Quit before I even start..?

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Honestly, I feel like a lesser person for having to admit this, but it is just how i feel currently. I am enrolled and soon to begin classes at WGU because when I decided to pursue my BSN earlier this year I wanted to "earn it", be eligible for a job out of my state where BSN's are highly preferred, I wanted a cheap, and fast route.

Now, I just don't care. I actually look at my classes ahead and analyze how this is going to make me a better nurse. I feel its not. I feel its a waste of time and money. I see my classes begin to read some material and realize how much i could care less about nursing theory, community health, and nursing issues. I like coming to work,doing my job, and caring for patients, learning new things, doing skills, interacting with families, and then leaving work at work. I'm great at what i do. Am very well liked on my medical unit, and many only work extra shifts if they know I'm working. People ask for me by name. So, at least i know im doing something right. I have almost 10 years in care of adults/geriatric care as cna/lpn/rn. Things flow naturally for me in this area. I love the sciences of nursing and enjoy teaching it just as much to new grads-the tips and tricks of the trade. But work stays at work aside for my the many stories we experience..

Shifting to the classroom I'm immediately bored, annoyed, and unmotivated to sit and read or be tested on crap that I feel doesn't matter. Projects? Improving the community? Becoming involved? Haha. Not me. But that's what awaits for me at WGU.

I already failed my geriatric pre asessment (by 1% point). Mean am I bad or incompetent nurse? Not likely.

My attitudes have changed because after having discussed settling down with my girl- I do not want to move out of state because she has an awesome family. I realize im only doing "this" to satisfy my employers statistics. It does not get me paid more to have a BSN. People in my area do not get their rocks off talking about which schools they went to and how high their GPA is. No one cares. And I know I don't.We're so short nurses that we will take anyone warm body over discussing the particulars of your education as long as you passed your NCLEX.

Anyone from WGU have any experience, words of advice, or just understand where i'm coming from here?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, OR, ICU.

I understand your point. I'm not necessarily excited about going back to school..again..but the positions I desire require it so to be where I want to be I'll do what I have to do. If you're comfortable in your position and don't plan leaving I agree, why bother. But if you plan to expand your opportunities then it's become a requirement in most nursing worlds.

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The previous post has a point. But I will think of the future, they might not be short of nurses in the future, what if your wants some recognition which will require nurses to be BSN prepared, do you think they will keep you just because? Do you have no desire to grow in your current position? maybe an educator or clinical nurse since you love teaching new grads? All these have to be considered. I completed mine the cheapest way I could because I wanted to advance my career. You have to think of your personal goals. Just my two cents ! Good luck

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

My husband had previously enrolled at WGU in the RN-BSN program. He dropped the program in the first semester. He decided that he really does not need it to advance and/or be relevant in his particular area of nursing. He said he *may* go back and finish once I'm done with my MSN.

You gotta do what feels right for you.

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

Being that it is online, you will have to have some type of motivation to get it done. Much of the work is tedious.

I needed to do it to be competitive in my organization but it was also a personal goal of mine to complete. So I'm super happy to be done. Only you know how you will feel at the end and how worth it is to you.

Do you think you would regret completing the program?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I recently completed WGU's online RN-to-BSN program. While I do not need the BSN degree now, I am a future-oriented person who realizes the nursing employment market can be whimsical and change at the drop of a hat.

I want to be prepared for the future, not blindsided by it. I'd rather have the BSN degree now instead of scrambling to earn it at the last possible minute.

Furthermore, I might not want to provide hands-on bedside care in five, ten or fifteen years. The BSN degree opens doors to nursing positions that would enable me to earn a living while sitting behind a desk, which appeals to me far more than direct patient care.

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I think it greatly depends on you, and your facility. If you like acute care and plan on staying there, you need a bsn. There really is no way around it. If you are in ltc it's not such an issue. Since you say you have 10 years experience I am guessing you are fairly young. If you want to remain competitive, if you want the ability to choose the job that suits you, and not just the job you can get, you need a bsn. Fwiw, I'm fairly ambivalent about my upcoming foray into the accedemic world. But I know it is needed for growth. I expect I will learn enough to make it worth my time and effort. And in the end I will have flexibility and job security.

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There may be a ton of classes you don't particularly care for, but I didn't care for a bunch in my last Bachelor program nor high school but I still took them. It is an investment in your future should you want to become an APRN.

I highly encourage you to follow TheCommuter's post for WGU as they have helped me on my own journey.

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It is not a waste of time and money because you will gain a BSN. Easier to get this out of the way now, and cheaper, than it will be in the future. Bite the bullet and finish. Eventually, it will be worth it.

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Its not a waste of time. Its using my time constructively being that I currently have time in my life to do so. Although, I have changed my lifestyle a bit.. i'm more active now then I have ever been in my life. I've taken up many outside activities, and established a healthier social circle to name a few. Its just compared to the ways I have been living I am reluctant to go back to nursing school days of binge eating, not sleeping, working whenever, not having a life because of school..again.

So far my current class has been okay. I've done my reading which is extensive, wordy, and redundant. I often ask myself "what's the point of re-learning this"? Even if i do not know the material..I do not care to know. But, I march forward.

For my employer sake a BSN is preferred and their applications really advocate for it. The inside story: they will take any RN that wants to work even in critical care with the exception to team leader positions...but there is exceptions to that exception lol.

I want to see how my post assessment turns out after I "study" all this material. If I pass I will continue. If I fail I will drop out and potentially look at a regional school.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
So far my current class has been okay. I've done my reading which is extensive, wordy, and redundant. I often ask myself "what's the point of re-learning this"? Even if i do not know the material..I do not care to know. But, I march forward.
At WGU, time is money. I never studied the material, read the ebooks or followed the recommended course of study because these tasks consumed too much time.

For courses that end in objective assessments, you take the preassessment, reinforce your weak areas for a week or two, then schedule the objective assessment. The reading assignments and suggested activities in the course of study are optional (and time-consuming).

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At WGU, time is money. I never studied the material, read the ebooks or followed the recommended course of study because these tasks consumed too much time.

For courses that end in objective assessments, you take the preassessment, reinforce your weak areas for a week or two, then schedule the objective assessment. The reading assignments and suggested activities in the course of study are optional (and time-consuming).

That was my impression. I started to figure out that I may be able to skip the reading parts to a degree and focus on the assessments. This makes it more manageable and I would prefer this to a conventional class.

Thanks for your input.

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