my BSN and MSN-ED from Western Governors, and then went on to complete a Post-Master's FNP program at The University of South Alabama, which accepted my 3p with no issues.

Western Governors told me specifically that these classes met the requirements for an NP Program advanced pharmacology class when I enrolled. I was very specific with the enrollment counselor about my intention to continue on and enroll in an NP Program immediately after and they assured me these classes were acceptable. I wouldn't have enrolled otherwise.

I applied for my initial licensure and received my NP license with no issues. When I applied for my furnishing license, Western Governors declined to sign the form, stating that my pharmacology classes, 3 unit C155 Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice and 2 unit C352 Contemporary Pharmacotherapeutics do not meet the requirements because there wasn't a doctorate-level faculty member involved in the course. 

I am freaking out right now. I have been contacting both the CA BRN and Western Governors for four months and no one has given me a straight answer until they told me this last night. I am at a complete loss as to what to do, since I have already accepted two separate jobs, one of which I am supposed to start immediately.

Does anyone have any advice on what to do? I feel like Western Governors intentionally misled me, and the CA BRN is impossible to get help from. I've even written the governor for help. 

I need my furnishing license to work. This is a nightmare! ?

Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

Ah, yes, ... well, let us say that they once asked me to be on faculty because it was a great gig that wasn't too strenuous or taxing. I said I had called to investigate the program I was concerned about, having heard from several of their students, because there were no people with degrees or certification in the discipline in the facultuy for this "master's level" course and the work the students wanted me tho help them c wasn't at the level of a junior undergrad. They poo-poohed me and offered me a job (which I took as a bribe to get me to shut up).

Totally not impressed. As for CA "cracking down on them," well, they're an online outfit licensed in UT, so CA has no jurisdiction over them.

Morals of the story, which is regrettably not unique: DON'T take an online degree like this-- if it sounds too easy, it's not necessarily legit; investigate yourself and ask if that coursework would be acceptable to another program or legal entity  (e.g., a BON in another state).

Now, you'll just have to take those courses over somewhere legitimate. Count on them being more rigorous. As they should be.

2 Votes
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
On 5/1/2021 at 7:21 PM, RNADN said:

I'm looking for anywhere that I can take a class if I have to. This sucks, it's neverending .... I seriously could have gone to med school for less effort. At least I would have had more support. This is such bs, they need to standardize APRN education so this doesn't happen to anyone else.

Check around nursing schools in California.  National Univ, I believe, allows people to take some courses online w/o being in the whole program.  Again, check with CANP for some advice.

Good luck

1 Votes
Specializes in oncology.
On 5/3/2021 at 10:00 PM, FullGlass said:

WGU is not a "diploma mill."  It is a reputable school.

Yes, When a student chooses to go to a 'non-traditional' school they need to understand the rest of the world may not have the same opinion of their graduate school education, even though it is an accredited program. Something similar to this is Excelsior..the outcome goal is the same but the path to get there may be non-traditional. 

Frequently I read stories on AN where students signed on to , Excelsior, Capella etc, and the graduate gets upset when they either have to defend their education or supplement it with additional courses. 

4 Votes
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
35 minutes ago, londonflo said:

Yes, When a student chooses to go to a 'non-traditional' school they need to understand the rest of the world may not have the same opinion of their graduate school education, even though it is an accredited program. Something similar to this is Excelsior..the outcome goal is the same but the path to get there may be non-traditional. 

Frequently I read stories on AN where students signed on to WGU, Excelsior, Capella etc, and the graduate gets upset when they either have to defend their education or supplement it with additional courses. 

When I wrote the answer above, I did not pay close attention and did not realize was now offering online BSN and MSN NP programs.  They did not do this until recently.

I agree with you that students interested in these programs need to be careful to make sure the programs meet their state license requirements, especially in California.  Caveat emptor.

Personally, I do not understand how a BSN or MSN NP Program can be 100% online, due to the needs for skills labs.  I am opposed to this.

WGU is a good option for other studies and programs, such as business, a Master's in Nursing Education, etc., which do not require the in-person lab skills of many sciences and healthcare disciplines.  WGU is priced very reasonably for such studies and is rated highly in those areas.  However, I would NOT recommend WGU for the BSN or MSN NP.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianahembree/2017/08/10/western-governors-university-the-best-kept-secret-in-online-colleges/?sh=477e61b86b48

 

1 Votes
Specializes in oncology.
On 5/5/2021 at 3:18 PM, FullGlass said:

Master's in Nursing Education,

A practical experience with a master teacher is ESSENTIAL . You need role modeling for clinical instruction, practice experience for test question writing, providing classroom instruction and MOST of all learn to ask for help when you need it. The last college I worked at granted tenure to everybody before the online programs started. 3 new faculty did not get tenure (over 10 years, maybe 5 more faculty got tenure during that time who had some functional role practice in their curriculum). Those who did not get tenure, were given advice to see other faculty teach. One asked for my power points for her content delivery and frankly couldn't pronounce the words. I guess a dictionary was not a thing.

 

0 Votes
3 hours ago, londonflo said:

 One asked for my power points for her content delivery and frankly couldn't pronounce the words. I guess a dictionary was not a thing.

 

Say what now? How were they allowed to teach anything?

0 Votes
Specializes in oncology.
6 hours ago, NurseBlaq said:

How were they allowed to teach anything?

That problem was solved by refusing tenure. She had to go at the end of the semester. She had been told for 2 years to observe other teachers and up her game. However, when anyone needed a clinical sub she volunteered because at this school you got sub pay. (2 other schools I worked at did not pay you for subbing...something about the goodness of your heart).  This faculty member was never available to come to campus to do other role tasks. .As far as I can tell she learned nothing at U of Phoenix. 

1 Votes
Specializes in Entry-level.

Hmmmm... Looks like could be in diploma mill territory...

https://academeblog.org/2017/10/30/tips-and-tricks-western-governors-university-caught-defrauding-taxpayers/

 

0 Votes
Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

Yep, like I said.... inconsistent relationship with the truth. Don't do it.

0 Votes
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
On 8/4/2021 at 1:25 PM, LoveMyCoffee717 said:

Hmmmm... Looks like WGU could be in diploma mill territory...

https://academeblog.org/2017/10/30/tips-and-tricks-western-governors-university-caught-defrauding-taxpayers/

 

Except the follow up completely exonerated

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/01/14/trump-administration-rejects-inspector-generals-critical-audit-findings-western

0 Votes
Specializes in Psychiatry.
3 hours ago, meanmaryjean said:

Except the follow up completely exonerated WGU

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/01/14/trump-administration-rejects-inspector-generals-critical-audit-findings-western

The Trump admin and his Sec of Education whose family represents for profit schools and programs refuses to carry out the recommendation of the inspector general. This is the same woman who refused to forgive student loans for students defrauded by for profit colleges despite being directed to do so. I don't consider that an exoneration.

1 Votes
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
16 hours ago, MentalKlarity said:

The Trump admin and his Sec of Education whose family represents for profit schools and programs refuses to carry out the recommendation of the inspector general. This is the same woman who refused to forgive student loans for students defrauded by for profit colleges despite being directed to do so. I don't consider that an exoneration.

is a non-profit, fully accredited and the rules were written before the wide acceptance of online education. Take the time to really examine the issue and then come back. This was an OIG investigation. 

 

2 Votes
+ Add a Comment