Struggling :(

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Hi everyone! I just started my program this Jan 2016 for MSN -Leadership and Management. I just wanted to vent that I feel somewhat lost, i dont know where to start, there seemed to be an endless amount of reading pointless articles that needed to be read. Although i still have a full month to work on my paper i can already feel panic settling in. Any of you guys have tips on how you tackled this papers? And study tips/techniques. I guess anything would help. Thanks!

My personal objectives involved speed and cost-effectiveness. Since I was a self-pay student, hell would freeze over before I'd allow myself to pay an additional $3,250 for a third term.

The BSN also opens the doors to nice opportunities away from the hospital setting, which is a point we must not forget. My BSN enabled me to obtain a flexible work-at-home job with an insurance company. Some of us are sick and tired of the hospital setting.

I think maybe I came across wrong with the Google comment. I know you managed to get through without working the course of study, but I don't think that is reality for most people. Since the program is competency based I have a hunch you had the right type / amount of experience that allowed you to adequately do so, but I don't think that is most students reality. I joined the WGU RN-BSN Facebook group and there are multiple posts a day of people who have not even opened the course of study, have started writing papers and can't figure out what they are supposed to be doing. I think that is the majority of students and the average student doesn't have the knowledge to be able to write an in depth community health paper without first learning the material. (Or cheating which is becoming much more prevelent as everyone tries to speed through).

The other thing is the program has seen a lot of changes in the last year. I have a SM who was a Wgu student, and has said quite often that this past year, for whatever reason, has seen a change in many of the core nursing programs.

I am also a self pay student, and you were here (and very encouraging) when I started looking into the program. I also decided before enrolling I wouldn't pay for more than 2 semesters, and I won't. But we still are the minority, most can't finish in less than 3 terms.

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Thank you for sharing. Can you explain " but it DOEs change how you practice and some important aspects of how you think, if you let it." in terms of the how? What are you doing differently, etc?

Sure. I think the most noticeable (so far) is looking at process and quality, and aspects of community health. Practicing in a way that ensures good outcomes (i.e. Best practices) is something we all do, but once you dig into learning and understanding the process behind the practices it gives you the insight to understand the why of things a little more thoroughly , and to understand how best practice is developed, and to use the process to change things that need to be adressessed. Community health is also something ASN programs don't teach, and something that has been a bit eye opening for me. I worked in a hospital for more than a decade, and I can honestly say had I known then what I know now about community health and all the issues it entails I would have been better able to help those people in vulnerable situations that could have used it.

And yes, leadership. It's not really about teaching leadership though, but recognizing it and honing it and using it in the best way you can.

And as commuter said, a BSN really does open doors. There may not be more money, but there are more opportunities. I'm not sure where you are located, but here in the Northeast a BSN is becoming the minimum standard for anything but nursing homes. I'm not getting a BSN to keep a hospital job (I got that ultimatum and chose to walk away) I'm getting it because the knowledge is useful, and I want job opportunities I wouldn't have without it.

I hope I answered your question, and should probably stop derailing this thread now.

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Our AD program covers community health. Ty for sharing

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I'm a sub-one termer (also a self pay) and I am very happy with my WGU experience. It allowed me to get a job I had been turned down for some years ago, simply due to no BSN. No cheating involved in my progress - I've been a nurse since cars had rocks for wheels and I drew upon experience to write papers and complete exams. Except for humanities - that exam I had to cram into my brain as I knew nothing!!! :) :)

The northeast was mentioned earlier - I'm in the NE and even in podunk hospitals in the middle of nowhere they all want BSN's now.

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Submitted my first task last night (professional presence and influence). In the end I probably used the COS about half the time. I certainly didn't use it for everything. Now the waiting game. I was 315 in line :(

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Wow, they need more graders! MeanMaryJean - any idea how someone can get that gig? That would be a fun thing to do on evenings and weekends.

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Yeah they do need more. But hey I'm down to 106 [emoji106]🏻

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Post It Notes Are A fantastic Way to Start Off!! Short and Sweet.. And build up from there.. There like Revision Notes

Good Luck X

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