WGU is now limiting MSN applicants

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Don't know if anyone else knows this already, but according to my enrollment counselor, I am ineligible to enroll in an RN to MSN program. Only those who are currently employed in Managerial/Leadership or Nurse Educator positions are eligible. Pretty disappointing if you ask me.

Also, there's now a class you must take at the beginning called "Professional Leadership & Communication for Healthcare." I don't remember this being required last year when I was looking into enrolling, but it is a mandatory 4-week group class, twice a week via webcam with other students and weekly assignments. And they *may* allow you to take another class concurrently, but not guaranteed. Which means a whole month with no progress towards knocking these CUs out. And if you miss a class you fail.

WGU had always been my top choice and I was really excited about their RN to MSN option, but now I'm at a loss. Guess I'll have to go back and research other schools again.

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Over time, Excelsior College has also revamped their program as the institution bends to critical consensus. Other schools as well. Not surprising. Whether or not this is a good thing is a question for the institution, because in the end that is what the changes are being made for, not a 'better quality' student.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

That's not exactly true, OP. We have heard this also and had it clarified by a WGU employee on facebook.

I personally suspect it is because many program switches happen after the person reaches the MSN stage and there are issues getting the person switched to the other program (they are generally forced to wait out the remaining term). If you are already employed in the field you are unlikely to perform the switch. That's just my opinion, though. :)

What they are saying is that students not currently working in the field are being told to do the RN to BSN first, then you can transition/change to the BSN to MSN field in your preferred specialty. If you are already working in the field you can upfront enroll in RN to MSN.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

It makes sense to me, I can't imagine how many students go through the RN to BSN to MSN and then decide they want to change to a different MSN track.

I didn't don't the RN to BSN at WGU but I wished I had looking back...

I do know that when I was enrolling and expressing that I wanted the Leadership track, WGU was thoughtfully thorough in making sure I was sure. I think that was for the best interests for me. So far, WGU has been completely unlike my ASN & RN to BSN schools in the sense that they have fully supported me with every class, cheered me on, and have been extremely transparent about any challenges about curriculum changes as they seem to always be tweaking to not only get better but from actually listening to student feedback.

I would not discount WGU just yet...

What if you go through the RN to BSN and whatever you're worried about now has changed and is a non-issue by the time you start the BSN to MSN? I can almost tell you that if they do that class and get a lot of negative feedback from students (and it's not a requirement from a credentialing entity) then the class will be either revamped or dropped.

You'll never know until you get their and the time will pass anyways...

Good luck! (I'm almost done! Whooh Hoo! On to my capstone I go!)

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I don't know if that's why they started the new thing, but since I graduated the informatics program I've seen people switching programs fairly frequently and it seems all this new stuff started around then. Or maybe there are people dropping out after the BSN and that's affecting allocated staff? These are all just guesses. I did the BSN and the MSN years apart so I agree, don't discount WGU just based on that! :)

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That's not exactly true, OP. We have heard this also and had it clarified by a WGU employee on facebook.

I personally suspect it is because many program switches happen after the person reaches the MSN stage and there are issues getting the person switched to the other program (they are generally forced to wait out the remaining term). If you are already employed in the field you are unlikely to perform the switch. That's just my opinion, though. :)

What they are saying is that students not currently working in the field are being told to do the RN to BSN first, then you can transition/change to the BSN to MSN field in your preferred specialty. If you are already working in the field you can upfront enroll in RN to MSN.

Ok, sounds like you're right. My enrollment counselor had previously said it would be up to my mentor and it's a "case by case" basis if one can transfer into the MSN program, but this was clarified for me today by another enrollment counselor (as mine was not available). As long as I'm doing well academically and showing consistent progress, I can request a switch. He said the reason for this change was because too many people were enrolling and then changing their minds.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.
Ok, sounds like you're right. My enrollment counselor had previously said it would be up to my mentor and it's a "case by case" basis if one can transfer into the MSN program, but this was clarified for me today by another enrollment counselor (as mine was not available). As long as I'm doing well academically and showing consistent progress, I can request a switch. He said the reason for this change was because too many people were enrolling and then changing their minds.

Wow, that was just a guess! Interesting, thanks for the update. I know when the informatics program came out, there was lots of drama with all the switches, then people started to second guess and there was mumbles of 'maybe education/leadership will work better' - so that's why I assumed all the switching was causing the change..

(FWIW, I'm glad I chose informatics!:))

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