WGU MS Leadership/CNL Certification

[southshore2014, APRN]

Hello there,

Just looking at WGU's MS in Leadership. It's very appealing! I have a few questions for anyone who has completed this program and has sat for Clinical Nurse Leader certification:

1) Do you feel as though the education received well prepared you for a career in a nursing leadership role?

2) Do you feel as though the education received properly prepared you for the certification?

3) Do you feel as though prospective employers treat your applications equal to applicants who gained their MS from a brick-and-mortar institution?

Thank you all in advance for your input!

[klone, MSN, RN]

The leadership MSN at WGU is geared towards creating nurse managers/administrators. My understanding of a CNL is that it is more of a clinical role, and the MSN/Leadership is more of an administrative role.

According to this link, the MSN/Leadership at WGU would not qualify one to take the CNL certification exam, because the program is not a CNL program.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Eligibility Requirements

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Klone is correct. To sit for the CNL exam, one must complete a CNL program. Apples and oranges.

And to address your online vs. brick and mortar question - it is a non-issue any more. Any institution that would not hire someone with an online accredited degree is not worth working for.

[southshore2014, APRN]

Thank you for clarifying! I'm a new nursing student looking to explore all of the vast opportunities the field has to offer. The downside to it is that I've never seen so many different degree types and certification options in any other discipline; it's a bit overwhelming.

Has anyone completed this program and received certification as a nurse manager/leader?

[southshore2014, APRN]

Also, I meant to ask an additional question in the original post. For those who completed the program, how long did it take for you to complete it, and what degree(s) did you enter the program with?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Has anyone completed this program and received certification as a nurse manager/leader?

I believe the only certification is the NE (Nurse Executive) and it requires being in a leadership/executive role for >2 years.

I already have 2 certifications in my specialty. My MSN is enough, I don't feel the need to sit for the NE exam.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I am about 6 weeks away from completing the MSN program. It will be 25 months in the program when I am done. I am exceptional in my slowness, however. Most people take around 18 months to complete it, I think.