WGU - MSN or BSN?

Published

If I hope to eventually (ie. at least 5 years from now) go on to become a nurse practitioner, and have no particular interest in either being a Nurse Educator or going into management, is getting an MSN instead of a BSN through WGU going to be helpful in any way? Is one of the paths (L/M or NE) going to be more useful than the other?

Quick googling shows some DNP programs where a non-APRN MSN has a different path than someone who has just a BSN, in which case it would presumably save time and money in the future. However, other programs either require an APRN license, or treat non-APRN MSNs the same as a BSN. And I don't know how all of this will change in 2015, when MSN APRN programs are supposed to switch to doctorate level (presumably they won't be able to require an APRN for entry into a DNP program anymore!).

If I do decide to go the MSN path, and decide after completing the BSN portion that it isn't feasible to continue, do I still get the BSN?

Can I switch to the RN to MSN track after starting the program, or do I have to declare it from the start?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I can't decide either!! :\

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Yes, you are awarded a BSN once you finish the BSN portion of the program. You can switch from BSN to MSN once you've started the BSN program, but there are time limits on *when* in the program you can do that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What klone said is correct. '

I personally would just go for the BSN alone if I was interested in becoming a nurse practitioner (which I'm not, currently getting MSNed from WGU). Also keep in mind that if APN is your goal that WGU may not be the school for you depending on where you want to get your MSN/DNP from due to the 3.0 GPA pass/fail grading system. Some schools don't care and others do. So I would contact your school of interest for getting your APN through first. Good luck in your decision!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, I've read this forum through and through, and considered the GPA factor. Thing is, I don't have a "school of interest" at the moment in the slightest. I can contact a bunch of schools, and presumably find out the same thing I'm hearing here - some will say it isn't competitive at all, others will accept it, a few will consider it a 3.0 on a 3.0 scale and say it's fabulous. And I don't think anyone can say what the level of acceptance will be 5-10 years down the road. So, while I'm sure a degree from somewhere else would be "safer" in that respect, WGU still feels like a good fit right now, and probably a reasonably safe option given that I'm not likely to be looking at extremely selective schools regardless.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ok, I spoke to an admissions counselor about this, and she said that they recently changed this, and will no longer award a BSN until the full program is completed. You get a certificate of completion after the BSN portion, but not the degree. So if you had to drop out before the program was completed but after finishing the BSN portion, you would not get the BSN.

That pushes me firmly into the BSN camp!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You guys will be fine. Iam in NP school and my friend just got accepted into Chamberlain.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Yes, you are awarded a BSN once you finish the BSN portion of the program. You can switch from BSN to MSN once you've started the BSN program, but there are time limits on *when* in the program you can do that.

Just wanted to correct this. Apparently they have JUST changed their policy and they no longer award a BSN once a person finishes the BSN portion of the RN-MSN program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just wanted to correct this. Apparently they have JUST changed their policy and they no longer award a BSN once a person finishes the BSN portion of the RN-MSN program.

When I went they never did this. You had to do either or. I chose the BSN. If u went straight MSN that is what the student will receive that is why I opted out and just went BSN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

But if you do finish the MSN program, you still get a BSN and also an MSN degree, correct? Just not a BSN if you don't finish everything... Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
But if you do finish the MSN program you still get a BSN and also an MSN degree, correct? Just not a BSN if you don't finish everything... Sorry if this is a stupid question.[/quote']

Right. If you sign up for the MSN program and do not finish then you get nothing. If you do finish, you get both degrees at the same time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion