WGU writes: RN-BSN in 6 months is a rumor, not do-able

Nursing Students Western Governors

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Here is a quote from the BSN community site mentor:

"Hi everyone! I know that there have been some rumors about finishing the RN-BSN program in 6 months, and I wanted to clear up those rumors.

A 6 month finish is highly unlikely due to the fact that certain courses can't be taken in the same term;please speak to your mentor about this. However we encourage and support students to accelerate through courses at their own pace It IS possible to finish the program in two terms (12 months) - and I have actually heard of students completing it in as little as 10 months - but 6 months is definitely very difficult. I know this may be disappointing to those of you who may have been hoping to finish it in 6 months, and I do apologize for that."

Specializes in Home Health, MS, Oncology, Case Manageme.
Honestly, I don't buy it.

Me neither! If this were true, then the community health course should be listed as prerequsite to the practium and I don't see that written anywhere. If this is now the rule, then why not say its impossible. I hope I can finish the rest of my courses in time so I can fight this. :)

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My mentor for my MSN said she has had two students in 5 years finish their MSN in 6mo

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
My mentor for my MSN said she has had two students in 5 years finish their MSN in 6mo

Right, but we're talking about the BSN, and I know of at least a dozen people who have finished in six months or less.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I'm one of those six month people in the BSN - and I completed Community Health and the practicum in the same term. HOWEVER, there is a different set of standards for California student, and I can't help but wonder if this is where the confusion stems from.

PS: Did the MSN in eleven months, five days (not that anyone was counting!) :)

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Specializes in Home Health, MS, Oncology, Case Manageme.
I'm one of those six month people in the BSN - and I completed Community Health and the practicum in the same term. HOWEVER, there is a different set of standards for California student, and I can't help but wonder if this is where the confusion stems

from.

PS: Did the MSN in eleven months, five days (not that anyone was counting!) :)

How long ago did you graduate? I heard that they had to add courses to make accreditation. One extra course is Caring for the Elderly Adult. Is the California standards more or less rigid?

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Hi All! I don't know if this helps or adds to confusion... but I am graduate. I am in California, and in 2012 I did the RN-BSN program in 6 months. Initially, when I mentioned to my mentor about this, he kind of laughed and then planned out my courses to take about 1 1/2 years. I just went at my own pace and finished in 6 months. From what I am reading, this must be the "old" curriculum. The only issue for me was I had to take the community health course before the practicum, which meant having plenty of time at the end to do the practicum. I *heard* that the practicum is more strict in California... but who knows that might not be correct!

On a side note... I then used my BSN from WGU to get into my MSN-FNP program at a very well respected local college. Many said WGU would ruin the chance to go to a "brick and mortar" for me, but that was not the case at all. =)

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I finished by BSN in 3 months and 7 days. It's do-able.

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And I finished my MSN in 10 months. Just for the record.

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If you have to take it in two separate terms how does it make it "highly unlikely"? It would seem to me that it would make it impossible. Honestly, I don't buy it.[/quote']

I agree with Klone. The wording in this statement makes me think the college may be pressing for people to do it in two terms, but if you finish all the other coursework and there's time to do the practicum you should be able to. I hope someone is asking for clarification from the mentor who made that statement. Even with the additions to the program if someone is able to put the time and effort into finishing it in one term, my opinion is they should be allowed to. Of course I'm nobody...haha.

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Right, but we're talking about the BSN, and I know of at least a dozen people who have finished in six months or less.

I know what you're talking about. I'm simply stating that I can see where the school would make that statement. If only 2 people in 5 years have completed an MSN in 6mo, i wouldn't be surprised to hear that it's near impossible to finish a BSN in 6mo

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
I know what you're talking about. I'm simply stating that I can see where the school would make that statement. If only 2 people in 5 years have completed an MSN in 6mo, i wouldn't be surprised to hear that it's near impossible to finish a BSN in 6mo

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

But the MSN is more time intensive than the BSN. Just the capstone itself will take the greater part of a semester. It makes perfect sense to me that it's nearly impossible to complete the MSN, but not exceptionally difficult to complete the BSN.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
On a side note... I then used my BSN from WGU to get into my MSN-FNP program at a very well respected local college. Many said WGU would ruin the chance to go to a "brick and mortar" for me, but that was not the case at all. =)

I, too, was worried about being accepted into an FNP program with my degree -- primarily because of the whole GPA issue. I'm finishing this May and I'm already provisionally accepted into a local university's FNP program for this Fall. It took a huge weight off of my shoulders to get that acceptance letter :D

But, back to the topic -- I think that this has more to do with keeping the school's credibility than it is about the reality of not being able to complete in 6 months. The last thing WGU wants is to be promoted as the "6 month BSN" school. Honestly, if they get that reputation, it's going to seriously devalue the degree and discredit the university. It's been proven that it's doable in 6 months, but it shouldn't be the norm.

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