Pros/Cons of a Western Governors degree

Nursing Students Western Governors

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Can anyone tell me the pro/cons of a Western Governors degree. I've heard conflicting views and don't know what to believe.

I know a number of nurses who got accepted to and graduated from CRNA school after getting their BSNs through WGU. Several of them good friends of mine.[/quote']

Did they go to a school in California? And how many years experience did they have when they got accepted? Would also love to know how recent this was. Thanks!

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Did they go to a school in California? And how many years experience did they have when they got accepted? Would also love to know how recent this was. Thanks!

*** No, none went to schools in California. All went to schools in Minnesota or Wisconsin and one went to a school in IL and one in FL. Years of ICU experience varied between 2 and (I think) 10 years. Over the last 5-6 years, including some who have been accepted recenty but their school hasn't started yet.

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*** That is not an RN to MSN program inspite of what they call it. I was well aware that WGU offers a path to MSN for RNs when I stated the fact that they do not offer an RN to MSN program.

I'm confused? I started with an ADN and I'm in the RN-MSN Education track. I received my BSN in January and will hopefully have my MSN by January of next year.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I'm confused? I started with an ADN and I'm in the RN-MSN Education track. I received my BSN in January and will hopefully have my MSN by January of next year.

*** There are RN to MSN programs where one goes from ADN to MSN and does not have or earn a bachelors degree a long the way. There are also RN to BSN to MSN like at where one goes through all the steps but some graduate credits are used to meet undergrad requirements, thus saving the student (usually) about 9 credits at the undergrad level.

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Specializes in Case Mgmt; Mat/Child, Critical Care.

Actually, it is an RN to MSN program. I think you're getting hung up on semantics. If a school does not offer an RN to MSN program then you MUST have a BSN to enroll. offers ADN RN's the opportunity to enroll directly in the MSN program, and yes, it s a bit shorter than the time/classes. And what is nice, and didfferent from some ADN RN to MSN programs, you actually do have the option to receive your BSN as well as the MSN.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
And what is nice, and didfferent from some ADN RN to MSN programs, you actually do have the option to receive your BSN as well as the MSN.

*** Oh I did not realize that and stand corrected. I didn't realize that recieving the BSN was an option as you say. I was under the impression from their web site, and people I know who have competed their degree at , that it was required to earn a BSN enrout to the MSN. I will try to find the no BSN option on their website. That would indeed make is am RN to MSN program.

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

No, it's not an option - you DO earn the BSN along the way. I'm confused as to why you think this is a negative. If you enroll directly into the RN-MSN program, there are a few classes that are streamlined, and you can take some of the MSN level classes before earning the BSN, which is why it is an RN-MSN program. If it weren't, then you wouldn't be able to enroll in it as an ADN, you would have to enroll twice, into two different programs (once for BSN, and a second time for MSN).

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I had the same GPA concern so I called a few prospective graduate schools in California to ask about the whole WGU 3.0 situation. I was told that the minimum GPA for these programs is typically a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, but because a 3.0 is the highest you can get at WGU, they take that into consideration. Basically, many of these schools will look a a 3.0 from WGU a little differently than a 3.0 from another university. Might not be true for every program, but it made me feel better about my decision to enroll at WGU (I've been very happy with the school and the education I've been receiving... highly recommend!). :)[/quote']

I don't think it's an issue about getting a Masters. The issue is getting into a highly impacted and competitive program such as FNP or AGNP/ACNP or CRNA. The reps I spoke with said if you're looking at a less impacted program such as Pediatrics or Women's Health, it's not much of an issue. Depends on what you want to do. Glad you're liking it! Each person's situation is different.

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*** There are RN to MSN programs where one goes from ADN to MSN and does not have or earn a bachelors degree a long the way. There are also RN to BSN to MSN like at WGU where one goes through all the steps but some graduate credits are used to meet undergrad requirements, thus saving the student (usually) about 9 credits at the undergrad level.

I certainly look at obtaining my BSN as part of my MSN program a huge plus! It enabled me to land a job that only hires BSN nurses. I'm currently working in my dream job while still earning my MSN degree. I think a college that doesn't award a BSN is missing the mark. My goal, after finishing my BSN in 6 months is to complete my MSN in a year and I'm definitely on my way to doing that. With these RN-MSN programs that don't award a BSN...is the student able to finish in 18 months? I love that in 18 months I'll have earned myself a BSN and an MSN (hopefully).

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
No, it's not an option - you DO earn the BSN along the way.

*** Yes, exactly as I mentioned. I was thrown off by your claim that the BSN was optional.

I'm confused as to why you think this is a negative.

*** WHAT!? I am confused as to hopw you arrived at that conclusion? I never said or indicated it was a negative. I only expressed regret that does not offer an RN to MSN program. I wish they did. That in no way indicates that I view their other programs as a negative.

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

First, I"m not the one who claimed it was optional.

Secondly, I"m confused as to why you state that it's not an RN to MSN program.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I certainly look at obtaining my BSN as part of my MSN program a huge plus!

*** Yes I am sure you do. So would many others. However not everybody is at the same place in their education, or has the same goals as you.

It enabled me to land a job that only hires BSN nurses.

*** What kind of job will only hire BSN nurses but not nurses with MSNs? I suspect that any job you got with a BSN you could have also gotten with an MSN.

I'm currently working in my dream job while still earning my MSN degree. I think a college that doesn't award a BSN is missing the mark.

*** Well as I said not everybody has the same goals as you. I think it's great that we have a variety of different programs to suit the different needs of different people. For some an RN to MSN program may be the way to go. For other an RN to BSN to MSN program would better help them obtain their goals.

My goal, after finishing my BSN in 6 months is to complete my MSN in a year and I'm definitely on my way to doing that. With these RN-MSN programs that don't award a BSN...is the student able to finish in 18 months?

*** 18 months is very impressive. I am not sure. I only know a couple RN to MSN grads and neither one of them was in any hurry and it took both 4 semesters to finish. I don't know if they could have done it faster or not. Good luck to you!

I love that in 18 months I'll have earned myself a BSN and an MSN (hopefully).

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