WGU - BSN online, legit?

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Hello all,

I have been trying to find a nursing program, whether it's ADN or BSN that would be able to accommodate a full time employee schedule. I live in South Florida and ideally would like to start school in August. I've taken most pre reqs like anatomy 1 & 2 with lab, microbio, nutrition, human development. I also have a bachelors in Health Administration. I saw that WGU is an online nursing program but I'm a little skeptical... Any goes to this school? Please share your experiences, good and/or bad.

Thanks!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

TheCommuter, one of the moderators on this forum, received the BSN from them. I believe meanmaryjean received her BSN and MSN from them. I wanted to go there for my BSN, but they wouldn't accept my non-lab sciences, and I wasn't about to repeat them.

I don't know anything about their prelicensure program. But the university is legit. Just make sure your BON accepts a degree from them.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

They are very well-known and respected for their online RN-BSN and their MSN programs (I received my BSN and MSN-Leadership through WGU). These programs are for people who are already working as RNs. They do have a prelicensure program, but only in a few select states, and I don't believe Florida is one of them.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I got my BSN and MSN from them. Quite legit.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Pre-licensure IS available in Florida. (Also Indiana, Utah, California and Texas) WGU is an NLN Center of Excellence for Nursing Education. First time pass rate for Pre-licensure is ~93%.

Affordable, fully accredited.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I recently finished the RN to BSN program. Affordable, legitimate, practical. You do have to be self motivated and able to figure out things on your own with this program though. I had a few questions during program that were answered by "please read the coursework". Not overly helpful but I eventually figured it out.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I recently finished the RN to BSN program. Affordable, legitimate, practical. You do have to be self motivated and able to figure out things on your own with this program though. I had a few questions during program that were answered by "please read the coursework". Not overly helpful but I eventually figured it out.

Yes, you DEFINITELY have to be a self-directed learner to do well.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Agree with above posters: a LARGE degree of self-motivation is needed to be successful in this program. For the right candidate- it's a beautiful thing.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I earned my online BSN degree through WGU two years ago (March 2015).

My experience with WGU was pleasant. It took me $5800 in tuiuion/fees and 10 months to earn the 34 credits that I needed in order to receive this degree. Click on the link below to browse through our WGU forum.

https://allnurses.com/western-governors-university/

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Thank you all for your input!!! I have a Followup question for any who attended. Given that I live in FL, I was told that I would need to live in a 50 mile radius to Daytona. I live about 2 hours away from there so it may not be the right fit for me. Does anyone know of any other BSN or ADN programs online??

Thank you all!

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If you're willing to go to Daytona whenever you have clinicals, labs, or skills assessments then I don't see why that should stop you. I've seen posts where people have traveled even further than that. The program is not fully online, I think it should be considered more of a hybrid than anything. However, you truly can work full-time, but will just need to be available for clinicals, labs, and skills assessment. Labs and skills assessments are mostly on the weekend, while clinicals can vary.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Thank you all for your input!!! I have a Followup question for any who attended. Given that I live in FL, I was told that I would need to live in a 50 mile radius to Daytona. I live about 2 hours away from there so it may not be the right fit for me. Does anyone know of any other BSN or ADN programs online??

Thank you all!

What is your background? Not all online ASN programs accept students with no clinical background. I was an LPN prior to pursuing an online ASN program...it was required.
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