WGU Pre-Licensure BSN

HIMtoRN2b · Jan 31, 2012

*Reposted in the WGU board. Couldn't figure out how to delete!*

Hello Everyone!

A little bit of background before a few questions. I'm 35, married to a disabled vet and we have 4 kids. In the past 2 years I've had to become the breadwinner after being a SAHM. I did 5 years of college before the kids in a medical field and currently work in research and data in a neonatal intensive care unit. I have a pretty cool job that allows me to spend some time on the unit (yes, I see the patients at the bedside so I am exposed to the "gore") but mostly data abstraction in my office. I am currently on full scholarship from my hospital to finish a degree in health information management (HIM) with a certificate in coding. I was selected out of 200 applicants for this so I am a serious student despite very demanding life circumstances. My main areas of interest in data collection are hypoxic events in the neonatal period and hypothermia therapy. I use anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology in my work every day. I also hold certificates in electronic health record management, redesign and workflow analysis.

The obvious question here is why nursing when I am established in an HIM career and the answer is pretty simply that I miss the clinical work I did before I had kids. Also, many research and data jobs do require an RN and I could advance in my current job field with a BSN. I'd also like to dive deeper into the science of medicine. I could, and have, spend hours reading about the body chemistry happening after birth asphyxia, just for example.

I have contacted WGU and either I am in a brain fog from lack of sleep or the entrance guidelines are not terribly clear. I have a fantastic advisor but it does seem that the entrance requirements are set in stone unless they decide they are not. I would like to retake physiology for a higher grade as I was 19 when I took it and didn't focus so I only had a C. I will need biochem and micro as well.

Despite not yet meeting the criteria my advisor has told me to go ahead and apply to get my name on the radar of the admission board. I really do not want to waste the time of the people I will be asking for letters of recommendation or my own money on renewing my CPR certification if it is very premature to apply. I was planning to spend next school year (2012-2013) taking the remaining prereqs and then apply but my advisor is encouraging me to do it now. Of course the idea of starting sooner is pretty dang appealing too. I am in a very competitive program at the moment and have to be sensible about how I use my time so spending a day writting an admission essay is probably not wise unless this could actually happen sooner rather than later.

When you applied, did you have everything in order prior to doing so or did you apply early as I have been advised to? How is your cohort scheduling going? I have selected WGU because of the fact the keep working adults' schedules in mind and I need that. Have any of you had any negative experiences with WGU nursing application process that might be helpful? Do you see any concerns with applying prior to having met the requirements? That really feels like a waste of time, but if the advisor is right and it would be helpful then I'll do it.

Thanks a bunch for any advice you may have!