Western Governors University Prepares for National Nurses Week with New Scholarships for RNs

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Western Governors University

Apr 15, 2013, 11:06 ET

More than 5,500 nurses now enrolled in WGU's CCNE-accredited online nursing degree programs

SALT LAKE CITY, April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To commemorate  National Nurses Week 2013 and recognize nurses for their vital work, Western Governors University, www.wgu.edu, has established the Go Further in Nursing Scholarship. Five scholarships, each valued at up to $500, will be awarded to motivated nurses who wish to pursue a bachelor's or master's degree program in WGU's College of Health Professions.

WGU degree programs are online and competency-based and are ideal for working nurses and health professionals hoping to advance their careers by completing a bachelor's or master's degree. WGU's competency-based learning model lets students complete program requirements based on their prior work experience and academic knowledge, allowing them to accelerate through things they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. Students earn their degrees by demonstrating mastery of subject matter, rather than accumulating time spent in class or credit hours. In addition, WGU's online degree programs are flexible. Students can fit their studies into their schedule and terms can begin on the first day of any month.

Last year, Michelle Gustafson, a nurse from Robinson, Texas, received the Go Further in Nursing scholarship and enrolled in WGU's CCNE-accredited* M.S. Nursing—Education degree program. A busy wife and mother who works full time as a Family Life Educator for Providence Healthcare Network, Michelle said that the scholarship eased the burden of paying for school while raising a family, and that the competency-based model and flexibility of WGU's degree programs made all the difference for her. Michelle completes most of her studies at night and on weekends and has been able to use knowledge she's gained from 15 years of nursing experience to accelerate her progress. "There is no way on Earth that I could have achieved this if it weren't for WGU's competency-based format—it's ideal for working nurses and working moms. I get the support I need from WGU to achieve my goals and I don't have to sacrifice my family's needs," said Michelle.

To be eligible for the Go Further in Nursing Scholarship, applicants must be a licensed RN, complete an application for admission to WGU, complete the scholarship application, which includes an essay about "How my education at WGU will make me a more effective nurse," and have an interview with a WGU Scholarship Counselor. The scholarship program is competitive; scholarships will be awarded based on a candidate's academic record, readiness for online study at WGU, and other considerations. The one-time $500 scholarship will be applied to the student's first six-month term. The deadline to apply for the Go Further in Nursing scholarship is April 28, 2013. National Nurses Week is celebrated May 6 – 12 and WGU will award scholarships beginning May 6.

The The Go Further in Nursing scholarship is available to new students enrolling in any of the following programs from WGU's College of Health Professions:

For more information about the Go Further in Nursing scholarship, please visit: www.wgu.edu/nursesweek.

About Western Governors University  
Named one of  Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies 2013, WGU has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered," The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, CNN's "Schools of Thought," and in The New York Times, WGU is the only university in the U.S. offering accredited, competency-based bachelor's and master's degree programs. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. WGU's Teachers College is the first and only exclusively online provider of teacher education to receive accreditation for its teacher licensure programs from NCATE, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.  The WGU bachelor's and master's nursing degree programs have been accredited by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and its B.S. in Health Informatics is accredited by CAHIIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education).

On June 11, 2010, WGU Indiana was created by Governor Mitch Daniels as Indiana's eighth state university. WGU Washington was established by the Washington State Legislature on April 22, 2011.  On August 3, 2011, the state of Texas created WGU Texas. WGU Indiana, WGU Washington, and WGU Texas are state-endorsed and offer degree programs that are accredited through Western Governors University.

The university has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations. They include institutions such as AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, and Zions Bank. More information is available at www.wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948.

*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington DC 20036, 202-877-6791).

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SOURCE Western Governors University