Western Governors University Offers Two New Master's Degrees in Nursing

RN to MSN Program Allows Registered Nurses with Associate's Degrees to Earn
Their Master's

SALT LAKE CITY, May 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CCNE-accredited Western
Governors University, www.wgu.edu, has launched two new master's degree
programs in nursing, the RN to MSN in Nursing Education and the RN to MSN in
Nursing Leadership and Management. The degree programs, which are online and
competency-based, are designed for registered nurses who have an associate's
degree or diploma in nursing and wish to advance directly to a master's
degree.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081030/DC42901LOGO)

WGU's RN to MSN degree programs incorporate the Essentials of Baccalaureate
Education for Professional Practice and the Essentials of Master's Education
for Professional Practice established by the American Association of Colleges
of Nursing (AACN). The RN to MSN--Education degree coursework, which is based
on the standards established for Nurse Educators by the NLN and the ANCC, will
prepare students to become accomplished nurse educators. Students who select
the RN to MSN--Leadership and Management program will graduate with the
competencies needed to become a valuable leader and manager in a variety of
healthcare settings and will complete the exam required to earn the American
Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Nurse Executive Certificate.

About WGU's Nursing Degree Programs
Western Governors University offers six online, competency-based bachelor's
and master's degree programs in nursing, all developed to help address the
growing shortage of qualified registered nurses in the U.S. and to make
nursing education accessible to working adults. WGU's nursing programs have
been developed in collaboration with major healthcare employers, government
agencies, and key accreditation organizations to ensure that graduates emerge
with the skills and knowledge they need to fulfill their roles in patient
care, nurse education, and leadership. Degree programs include:
-- B.S. Nursing (RN to BSN online)
-- B.S. Nursing (Prelicensure)
-- M.S. Nursing--Education (for RNs with BSNs)
-- M.S. Nursing--Leadership and Management (for RNs with BSNs)
-- M.S. Nursing--Education (RN to MSN Option)

-- M.S. Nursing--Leadership and Management (RN to MSN Option)

For more information on WGU's nursing programs, go to www.wgu.edu/RNtoMSN or
call 1-866-225-5948 (866-CALL-WGU).

About Western Governors University (WGU)

"[WGU is] the best relatively cheap university you've never heard of."
- TIME magazine (Nov. 2008)

WGU is the only accredited online university in the U.S. offering
competency-based degree programs. The private non-profit university has been a
leader in online education for more than 10 years. WGU is the recipient of the
USDLA 21st Century Award for Best Practices in Distance Learning for 2008,
awarded in recognition of WGU's success in expanding access to higher
education. WGU has been honored as one of the 2008 Top 20 Military Friendly
Colleges and Universities by Military Advanced Education magazine. WGU
sponsors the Online Student Survival Guide, a blog that addresses many of the
questions and daily concerns online students from any online college or
university face.

Now serving more than 13,000 students, WGU was founded by 19 U.S. governors,
and is supported by more than 20 leading corporations and foundations. They
include institutions such as AT&T, BearingPoint, Dell, Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, HCA, Microsoft, Oracle, Qwest, SunGard Higher
Education, Sun Microsystems, and Zions Bank. WGU offers bachelor's and
master's degrees in business, information technology, teacher education, and
health professions, with students in all 50 states. More information is
available at www.wgu.edu.

CONTACT: Joan Mitchell
801-428-5463
jmitchell@wgu.edu

SOURCE Western Governors University

Joan Mitchell of Western Governors University, +1-801-428-5463,
jmitchell@wgu.edu