What to expect from WGU, RN-BSN

[RNSecretlycryinginside]

3 minutes ago, petitekitt3n said:

no problem! good luck.. I was stressed at first but made it work.. I just found connections through friends.. they call it clinical but it was shadowing, not really hands on unless if the organization allows it.

Oh wow, okay. I have friends who are in different areas of nursing. Do they need to have certain qualifications? 

[petitekitt3n]

BSN or above!

[Squidpdx, CNA, LPN]

Thank you for this vital information! I'm wondering, how strict are they about essays? I have intense writing anxiety, so much so that I will just procrastinate forever rather than writing an essay. This is my biggest hesitation about RN-BSN programs: they seem like they require a million papers. Do you think WGU might be a good fit? How many essays total? Thanks for any info!

[RDelgadoRNOCN, ASN, BSN, RN]

NOT as bad as it seems. Writing is my Achilles and I did just fine. You will be OK. Tons of resources and help. LOTS of hand holding if you need it! 

[petitekitt3n]

yes not bad.. just answer the question. no need to add the fluff.. usually 1-3 essays per class! it’s not bad!

[jessbthom]

Sorry, I know this is kind of late. For your shadowing experience did your location require an affiliation agreement with WGU? What kind of setting was it too? I'm having a super hard time finding a place to let me shadow, my own hospital won't let me!

[petitekitt3n]

oh! that’s odd that your own hospital won’t let you! I did a department in my hospital while I was on maternity leave. It was outpatient clinic which is allowed for the first clinical. second clinical I found at an adult daycare. I had a hard time finding that location… what I did was I asked around all of my friends including non-nurses if they knew any nurses who worked in nursing homes, adult day cares, hospice. It ended up that my husband used to work with someone who became a director of an adult daycare. from there I asked to shadow and she was fine with it! a lot of places won’t let random people shadow cus of HIPPA. I feel like a lot of private independently owed practices may be more open to having people shadow. it’s a process with major hospitals. Try asking around!!

 

Good luck! 

[jessbthom]

I started the process to get my clinical approved @ my hospital but they said it might take 3-6 months LOL. Thanks for the ideas and the quick response!

[petitekitt3n]

oh! hmm is that the new requirement ? does it have to be approved first? my understanding was that it was only needed if the hospital required it. most of the time, the hospital required it if the school requires the students to be hands on due to liability… but for this this, it’s just shadowing that you are doing.. so can’t the other department just do you a favor and allow shadowing without going through the months long process? that really sucks!

[RNSecretlycryinginside]

This September I’ll be starting the program. I have a question for anyone that has completed the program in 6 months or less. How should I tackle this? One class at a time or do multiples at a time? 
 

thanks

[RDelgadoRNOCN, ASN, BSN, RN]

Hi. You can do this! It seems a lot has changed so always refer to your mentor and or instructor. They are gonna give you the first 4-5. Then start by adding one class at a time. As you finish one, open another. 

[Amicrazy]

For those starting the program in September,  do you know if the requirements have changed?  Do they now require shadowing/clinical in person experience?