Become a registered nurse with WGU’s innovative BSN prelicensure program
Program Details
Eligibility Requirements
In-Hospital Clinical Experience
Tuition and Fees
How the Program Works
Accredited and Credible
Program Support
Hospital and Health Systems Partners
National Advisory Committee
Grants and Support
About WGU
Become a WGU Clinical Coach or Instructor
B.S. Nursing (Prelicensure)
WGU is currently recruiting students for programs in California and Texas. See admissions requirements below.
Want to become a nurse? Now is the perfect time to become a Registered Nurse (RN). WGU’s B.S. in Nursing (Prelicensure) degree program prepares you with the content knowledge and extensive in-hospital clinical experience to earn your bachelor’s degree and prepare you to sit for the national NCLEX licensing exam.
Your clinical education also includes learning skills and patient care competencies in simulation lab “boot camps” followed by agency-based “clinical intensives” where patient care competencies can be honed and mastered. Agency-based clinical intensives occur in hospitals and other key healthcare facilities with expert staff nurses to provide coaching and clinical learning opportunities.
You will become a technologically proficient, caring, bachelor’s degree-prepared nurse who is ready to preserve, promote, improve, and maintain the health and well-being of individuals and families in your community.
Program Details
This program includes two domains of nursing study including intensive clinical rotations for each clinical subdomain course of study. The domains of study are as follows:
Clinical Domain:
- Nursing Theory and Practice
Non-Clinical Domain:
Pre-Nursing Domains (considered prerequisites):
- Nursing-Related Science
- Language and Communications
- Quantitative Literacy
- Social Science Distribution
- Humanities Distribution
Total Program: 120 Competency Units (credit equivalents)
Less: any competency units waived through transfer of prior college credits
More details about your challenging course of study
View the PDF program guide
Program Admissions Requirements
NOTICE: For the 2010 programs, there will be limited clinical opportunities available in select hospitals in Southern California and Texas. Because of limited clinical opportunities, this is a highly selective program. Future expansion is planned in both states and in additional states this year and beyond.
WGU is now opening admissions to aspiring nurses in these select areas who have completed all prerequisites as outlined below.
To be considered for enrollment in the pre-nursing curriculum, you must meet the following requirements:
- Possess a current CPR certification at the Healthcare Provider Level.
- Submit at least one letter of recommendation from your current healthcare employer.
- Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions that shows you have earned a bachelor’s or associate’s degree OR have completed ALL nursing prerequisites described below.
(WGU will evaluate your transcripts to determine whether you have completed the Pre-Nursing requisites (listed above), and determine your eligibility to enroll into the pre-nursing curriculum.
If you meet the requirements above and wish to be considered for admission to the nursing program, you must be prepared to enroll, complete the pre-nursing curriculum requirements, and apply for admission to the nursing program. Admission into the nursing program is competitive. Enrollment in the pre-nursing curriculum is not a guarantee for admission to the nursing program.
Approximately 60 days after enrollment into the pre-nursing curriculum, qualified students must apply to the nursing program. Qualified applicants will be reviewed and considered for admission to the nursing program. The following supporting documentation must be provided by the student as a part of the application process:
- Must possess health insurance.
- Must obtain student malpractice insurance (usually a modest $29/year cost).
- Must pass a criminal background check*.
- Must pass a urine drug test*.
- Must pass a physical exam*.
- Must complete the Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Test and demonstrate the attributes of a successful nurse*.
- Must have a current immunization record and current negative TB test. Click here to see what immunizations are required of you.
- Must meet the specific physical requirements in accordance with the core performance standards of the nursing profession. Click here to see examples of physical requirements.
- Must have passed WGU’s foundational nursing skills performance assessment (click here to see a list of foundational skills that are tested).
- Provide a letter of intent (no more that two pages) describing candidates prior experiences and reasons for pursuing a career in nursing.
- Participate in an interview with nursing department representatives.
* Note: Starred items are required to be completed no sooner than 90 days prior to beginning the clinical portions of this program.
Speak to an Enrollment Counselor to better understand what is required of you.
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Your In-Hospital Clinical Experience
This program includes intensive clinical rotations. Preparation for these clinicals will be completed both online under the guidance of a WGU mentor and through mandatory attendance to high fidelity Clinical Simulation Learning Labs.
Your innovative clinical education experience includes:
- Cutting-edge clinical simulations, including virtual reality and high fidelity simulations to develop clinical skills.
- Agency-based clinical rotations in hospitals and other key healthcare sites.
- One-on-one guidance, supervision, and support in a busy, contemporary clinical setting with a Clinical Coach—an experienced staff nurse and clinical expert.
Clinical rotations are arranged as compressed “intensives” where students work one-on-one with expert nurses. You will complete at least four sessions of clinical rotations each year.
Speak to an Enrollment Counselor for a more in-depth explanation of the in-hospital clinical experience.
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Affordable Tuition and Fees
Basic tuition: $4,250 per 6-month term (includes clinical rotation fees)
Estimated time to completion*: 2 years
* Contingent on completing all prerequisites
Other student responsibilities:
- Consolidated Nursing fee: $350
- Uniforms: $250
- iTouch unit: $199
- LabPaq fees: $200
- Criminal Background Check: $140
- Drug Test fee: $50
- NCLEX exam fees: $500
You may also be required to pay for doctor’s visit for a physical examination and immunizations to fulfill specific admissions requirements.
More information about Tuition and Fees
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How Your Program Will Work
WGU offers degrees, not classes. As a competency-based program, learning is measured by what you know and can do based on assessments rather than time spent in classes or courses completed. You’ll study. You’ll write papers. You’ll take tests. You’ll complete rigorous lab work, simulations, and clinical rotations.
Here’s generally how your program will work:
- Your degree requirements are carefully developed to give you high-level competence in a variety of patient care settings, including chronic care, geriatrics, pediatrics, etc.
- You will work with a WGU mentor to prepare for rigorous assessments, virtual reality simulations, and high fidelity simulations. Upon successful completion and demonstration of competency, you will qualify to attend your agency-based clinical rotations.
- You will work one-on-one with a Clinical Coach (under the guidance of a Clinical Instructor) to complete several “intensives” of clinical rotations. Your Clinical Coach is an experienced staff nurse who is trained to help you throughout the duration of your clinical rotations.
- Together with your mentor, you will largely be able to decide when you are prepared to complete course assessments. (assessment of your clinical competence will be conducted by Clinical Instructors .)
- You should expect to work hard and spend at least 30 hours or more per week on your studies, and in the completion of clinical rotations and clinical simulation labs.
Speak to an Enrollment Counselor for a more in-depth explanation of how your program will work.
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Accredited and Credible
Accreditation is a key indicator of a university’s credibility among both academia and employers. WGU is:
- CCNE accredited — by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education.
- Approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing and by the Texas Board of Nursing.
- Nationally accredited — by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).
- Regionally accredited — by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The Northwest Commission is also responsible for the accreditation of other major universities such as the University of Washington, University of Oregon, and the University of Utah, to name a few.
- Founded by 19 governors and supported by hospital partners — WGU was founded by the governors of 19 U.S. states. WGU and this BSN program are also supported by hospital partners across the nation, including Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Tenet Healthcare, Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, Catholic Healthcare West, and Universal Health Services.
Learn more about accreditation.
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