WGU Any advice for upcoming 2017 RN-BSN/RN-MSN students?

Ozzybear · Nov 25, 2016

I start the RN to MSN Leadership and Management program January 1st. I have joined a few WGU Facebook groups and there is a lot of good info and tips.

Sully64 · Nov 26, 2016

There is not a lot of feedback yet on the new stats and biochem. Once a few people get through them they might be able to offer advice. Advanced Proff Roles just got way longer as well. The changes all seem to be slowing people down.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2016

Thank you both for sharing.

My goal, whether WGU (my first choice) or another, is to complete my BSN within 12 months or less while working full time.

Sully64 · Nov 26, 2016

Do you have to take pre reqs or do you know what will transfer?

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2016

I believe the only two prerequisites I will need to take are biochem and Survey of United States Constitution and Government. Since they stated I need to wait to apply until I have my NCLEX-RN date (which I hope to have by the end of December) they've not yet seen my "official" transcripts. Their registration department looked over my "unofficial transcripts" in terms of confirming the other prerequisites.

Stacey01 · Nov 27, 2016

I am currently enrolled at WGU. I started Nov1 in the RN to MSN program and have already completed 2 classes. Please note that one of the changes starting with the Nov 1 class is a Professional Leadership and Communication course for all RN-BSN and RN-MSN programs. This requires you to sign up for an 8 day cohort that you MUST attend online for all classes. The work is very easy-- there are 13 tasks to complete and turn in, but it is pretty simple work. The biggest issue was not knowing that this was an online mandatory attendance before I enrolled in the program. I had to do the 8 pm- 10 pm cohort so I knew I would be home from work in time, and it made for a long day. There are lots of options regarding time and how quickly you want to get done- 2 days a week, 3 days a week, 4 days a week, etc. I am currently in biochem. It is a lot of reading.. a lot of material to cover and if you aren't super proficient in chemistry it is a little overwhelming. However, from talking to previous students, the old biochem had several assessments required that included making models of DNA, etc. This one does not. This one only has an objective assessment which is a 70 question final exam (once you have passed the pre assessment. )

AJJKRN · Nov 27, 2016

If you are self-motivated and organized, WGU is the way to go!

I wish I had known about the school when I did my RN to BSN. I don't know if I can ever be contained to a structured class that has an X amount of time required ever again.

I don't know about the changes to the RN to BSN part but wanting to do it in under a year sounds reasonable to me.

I started to BSN to MSN in Leadership on August 1st and have five classes done and hope to have the sixth class done by this Thursday.

If I wished I had known anything initially it would have been to keep moving on to the next class after submitting a paper to be graded.

The usual turnaround is three days and one could be a third though their next class when finding out if they have passed or need to revise the last classes assignment.

When you revise, you know exactly what you need to touch up.

My plan is to be done in under a year. A peer at work finished the same MSN in seven months...I don't think I'll be able to do that though! This is with working full time and having a family full time.

Good luck pmabraham, I really don't think you'll regret WGU if you chose the school. I went to really successful and challenging schools prior and WGU is meeting all of my expectations with the added bonus of me being in control of my timeline and learning and not a structured calendar.

jennylouwho · Dec 2, 2016

I started October 1st. I've completed four classes to date. I spent a three solid weeks on Biochem, and didn't pass my preassessment. In fact, I was more confused after the test than before. They're working on adding additional study questions and cohort videos now, in the mean time, my mentor allowed me to pull up another class on Tuesday and I finished that on Wednesday. She then allowed me to pull up another class, so I'm working through that. When I'm done, I'm hopeful that Biochem is a bit more concise, because right now it's a hot mess. My SM didn't want me to start Biochem until after the changes, likely she was worried that I wouldn't finish before the changeover and would lose all my work. I wish she had left me, but at this point, I'm just plowing forward!

I originally had 12 classes to take and I'm down to 8 now. I see no reason why I won't be done in your timeframe, maybe even earlier.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2016

Thank you everyone!

Klmitch26 · Dec 3, 2016

Do you have to be working as a RN before WGU accepts you?

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2016

As far as I know, yes.