Breaking Down WGU's RN-to-BSN Coursework

 

In this post, I'll walk through the key courses you'll take in WGU's RN-to-BSN program. Knowing what's involved can help you determine if it aligns with your goals.

WGU organizes the program into three main buckets:

General Education

The program is divided into three main buckets: General Education, Nursing Support Courses, and the Nursing Major.

The General Education courses include English Composition, Interprofessional Communication, Psychology, Sociology, Humanities, and Statistics. Most ADN grads already have these credits from prerequisites and can transfer them in. You likely just need to fill any remaining gen ed gaps.

The Nursing Support Courses build on your ADN foundation and include Biochemistry and Applied Healthcare Statistics. Biochemistry focuses on protein synthesis, enzymes, lipids, and is challenging but clinically relevant material. Applied Healthcare Statistics covers analyzing and interpreting medical research.

The Nursing Major is the core of the RN-to-BSN curriculum and includes Health Assessment, Community Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Leadership and Quality Improvement, and Community Health. Health Assessment involves writing papers and doing hands-on demonstrations of your assessment skills. Community Health requires 65 hours of field experience assessing community resources and culminates in a paper. Evidence-Based Practice involves evaluating research and proposing a change supported by evidence. Leadership and Quality Improvement requires writing papers on implementing organizational changes to improve care. Community Health requires 65 hours of field experience assessing community resources and culminates in a paper. There are also courses on ethics, leadership, and professional nursing roles. You’ll need to be comfortable writing academically and conducting community fieldwork.

Most ADN grads already have these credits from prerequisites and can transfer them in:

• English Composition
• Interprofessional Communication
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Humanities
• Statistics

You likely just need to fill any remaining gen ed gaps.

Nursing Support Courses

Here you’ll find upper-level sciences and concepts to build on your ADN foundation:

• Biochemistry - Focuses on protein synthesis, enzymes, lipids. Challenging but clinically relevant material.
• Applied Healthcare Statistics - Covers analyzing and interpreting medical research.

The Nursing Major

This is the core of the RN-to-BSN curriculum:

• Health Assessment - Write papers and do hands-on demonstrations of your assessment skills.
• Community Health - 65 hours of field experience assessing community resources. Culminates in a paper.
• Evidence-Based Practice - Evaluate research and propose a change supported by evidence.
• Leadership and Quality Improvement - Write papers on implementing organizational changes to improve care.
• Community Health - 65 hours of field experience assessing community resources. Culminates in a paper.

There are also courses on ethics, leadership, and professional nursing roles. You’ll need to be comfortable writing academically and conducting community field work.

Hopefully breaking down the coursework gives you a sense of what to expect from WGU's RN-to-BSN program. Make sure to consider if the self-paced, writing-heavy curriculum aligns with your learning preferences and career goals.

 Benefits

WGU's RN-to-BSN program is a self-paced, writing-heavy curriculum that allows you to earn your degree on your own schedule. You move through courses as quickly as you can master the material, with no set class times so you can continue to work as an RN while you're earning your degree. The program is also affordable and unique, making it a top option for RN-to-BSN students. Graduates are prepared to function in new roles as members of healthcare teams in many settings. BSN graduates are also prepared to enter MSN programs.

 Challenges

While the self-paced nature of the program is a benefit, it can also be a challenge. The program requires goal setting, dedication, and the ability to manage your time effectively. Additionally, the program is writing-heavy, so you'll need to be comfortable writing academically and conducting community fieldwork. Some students have reported difficulty managing work, school, and family responsibilities. However, WGU's RN-to-BSN online programs give you the flexibility to complete coursework on your schedule.

 Conclusion

WGU's RN-to-BSN degree program is an evidence-based, self-paced, and affordable program designed for registered nurses who want to advance their careers and expand their knowledge in the nursing field. The program is divided into three main buckets: General Education, Nursing Support Courses, and the Nursing Major. While the program requires goal setting, dedication, and the ability to manage your time effectively, it provides the flexibility to complete coursework on your schedule. Graduates are prepared to function in new roles as members of healthcare teams in many settings and are also prepared to enter MSN programs.