mharperPhD

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I'm not sure what they are either! Please call and chat with a counselor and see.

Biochem is a requirement that must be fulfilled. Have you checked to see what the prereqs are for taking it through WGU?

The pre-licensure program is a cohort program. That means you start with a group and progress with the group. You have scheduled learning labs and scheduled clinical intensives. You must stay up to date with your didactic materials to be successful in the lab and you must pass lab to progress to the clinical intensive. Your didactic is online so you can do it whenever is convenient with you - as long as you're keeping up and ready to go to lab as scheduled. You have a mentor who helps you stay on pace. The school operates on 6 month terms instead of semesters, so you have calculated the annual tuition correctly. The nursing component of the program is 2 years long provided you have all your prerequesites. Please contact the website and discuss your options with an admissions counselor! Mary Academic Mentor Clinical Faculty WGU

While there has been discussion about (and requests for) an NP program, at this time we do not have a projected start date that I am aware of. I'll do some checking and see if I can find out anything further!

Check out our Web site at wgu.edu. There's no "set" time frame for completion of the RN-MSN. Since it's competency based, you move at your own pace. You can finish as quickly as you can move through the courses of study demonstrating competence as you go. Mary

Let me know if you still don't hear anything.

Yes, WGU accepts credits from accredited institutions whether online or face to face. When you apply, your transcripts are evaluated and you are notified of what credits are accepted. Have you used the link on the WGU website to request more information? Best wishes with your education! Mary Harper, PhD, RN-BC Western Governors University.

If you have an ADN and want a BSN, you can start at the beginning of ANY month - you don't have to wait for a semester to begin. If you are not yet an RN and are seeking admission to the prelicensure BSN program, you do have to wait until the next cohort starts. We had a cohort start the first of April. The next cohort is scheduled for September. Good luck! Mary Harper, PhD, RN-BC Western Governors University

For specifics about admission, I must refer you to the admissions office... If you go to the website at www.wgu.edu there's a place where you can chat with an admissions counselor about the courses you've had and what you need. M. Harper, PhD, RN-BC Western Governors Unniversity.

Hi Offshore Medic, It looks like you've got ambitious career goals and I applaud you. I will answer the questions I can but will also have to refer you to admissions for some of your questions. You indicate that you are a nurse. My responses below are based on the assumption that you thinking about applying to the RN-BSN program. Please note that we also have an RN-MSN program. Here are some answers for you: Transfer credits: WGU transcripts are fully transferable. Passing a course with WGU is the equivalent of earning a "B" in a "traditional" program so your passed courses transfer as a "B". I cannot answer specific questions about the FNP program you want to attend, but since our program is CCNE accredited, they should accept your BSN. I would suggest contacting that school directly about transfers. The beauty of a competency based program is that if you pass the assessments, you pass the course. So while you may not get direct credit for a CEN, knowledge you have from your certification will certainly help you pass an assessment. Instead of taking a CLEP or Excelsior exam, you can simply test out of the courses in our program if you already know the material. We give you credit for what you know and you can progress as rapidly as you'd like in the RN-BSN program. There are texts for each course of study, but again, if you know the material, the text may not be necessary. What we give are "learning resources" to help you learn the material. Proctored exams are taken at a testing center. We are looking at some web enabled proctoring but it has not been implemented yet! Watch for it - that will make assessments more convenient. Community health is a key component of the BSN... An applied learning project is a project that will help you meet Board of Nursing requirements for clinical hours, particularly in the community health setting. I will have to refer you to admissions for the CLEP questions. They can have a transcript evaluation done for you and help you determine how to best meet your pre-requisites. Give them a call or you can chat online at www.wgu.edu . I wish you all the best in your educational endeavors. Mary Harper, PhD, RN-BC Western Governors University

LA_StudentNurse Thank you for your private message. I don't have access to send private messages yet! But I want to respond to your question. I am not familiar with the program that you asked me about so I am unable to comment about it. What I do know is that the Western Governors University program is an accredited program (CCNE accreditation) that provides quality education. We currently have five clinical sites in Southern California. The way our program is set up you complete the didactic component online, attend labs on 3 weekends per course, and then have a clinical intensive where you work your coach's schedule for a minimum of 5 shifts over a two week period. The program is NOT easy! But we find that LVNs do very well, provided they are disciplined to stay on track with the didactic material. We admit cohorts several times a year. I'd suggest you take a look at the WGU program at www.wgu.edu and compare to the other program you're considering. The MOST important question is whether the other program is accredited. If it is not accredited, you don't want to go there. If it is, then compare costs and clinical requirements and see what fits your lifestyle best. Best wishes as you pursue your BSN! Mary Harper WGU Mentor for Clinical Faculty

I'm currently the mentor for clinical faculty at WGU for the pre-licensure program. In my experience as a nurse manager (my master's degree is in nursing administration), I can tell you that your concerns about an on-line RN-BSN degree are unfounded. Most "brick and mortar" nursing schools conduct their RN-BSN classes almost exclusively on-line with a "live" practicum and community health program. So in that sense, WGU is no different than "traditional" nursing schools. The primary determinant of the quality of a nursing program (and your ability to transfer credits to another school) is its accreditation. WGU is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). What's great about WGU is that it is competency based - so things you've learned in clinical setting move you toward your degree more quickly. I'd suggest you also look into our RN-MSN program... you'll receive a BSN along the way but avoid duplication of content. Best wishes as you extend your professional development! Mary

You are correct. We currently have cohorts scheduled for April and September in Southern California.

You do not have to have a 4.0 to get into the program. We look at many factors such as your science and math grades, previous health care experience, etc. If you are currently working in health care, your organization may provide tuition reimbursement. In addition, there are loan and scholarship opportunities for nursing education. We start nursing cohorts several times a year. Since our program is accredited by CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) your credits transfer. Our standard for progression equates to a "B" in traditional terms. Good luck with the admission process!

So glad to hear that you've looked into Western Governor's University. I am a faculty member there - I work with the clinical faculty. WGU is a non-profit, online university based out of Salt Lake City, UT. We started our on-line Pre-licensure program in July, 2009 with a pilot group of 30 students in Southern California. Since then, we have added students in Texas and another group started in Southern California in January 2010. The WGU Pre-licensure program is designed for individuals with some health care experience to complete their BSN and take the NCLEX (national licensure exam). To gain entry into the program, the pre-requisites must be completed and students must be able to demonstrate basic nursing assistant skills such as vital signs, personal hygiene, bed-making, etc., in a lab setting. The pre-requisites are listed on the Website (http://www.wgu.edu/online_health_professions_degrees/bachelor_science_nursing_licensure ) and include Liberal Arts and Sciences , Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacology Microbiology, Nutrition, Biochemistry, Behavioral Sciences. Specific course requirements are in a link below the list of pre-requisites on the Web site. Perhaps the most exciting component of the WGU pre-licensure program is the clinical model. Students complete all didactic material on-line. They attend Learning Labs three weekends per course. Once students qualify by demonstrating competency in the Learning Lab, they work one-on-one with a staff nurse who has been trained to coach nursing students. Students work the coach's exact schedule for a two week intensive period (usually five 12-hour shifts). While the shifts don't occur on consecutive days, they occur within a two week period. Students remain with the same coach for the first three clinical intensives, forming a great teaching/learning relationship. For more information, visit our Web site and contact an admissions counselor. Or, send me a message here on allnurses. Mary Harper, PhD, RN-BC