WGU Online Nursing Degree Programs

WGU provides a ton of online nursing programs for busy nurses who want to earn their master’s or bachelor’s degree, but on their own schedule.

Western Governors University offers 24/7 access to all of its learning resources and courses, allowing even the busiest nurses to fit it into their schedules.  

The demand for talented and qualified nurses has never been higher. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the value of both healthcare professionals and online education.

This has opened the door to more colleges and universities offering online nursing degrees, including Western Governors University. 

In this post, you’ll learn about all the online nursing degree programs WGU offers and see if one may be a good fit for you.

Online Bachelor’s Degrees In Nursing At WGU

WGU offers the following three online BSN degree programs. Read on to learn more about them.

Pre-licensure Bachelor’s in Nursing Degree

If you’re looking to earn your BSN but you’re not a RN yet, WGU’s online pre-licensure BSN program is a great choice.

It takes around two and a half years to complete on average, and it’s the quickest path for someone who’s not a licensed nurse yet. However, it’s only available in the following states:

• Utah
• Texas
• New Mexico
• Nevada
• Missouri
• Indiana
• Florida

While it’s not available everywhere, this WGU program is definitely worth its price.

WGU has great partnerships with local healthcare providers. They also give you the clinical coaches and practical experience you need to complement the online resources they provide. 

RN to BSN Bachelor’s Degree

This ADN/RN to BSN program is the most popular one offered by WGU.

It was created for working RNs that wanted to:

• Become more educated healthcare workers to earn a better living
• Contribute to community health from a more influential position
• Improve patient outcomes

A BSN has obvious benefits for your resume. For example, magnet hospitals and other prestigious institutions are less likely to accept an RN with an associate degree.

If you don’t have the time to go through on-campus schooling at your nearest university, this is the best alternative for working registered nurses. 

It’s worth noting that, at least according to the WGU administration, over 15,000 students earned this online BSN degree in 2020 alone at the height of the pandemic. So, it’s definitely proven its merit as a popular, accredited online program. 

Health Services Coordination BSN

If you’re already working in healthcare and you want to transition to a managerial or leadership role, this online Health Services BSN program is a good way to get your foot in the door. 

According to WGU, most people in this course already have either a/an:

• Associate’s nursing degree
• Medical license
• Certificate

They’re workers in the healthcare field who want to get a different perspective on the healthcare industry. 

If this doesn’t sound like a prospective career, think again. The healthcare industry is constantly changing and becoming more complex from the perspective of:

• Insurance
• Technology
• Medicine

There will be a high demand for leaders who are educated specifically to navigate these complexities in health services management. There will also be a need to create a collaborative environment between various other professionals.

Graduates from these courses are fully prepared to facilitate communication and coordination between:

• Patients
• Caregivers
• Providers of all kinds of medical services

Online Master’s Degrees In Nursing At WGU

WGU offers several MSN degree programs. Read on to learn more about their RN to MSN and BSN to MSN bridge programs.

RN to MSN — Leadership and Management Degree

While WGU offers a number of MSN courses, this is the most popular RN to MSN bridge program.

It helps already-seasoned RNs combine their experience with the educational advancement they need to assume leadership and management roles. 

This CCNE-accredited online program allows RNs with associate degrees to work directly towards their MSN by including BSN-level coursework at the start of the curriculum.

By the end, you’ll have a level of education comparable to anyone finishing their post-graduate studies. Most importantly, you’ll be just as employable as any other MSN professional in the healthcare industry. 

Just like all other online WGU programs, this one also caters to busy nurses who are already running on a tight schedule. The online coursework is extremely flexible.

You can even get clinical experience through incredible virtual reality training. It’s indistinguishable from in-person, real-time simulations! 

Also, this program will also give you the chance to earn your NAHQ certificate while you work towards your degree. This is a crucial industry certification which will give your resume a much-needed boost even before you’ve graduated. 

BSN to MSN

If you’ve already got a BSN, don’t worry! There’s a regular version (BSN to MSN) of this online program.

If you do opt for the RN to MSN bridge program, know that most students graduate from it in 3.5 years. That’s around 40 months.

However, the whole point of an online program like this is to learn at your own pace. That means you can advance slower or faster, depending on how much time and energy you can invest. 

Conclusion

WGU has a lot of online nursing degree programs to choose from. They feature flexible schedules and high-quality education to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need.

We’ve discussed some great programs here, but there’s plenty of other options you can explore as well.

If you’re ready to get your degree and advance your career, then find a program and enroll!