WGU informatics

Finding a capstone preceptor can feel like a second full time job, especially when you are trying to balance work and your MSN requirements.

I remember the stress of the WGU hunt well. Since WGU is a competency based program, some facilities are hesitant if they are only used to traditional clinical hours, so you have to be your own best advocate. In Illinois, you have a large network of Epic and Cerner sites, but the trick is getting past the HR gatekeepers.

Leverage your current IT department first. Even if you do not work in Informatics, reach out to your facility's Clinical Informatics Specialists or the Nursing Informatics Officer. Most hospitals prefer to precept their own employees because the vetting and HIPAA training are already complete.

Use LinkedIn to find WGU alumni. Search for Informatics Nurses in the Chicago or central Illinois area who have WGU listed in their education. Alumni are usually much more willing to pay it forward because they know exactly how the capstone process works.

• Check with your local HIMSS chapter. The Illinois Chapter of HIMSS is very active and is a great place to network with professionals who might be willing to mentor a student.
• Look into non-traditional settings. Don't forget about ambulatory surgery centers, large physician groups, or even insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, which often have robust informatics teams.

Have you already checked with your hospital's education coordinator to see if there is an existing affiliation agreement with WGU?