Western Governors University MSN

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tkrn714

13 Posts

Specializes in Oncology, GI Lab, Radiology, IV therapy.

Hi Lauri8218,

1) Yes a preceptor is assigned to you, but she is called a "mentor". They phone you often until you get your feet wet

tkrn714

13 Posts

Specializes in Oncology, GI Lab, Radiology, IV therapy.

(con't from previous post)

2) yes...a 40 hr. practicum is required, but you decide how you will do this.

3) yes....I don't know how many, but others have graduated from the MSN program.

TwilightRNurse

118 Posts

HCA is a partner hospital with WGU. If you are a employee of 1 yr (I think) at a HCA hospital, they will reinburse you up to $5200/yr for tuition, plus a 10% discount. The application process went very smooth, and there is a guidance counselor to help you through the process.

I work for HCA and have been there for 8 years. We get $1,400 per year in tuition reimbursement :crying2:

kehorner

7 Posts

How is your classes going, I'm thinking of doing the rn to bsn for a start, but I'm scared that I will be to over whelemed and not do well in the program, how many hours do you commit per week? I think I could do it, but want to be more convienced, I want to eventully do a MS program, I really wanted to do NP, but what kind of jobs are availible in education?

ReggaeRN

38 Posts

BIG BUMP...

I am looking at starting in a month in the RN-MSN program with (). Like many have already asked, is there any real nurses out there in this program that can offer some insight, or some sort of personal experience and what to expect with the program?

I have applied and am just waiting for my transcripts to get over to them. As long as the financial aspect goes through I will be starting ASAP! Looking to talk to people who have done or are doing this program please!

=ReggaeRN

kehorner

7 Posts

Hello ReggaeRN,

Which MSN program track are you going to take. I just passed my entrance assessment, which is a huge burden off my shoulders and plan to first get my BSN. I'm just curious about what kind of job you will be persueing after you complete your MSN. I've thought about going on to a NP program, but with working and having small kids that would be a stretch. So I'm also thinking about different avenues of MSN. Good Luck! I will be hopefully starting at in October.;)

ReggaeRN

38 Posts

kehorner,

I am looking to start the RN-MSN Education program. Like I said above, the money aspect is my only concern so whenever that comes through (in other words, student loans), I want to start. I'm thinking a nurse educator in a hospital, or instructor at a college. Up until about a year ago I was set on being an NP - working in the ER I am very self-sufficient and, to a point, controlling over my patients' care... I have realized I am way too much of a control freak, and I know it sounds really crazy, but the thought of writing orders and having to rely on other people to complete them gives me anxiety - I decided that a better route would be education. So as soon as they get my previous schools' transcripts and my financial aid stuff, I will be ready to start! I'm hoping for October also... the only drawback to that is our child is playing varsity football for high school and it is a LOT of running... football ends late October so I'm wondering if I would be smarter to wait until November 1. Who knows... I am tired of putting school off, so we shall see!

nurse2033, MSN, RN

3 Articles; 2,133 Posts

Specializes in ER, ICU.

I just got my MSNed from Excelsior and it was excellent. I don't know about the program but give Excelsior a look.

tkrn714

13 Posts

Specializes in Oncology, GI Lab, Radiology, IV therapy.

Hi Reg and Kehorner,

I just graduated from in July, the BSN to MSN program....education track. It took 2 full years from start to finish., but some people were able to complete the program within 9 mos. to 15 months. There were a few people in my class that started in the RN-BSN program first. One girl finished in 11 weeks. I asked her how she finished so fast....she had surgery and was off work for quite a while. Then she started in the bsn to msn program and finished it in 9 months. I thought, wow!

I can only speak to the BSN -MSN program, but all the information that I learned was brand new to me, which meant that I had to read alot. Then, they determine your competency in 2 ways...by either writing papers or exams. I currently work in a large hospital, and thought that I would like a clinical instructor position when I graduated. We have partnerships with local nursing schools, and am waiting for a position to open. I would be a staff nurse at the hospital, working as a clinical instructor with the nursing schools.

WGU is a very good but tough program. It is like no other. Since it is competency based, you have to prove to them that you have knowledge and skill associated with each subject. The papers are written in APA format, and the graders don't let you slide by...they are tough on you. WGU has been involved in distance learning for 10 years now, beginning with the teachers college, and they have online learning down to an art. But 3 times during my program, they changed courses around, for instance... deleted 2 courses but added another. It seems there is a learning curve....probably because of student feedback, which results in changes.

WGU is for motivated, self-reliant and self-directed people. You can procrastinate (which I did at times) but then you have to work twice as hard to catch up. It fit in good with my schedule. My mentor stayed with me the duration of the course and called me weekly to keep me on track. They tell you in the beginning to devote at least 20 hours a week to studying. Sometimes I would study just 10 hours, but the following week study about 25 hours. It varied. Writing papers was the hardest for me. I would sit down to write and draw a blank. (at least I'm honest).

Good luck with your studies. There is a lot of support out there for students. There is a message board with each course. Questions that you might have, might be there from a previous student, and already answered. They call the message boards "the communities", and that is what they are. If you don't understand something, post a question on the board, and, someone will answer. There is also a facilitator (Masters, PhD,etc) for that course who is knowledgeable about the course and who is monitoring the board. They will answer questions daily to someone who is "stuck" on something.

If I can be of more help, please let me know.

Tkrn714

kehorner

7 Posts

Hello Tkrn714,

Thank you for all of your insight on this. I am very nervous that it will be to hard for me, although I think I will be okay, or at least hope! How long did it take you to get through each class? I'm at the point where I would just like to have my BSN, and maybe I will still feel up to more education after the BSN, but I'm going to take it one step at a time and hope to complete the BSN part in a year.

exnavygirl-RN

715 Posts

I'm so glad I found this thread. I just applied to 's MSN program in Leadership and Management. I'm a little nervous but excited.:nurse:

tkrn714

13 Posts

Specializes in Oncology, GI Lab, Radiology, IV therapy.

ex-navy girl,

good luck with the program. even if you work full-time, it is do-able. it worked out great with me. i had the support of my husband. my family was understanding and supported me for the two years i was in the program.

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