Will I be able to get a hospital job with BSN from WGU? Will they look at it different?

Hi all. I'm interested in doing the RN-BSN program. I'm worried that a hospital will not want to hire me with a BSN from wgu since it's all online. There isn't even a clinical component right? Just curious.

19 Answers

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

If you are not already an RN, the pre-licensure program is what you would need to do. Again, it is only available in Indiana, Florida, Utah, California and Texas. The pre-licensure program has hundreds of clinical hours - just like any other nursing program. It is the classroom portion you complete online. WGU grads get hired. In fact, of my last 25 capstone students, all are working as RNs, the majority of them in hospitals.

The National League for Nursing just named WGU a Nursing Education Center of Excellence. It is both regionally and nationally accredited. The notion that employers view online degrees differently is VERY outdated.

Specializes in Cardiac/Progressive Care.

WGUs RN-BSN is for students who already have their RN license, who have already gone through a school of nursing with clinical components. They do offer a pre-licensure program in certain states, where you would do have clinicals. I know meanmaryjean is an instructer for the prelicensure program in Indiana, she would be a good person to ask, if she doesnt jump into this thread anyway :)

Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

There is a community health practicum, which requires you to log a certain number of hours in the community for your project. It has been my experience that hospitals and other facilities do not look differently upon degrees from reputable, accredited online universities.

Meanmaryjean, what are your thoughts about NP programs accepting a pass/fail program? Would another online school be easier to get accepted into vs a brick & mortar program?

Meanmaryjean, what's the story with your user ID? You're scaring me as a possible applicant...lol

If you are not already an RN, the pre-licensure program is what you would need to do. Again, it is only available in Indiana, Florida, Utah, California and Texas. The pre-licensure program has hundreds of clinical hours - just like any other nursing program. It is the classroom portion you complete online. WGU grads get hired. In fact, of my last 25 capstone students, all are working as RNs, the majority of them in hospitals.

The National League for Nursing just named WGU a Nursing Education Center of Excellence. It is both regionally and nationally accredited. The notion that employers view online degrees differently is VERY outdated.

WGU is no longer nationally accredited. They did not renew their national accreditation after they obtained regional accreditation. However, there was no need to since regional accreditation is superior.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
WGU is no longer nationally accredited. They did not renew their national accreditation after they obtained regional accreditation. However, there was no need to since regional accreditation is superior.

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INCORRECT! They are CCNE accredited. Please check your facts.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
Meanmaryjean, what's the story with your user ID? You're scaring me as a possible applicant...lol

It's from a 1970s Chrysler ad. Mean Mary Jean was an advertising chick. And since my name is Mary Jean, my family always called me this since my dad was a car salesman. I'm actually pretty nice! I think you can find a YouTube video of the original ad.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I have a former student just accepted into a brick and mortar NNP program here in Indy. I myself was accepted into TWO DNP programs (both online programs of brick and mortar schools) AND a post-master's NP program (brick and mortar) All three of these schools are non-profits.

Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
WGU is no longer nationally accredited. They did not renew their national accreditation after they obtained regional accreditation. However, there was no need to since regional accreditation is superior.

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Where did you hear this? It says right on their 'accreditation" page that they're both regionally accredited, and accredited by the CCNE for their nursing programs:

Accredited Online Universities | Accredited Online Colleges

INCORRECT! They are CCNE accredited. Please check your facts.

Yes, WGU is CCNE accredited. CCNE is not "national accreditation." National accreditation refers to DEAC (formerly DETC), ACICS, and ACCSC. WGU used to be DETC accredited, but they let their national accreditation run out in 2013 or so. National accreditation is widely viewed as substandard, so they no longer needed national accreditation once they became regionally accredited. Check your facts. :-)

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Where did you hear this? It says right on their 'accreditation" page that they're both regionally accredited, and accredited by the CCNE for their nursing programs:

Accredited Online Universities | Accredited Online Colleges

See my reply to meanmaryjean.

I skimmed the link. All I saw them advertise is their regional accreditation. Now, before I started WGU, I remember the home page advertising something along the lines of "regionally and nationally accredited." I know all of this information because I searched the Internet for hours and hours researching the ins and outs of WGU before I started.

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