RN to MSN--did you do it? how was it?

Have you obtained an RN job? I believe that is one of the prerequisites to the program. As far as your question, I have completed the RN-BSN program and am just starting the BSN-MSN program, so I can't really answer your questions about the MSN aspect of it.

I think there is a big benefit to actually working as a nurse for a number of years before going into management or education. I think you garner a lot more respect from your coworkers/employees/students if you have walked the walk and have an understanding of the challenges of a direct-care nurse.

I don't have an RN job yet. Like I said, I literally just took NCLEX, and I was working full time for Pharma before that (I still am in that position now). It didn't look like it was a prereq from the website, but it's easy to miss stuff like that, so you may be right.

I agree absolutely that having the clinical experience before starting the program would be great, but realistically, it's going to be tough for me to get a job with just an ADN. At least if I can enroll in the program, then I can tell people that I'm in the process of achieving a higher-level nursing degree, in addition to my RN and BS. I've spoken to a couple Nurse Managers and so far that's the feedback that I've gotten.

I don't expect to land a job as a Nurse Manager/Nurse Educator at this point in my career. But if I can work toward that degree while "walking the walk," then I'll be in a better position once I've become more experienced.

According to several posters here in various threads over the past year, it is a requirement that you have to be employed as an RN in order to enroll in the program. Good luck, whatever you decide!

I am in the middle of the RN-MSN program now. I graduated from nursing school in May 2012 and started the RN-MSN program in September. I had a job offer in Critical Care before graduation, as I had already been working there as a secretary/tele tech and I started working with my interim permit before I even took boards becasue my unit was so understaffed. I don't know if having a job is a requirement for admission, however I think it would be nearly impossible to do the Capstone project without having a nursing job, just because of the requirements of the project. I started in September and I am almost done with the program. I am working on my Nurse Educator Specialty right now and then all I have left is my Capstone project/ Oral defense. I talked to my mentor this morning and my projected grad date is January 2014, but she thinks I will finish by November or December. That will be about 15 months for the entire RN-MSN program and I had 4 prereqs I had to take. There are 90 hours in Community Health that you have to do, I am in CA so I had to be associated with an agency and there were other additional requirements. Other than that it was all online. There is a lot of writing, but I didn't think it was that bad. I love the program and think it is great. I have a previous BA in English and a Master's in Library and Information Science.

Thank you so much michelle for answering my original questions!!! I really appreciate it!

I'm speaking with an Admissions rep tomorrow, so hopefully I'll get some more info. If I need to be working, I can probably find some clinical work at a LTC facility or something, even if it's part-time. Also I don't need to start school immediately; I can wait a couple months while I get my feet under me.

I really appreciate the in-depth info. It's obvious you're going to be a great Educator someday!

HI I HAVE BEEN THREW THE RN-MSN PROGRAM AND IT WAS WORTH IT. I GRADUATED WITH MY BSN IN 2007 FROM A&T THAN IN 2010 RN-MSN FROM UNC-CHARLOTTE AND CURRENTLY HAVE MY Ph.D. IN NURSING .

HI I HAVE BEEN THREW THE RN-MSN PROGRAM AND IT WAS WORTH IT. I GRADUATED WITH MY BSN IN 2007 FROM A&T THAN IN 2010 RN-MSN FROM UNC-CHARLOTTE AND CURRENTLY HAVE MY Ph.D. IN NURSING .

I think the OP was specifically asking about Western Governors University's RN-MSN program.

I'm hoping to get started with WGU next month and can confirm that you do need to be employed as an RN to begin coursework.

Thanks schnookimz; I'll ask the rep about it tomorrow and see what is required of me. So you're working with an ADN right now, right?

I am also working with an associates degree and when I applied a few weeks ago, it was required that you hold a RN position. I don't think that changed from about 3 weeks ago. Also, I did not have a problem getting a job with my associates degree.

Anashenwrath--yes working with an associates. Like you, I also hold a non nursing bachelors degree.