WGU RN to BSN program question?

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I have been an RN since 2005 and I am ready to take the next step to get my BSN. I am currently just working prn at a couple of places. I average working about 4-5 times a month or basically once a week. I have been researching online RN to BSN programs and I really like WGU (Western Governors University, SLC) program. I qualify BUT they want us to work at least 20 hours a week. Unfortunately, I can't do this because I live in a state away from all family and close friends and I have small kids that I am pretty much responsible for most times. My husband works out of town a lot so its usually me taking kids to and from activities and school. So my question is to those of you that have done this program or one like it, how exactly do they check hours at work or do they just verify employment and leave it at that? I sometimes work more and sometimes less but thats just what prn is like here. I am technically part-time at a nursing home but they use me prn to fill in the shifts they need. Anyone have answers or opinions?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

My strong recommendation would be to regularly work 20 hours a week and secure childcare to do so. Defrauding the school by implying you do this but actually don't is not a good way to start this journey . It lacks in personal ethics to look for ways to get around the employment requirement. If you proceed to use WGU for your degree and not work the requisite 20 hours you should go into it expecting to get caught and still be stuck with the bills and possibly a report to the BON for defrauding a school that complies with the regulations for federal student loan practices.

Fulfill the requirements or find a school that works for you. The reason WGU is as time flexible as it is comes down to having the employment requirement. They do check on it and you do need to comply with it if you are going to go to school there. There are assignments in the curriculum that require you to evaluate and/or implement things at your place of work as well as working with an advanced degree mentor, who signs documents agreeing to serve in that role according to WGU policies, who works where you do. Are you going to ask people to also lie for you on top of your own lie about this?

If you don't work the required time, find a different school. You are trying to create a shade of gray that doesn't exist. Either you work 20 hours a week on average or you don't. Working twice a month or so won't cut it. Working five times a week once in a blue moon won't cut it. Look at what you work, be honest about it and then go forward as an honest person and evaluate whether WGU is right for you. It sounds very much like it isn't.

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Specializes in Educator.

You are asking a question that you already know the answer to. If the requirement is 20 hours a week you need to meet that - at minimum. If your current job can't accommodate that, consider getting another job that can. Ethical behavior is an important characteristic of the professional nurse so don't try to wriggle out of the requirements. If you can't work more hours find another school or wait until your children are older.

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Wow, you guys are brutal. I was 100% honest with the program and told them I could only guarantee 12 hours a week. There are some months I work a lot and others I don't. I just didn't want to get in the program and then some months down the line my job give me less hours and I would have to withdraw from the program. I'm an honest person so attacking me personally was out of line.

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I know this is older post but what did you end up doing? WGU now doesn't have those 20 hour requirements just FYI. Just need proof you are working as an RN.

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I am so glad they dropped the hour requirements! I am currently in the program now!

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That's great! I just started this month!

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
On 5/29/2019 at 1:07 PM, ZandZmommyRN said:

Wow, you guys are brutal. I was 100% honest with the program and told them I could only guarantee 12 hours a week. There are some months I work a lot and others I don't. I just didn't want to get in the program and then some months down the line my job give me less hours and I would have to withdraw from the program. I'm an honest person so attacking me personally was out of line.

Who attacked you personally?

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