Wow....just wow

[HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

So I'm in my first week at WGU's MSN ed program and am almost finished with the first 2 credit class. Yes, that's right. Writing my four page paper now and hope to submit it by Sunday. You heard that correctly. I will have completed this class in just one week. So far here are my impressions of the program both good and bad.

Organization - (Cons) Mentors appear to be following a pretty tight script. At times it's almost like they are reading it to you verbatim. They often do not have basic knowledge they should. Mine still can't tell me if I will be able to take the new classes being added in August. And the phone calls! EEEKKKKK!!!!! I don't even talk to my own mother back home once a week. I mean really people. The last time I checked I was and adult and could feed and dress myself and everything. It's made even worse by the fact that it's mostly a scripted conversation. All of which could go in a nice, succinct email. I have to admit the phone calls are a great motivator to getting this degree done in a timely manner. (Pros) Taskstream is very organized. I love the interactive format. It took me a bit to figure out you did not have to do any of the activities in your taskstream, only the assessment, but I had a great time going through most of the course and picked up a few CEs while I was at it. Sweet!

Content - (pros) So far all pros. Like I said earlier. The taskstream does have content and activities to do that are not mandatory to complete the course. I had honestly worked through most of the tasks, read all of the chapters, and watched the CE videos before I figured this out. I enjoyed alot of the tasks, I loved how the chapters were incorporated in the outline so you could just click the link and poof there is the exact chapter you need to read right on your screen.

Time commitment (Pros) all pros again. Even completing most of the activities, reading all the chapters, etc. I should still be able to submit my paper by this Sunday. And even if it is not of passing quality they will return it with recommendations for revision. And it only has to be four pages. Yes, that's right. Four pages of actual content.

Overall, I LOVE WGU!!!! :)

[nursevicki66]

I am glad it is going well for you. Which two classes did you finish? And whatare the new classes being added in August?

[klone, MSN, RN]

After you've been doing it a while and you're progressing steadily, you will have the option of having the phone calls every two weeks.

[HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

I just finished the first class, it's 2 credits. And yes, I am looking forward to biweekly calls. The classes I've been told sound like advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment.

[Trang5891]

Me too wow :-) 1 wk=1 class ?Do you think you can finish the BSN degree within 6 months or less?

[Carolina Southpaw]

I thought I would want to get rid of those calls too. I was so wrong. I haven't spoken to her every single week. We skip here and there. Overall though, even when I think there is nothing she can tell me, I find out that there is. Of course, it is also a great motivator. Perhaps, your mentor sounds scripted right now because you are just starting. I bet they say the same things to people over and over just like we do when we give discharge instructions. Hard to not sound like a canned speech when you are going over the same things with patients. As you develop a relationship with this person, I suspect that this will change. Either way, you can change the frequency of contact once you on your way. And contact can become an email every two weeks and a call every two weeks. I would advise that you give yourself a month of two of weekly calls though. You won't know what you are missing if you haven't experienced it yourself. It may not be the same for you and that is OK. As I said, I didn't want the contact, but by the time I could change the frequency of contact, I didn't want to anymore. I LOVE my program mentor!!!!

[Murse901, MSN, RN]

I attended WGU for my BSN. I did perceive the weekly phone calls as a nuisance at first. But, as time went on, I realized that they motivated me quite a bit to buckle down and get things done, or feel guilty telling my mentor that I'd try harder next week. I did eventually get to a biweekly schedule, but I think that that actually slowed me down, because I only felt the pressure every two weeks instead of every week.

I would have loved to go back to WGU for my MSN, but I wanted an FNP option. If I have any patience or sanity left after FNP school, I may go back to WGU for the MBA in Healthcare Management, just to expand my career options. I seriously considered doing the MBA part time while in FNP school. As I'm writing this post at 4am after wrapping up an all-night paper-writing session, I'm VERY glad that I didn't attempt to double-dip!