WGU MBA-HA?

Nursing Students Western Governors

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I am thinking of going back to school....the MBA- HA at has me interested. I would like to get an advanced degree more as a personal goal than as a career advancement initiative, although who knows what the future will hold!!

My concern is, I don't have business experience. I have over 10 years of nursing experience which includes hospital, school, hospice/homecare and telephone triage.

If anyone has done this program, do you think I even have a chance of being accepted? And if I were, is my nonexistent business background going to make the classes impossible?

Any insight would be much appreciated.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I did the MBA in healthcare management and I did not find it overly difficult without a business background.. They accepted me without an issue.

THAT SAID, I am kind of a math nerd and I see the classes that cause people the most problems are the math oriented classes, especially economics and finance. I did great in those classes but I have to hold my eyelids open with toothpicks to do papers on things like marketing and leadership. :)

There is also the MSML degree which shares about half of the MBA classes but without the math - it's more focused on leadership.

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Thank you!! I don't love math, definitely not a math nerd (wish I was!) - but I'm decent at it :)

I thought about the MSML - but I kind of feel like its a bit of an odd degree and if I'm going to get a business degree it might as well be an MBA...does that make sense? I'm avoiding the MSN for a few reasons. I wish they had a MHA or MPH degree, I'd be all over that!

Can I ask what area of nursing you are practicing in? Also, how long did it take you to complete the program?

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

They have another degree called the MS in integrated healthcare management you may wish to check out as well.

I did the MBA in three months, but I am a crazy person with no life. :)

I don't really use my MBA for anything except as a 'check the box' for a masters degree - it was more of a bucket list item while I waited for an MSN I might want to do. I'm currently in the new Informatics MSN @ - we'll see how that goes!

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The MS Integraged healthcare management looks really interesting. It looks like a lot of the same type course that would be in a MHA degree....wonder why they just didn't offer the MHA.

Thanks for your help!

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Hello everyone,

I am also interested in the MBA-HM at . Is there some kind of leadership or business experience required in order to get accept into the program? By the time I would like to start, I will have 2 years of RN experience. I do have 5 years of experience in a different field but not business though.

This is what the WGU website says:

  • "Submit a resume demonstrating at least three years of significant experience in business, industry, or at a nonprofit organization"

Thank you for your help.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.
Hello everyone,

I am also interested in the MBA-HM at WGU. Is there some kind of leadership or business experience required in order to get accept into the program? By the time I would like to start, I will have 2 years of RN experience. I do have 5 years of experience in a different field but not business though.

Thank you for your help.

I'd ask them and see. They let me in with no management or business experience, however I've been a nurse since cars had pedals. :)

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I am 49 yrs old with a B.B.A. in Management (1992) and currently an A.D.N. RN with almost 4 yrs experience (med/surg, home health, hospice, GI Lab (current)). I am looking to advance my career and I am looking at the M.B.A. in Healthcare Management vs M.S. in Integrated Healthcare Management. What REALLY is the difference between the two? What direction would you go? Maybe even M.S.N.? I am torn.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
I am 49 yrs old with a B.B.A. in Management (1992) and currently an A.D.N. RN with almost 4 yrs experience (med/surg, home health, hospice, GI Lab (current)). I am looking to advance my career and I am looking at the M.B.A. in Healthcare Management vs M.S. in Integrated Healthcare Management. What REALLY is the difference between the two? What direction would you go? Maybe even M.S.N.? I am torn.

I think it depends on your end goal and the culture of your organization. Do you absolutely love nursing leadership? Get the MSN. Are you considering branching out into non-nursing leadership roles? Get the MBA. Do you want to maximize your marketability? Get both.

As for the MS in Integrated Healthcare Management, I would be cautious. The curriculum looks very good and seems to line up with an MHA degree. I think that the information would be valuable, but I think that missed the mark in trying to come up with a fancy-sounding name for a degree. The reason I say this is that HR folks are typically looking for resumes with MBA, MPH, MSN, etc and may not stop to take the time to figure out what an MS-IHM is supposed to be. If you just need it to move up in your current job, go for it. If you're looking to break into another organization, I would go for the MBA.

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