Should I go to WGU or traditional nursing school?

Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation!

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I am a pre-nursing student and trying to decide what's best for me. I want to pursue a career in dermatology and possibly become an NP. Would I benefit from going to WGU? Or should I retake my prereqs (they are a couple years old and I know I could make better grades) and apply to traditional programs near me. What would you do in my situation?

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5 Answers

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear What Would You Do,

I would research and compare traditional nursing schools and any competency-based online school, such as WGU, for reputation, ability to transfer to a graduate school, and learning experience.

Research traditional programs near you, considering their reputation, clinical opportunities, and admission requirements.

  • Consider personal preference. Reflect on your learning style, preferences, and lifestyle. If you value flexibility and self-paced learning, WGU might be a good fit.
  • A traditional program may be more suitable if you thrive in a structured environment with in-person interactions.

There are advantages to traditional nursing programs that are not quantifiable. Traditional nursing programs put you face-to-face with your instructors and in a cohort with other students. You are immersed in a learning milieu. Learning occurs with other students at unscheduled times, such as during breaks and clinical debriefings. Relationships formed during nursing school can last a lifetime.

  • Look ahead. When aiming to become an NP in dermatology, attending a nursing school that transfers to a graduate program is essential. Find out if the school you plan to attend issues GPA grades, credits, or pass/fail—research one or two potential NP schools to see if they accept competency-based transcripts.
  • Evaluate the cost of both options, including tuition, fees, and any potential lost income during the program. Consider if there are financial aid opportunities for each choice.
  • Consult with academic advisors at both WGU and local traditional programs. Ask if clinical placements include the night shift, and find out how far you have to commute. Advisors can provide valuable insights based on your specific situation and goals.

In my opinion, competency-based programs are more suitable for licensed nursing professionals than pre-licensure students.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your preferences, circumstances, and career aspirations. Ensure that the nursing program you choose is approved by your state BON/BRN. I give you my best wishes and hope this helps you.

Nurse Beth

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

New to me too:  WGU now offers a prelicensure nursing program

Quote

If you are looking to become a registered nurse and live in Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, or Utah, this nursing program could be for you. In areas where this program is available, WGU has partnerships with healthcare employers who provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.

In my eye, a  clinical coach is not the same as a Nursing Instructor who is onsite  providing hands-on instruction.  In my dinasour BSN education 1982,  those who taught clinical theory course were also on-site clinical instructor with ratio 1-8 students or less on same clinical unit. Today's educator may only teach theory while different educator in facility setting spread out over several units-- not the best to teach personal hands on skills + problem solving when crises occurs.

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
Nurse Beth said:

Dear What Would You Do,

I would research and compare traditional nursing schools and any competency-based online school, such as WGU, for reputation, ability to transfer to a graduate school, and learning experience.

Research traditional programs near you, considering their reputation, clinical opportunities, and admission requirements.

  • Consider personal preference. Reflect on your learning style, preferences, and lifestyle. If you value flexibility and self-paced learning, WGU might be a good fit.
  • A traditional program may be more suitable if you thrive in a structured environment with in-person interactions.

There are advantages to traditional nursing programs that are not quantifiable. Traditional nursing programs put you face-to-face with your instructors and in a cohort with other students. You are immersed in a learning milieu. Learning occurs with other students at unscheduled times, such as during breaks and clinical debriefings. Relationships formed during nursing school can last a lifetime.

  • Look ahead. When aiming to become an NP in dermatology, attending a nursing school that transfers to a graduate program is essential. Find out if the school you plan to attend issues GPA grades, credits, or pass/fail—research one or two potential NP schools to see if they accept competency-based transcripts.
  • Evaluate the cost of both options, including tuition, fees, and any potential lost income during the program. Consider if there are financial aid opportunities for each choice.
  • Consult with academic advisors at both WGU and local traditional programs. Ask if clinical placements include the night shift, and find out how far you have to commute. Advisors can provide valuable insights based on your specific situation and goals.

In my opinion, competency-based programs are more suitable for licensed nursing professionals than pre-licensure students.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your preferences, circumstances, and career aspirations. Ensure that the nursing program you choose is approved by your state BON/BRN. I give you my best wishes and hope this helps you.

Nurse Beth

Wait a minute.  This is a student in a pre-nursing stage.  She can't become a nurse online.  She needs to already be an RN to get a BSN from WGU...am I wrong here?

Specializes in Occupational Health.
NRSKarenRN said:

New to me too:  WGU now offers a prelicensure nursing program

In my eye, a  clinical coach is not the same as a Nursing Instructor who is onsite  providing hands-on instruction.  In my dinasour BSN education 1982,  those who taught clinical theory course were also on-site clinical instructor with ratio 1-8 students or less on same clinical unit. Today's educator may only teach theory while different educator in facility setting spread out over several units-- not the best to teach personal hands on skills + problem solving when crises occurs.

WGU prelicensure program...just another way of loosening and lowering the standards in response to the "nursing crisis" IMHO

Former Derm nurse here! Your RN to NP education will include very little Dermatology content. If Dermatology is your goal, you will learn more working in a Derm clinic than anywhere else. Could you do this part time while going to school? I think you'd be surprised about the realities of this specialty, unless your goal is to solely administer Botox and cosmetic fillers.

I did WGU RN to BSN and it was mostly a repeat of my ADN. The most valuable class, in my opinion, was a course on reading and interpreting scientific studies. I work with several RNs who graduated from expensive, private nursing schools who couldn't care less about evidence-based practice. The best nurse is ultimately the one who gives a sh!+, not necessary the one who went to a specific school.

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