WGU BSN Program Grads Question

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

I'd like to hear for WGU BSN program grads...I know WGUs nursing program is accredited but I'm wondering has it been hard finding a job with a WGU BSN? Have potential employers been cool with your degree being from an online university?

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Are you asking about the pre-licensure program? I am a clinical instructor for the program in Indiana. My students generally have a job lined up before graduation because of the way our clinicals are structured.

I also am an RN-to-BSN grad and my BSN enabled me o get my current hospital job.

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

Yes I am asking about the pre licensure program. That's great to hear!

I'd love to hear more WGU pre licensure grad success stories :-)

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I currently have a student in her third of six clinical rotations who has been introduced to the manager by her coach with the words "You need to hire this girl!"

ALL of our clinicals are conducted like traditional programs capstone- you work a full shift with the same nurse throughout the rotation. It makes for a superior experience (in my opinion- having worked with other programs from my job as a staff RN) and you gain real exposure to work environments. The nurses really get to know you, your work habits, etc. You REALLY get a chance to shine and make yourself known.

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

This sounds absolutely wonderful. I still have to start on my prereqs in a few months but I am hoping to apply to WGU next year! A couple other questions. The pre licensure curriculum is at my pace right? So even though it says it takes about 2 years to do the program, I could essentially finish it sooner than that?

Also, how do the clinical cohorts work? Are they towards the end of the program and for how long? 1 month, 2 months etc. I am just trying to figure out my work situation & how to make it work around my clinicals, if clinicals are a M-F 40 hour a week commitment, I might just plan to take those few months off from working and concentrate on clinicals. Or is it possible do your clinical cohort and work a job?

Thanks for answering my questions!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

The actual nursing part of the pre-licensure program is NOT at your own pace - that's what 'cohort' means- you are in a group that all proceeds at the same pace. The actual nursing part takes two years- you cannot accelerate through it as you can with every other WGU degree. The pre-reqs are the only part you can accelerate through. So, after you complete your pre-reqs and are accepted- here's how it goes.

You have X amount of time to complete the didactic portion of whatever course your cohort is in (say it's critical care nursing). You complete all the coursework, pass whatever test is involved THEN you spend a weekend doing simulation. THEN you do your 'clinical intensive'. So for the next 2-4 weeks, you work 1:1 with your clinical coach (a staff RN) at your clinical site. You work their schedule (12.5 hours) on whatever shift they work (days or nights). If they work a weekend shift- so do you. If they work a holiday- so do you. (Clinicals are generally 3- 12 hour shifts per week until you accumulate enough hours)

After completing the didactic, simulation and clinical intensive- the entire cohort moves on to the next course. I believe there are 3-4 clinical intensives per year for the two-years. So, one every three or four months.

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

Thanks for the extensive responses. I really appreciate it!

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May I ask, for the RN-BSN program, how are clinicals arranged? I just graduated from University of Hawaii with my ADN and am considering applying to WGU for my BSN. We're moving at the end of the year so I would not be able to complete and BSN program through UH before we leave Hawaii. I'm considering either WGU or waiting until we get settled and applying to a brick and mortar college for the BSN.

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

@cali2015 I PM'ed you

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Wow! I thought the first portion of the program was individually with the mentor and at your own pace too. So even the regular classes are done as a group.

From the forum topics I were reading here, I was under the impression that the courses were individual based and some could be finished quicker than others. I read that the mentors give the student a certain amount of courses to accomplish within 6 months and if they don't get through them all then they are added to the follow 6 month term until they have finished all the classes. Some students claimed finishing a class in 2 months. I Guess it is getting everyone confused.

I am going to be applying for the Pre-Licensure BSN as well. I am a working Mom so going to the traditional course full time is not going to work for me.

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ShondaJ, the RN-BSN or MSN programs are structured differently than the pre-licensure program. Those that already have an RN and are just flushing out their degrees have more flexibility than those of us who are trying to get licensed for the first time. WGU has to make sure we meet the requirements to sit for the NCLEX.

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I kind of figured that after seeing the posts.

Gives me some relief that we are still involved in a group although courses are done online, we still work as a class and not alone.

Do we go to a facility at all during out class times? Like labs or skills training facility? Any actual meetings for the cohorts?

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