[Buckeyejunk]

I went through a "graduate entry" program but they're called different things at different schools (accelerated, bridge, etc). I had a bachelor's in Biology - but during my second half of college realized I was going to pursue advanced practice nursing so I stocked up on some unnecessary-at-the-time classes for the nursing side of things.

I was off school one year (hubby was in grad school) then went through the grad entry program - it was 2 years full-time to get my RN, (not awarded a BSN) and then another year full-time to the MSN & NP cert. I worked as an RN during that third year but not everyone does/did.

I have not had the no-BSN become an issue. Most people don't care what degrees I have at this point as I have been practicing for a while.

[liljluv]

I have just been accepted into the clinical nurse leader program at Seton Hall and am contemplating whether to take the chance or not. I have a B.S. in nutrition and was looking to get into an accelerated bsn program. Seton Hall changed their program right after I applied and I was just informed that they are offering me a place to start this fall for the MSN program. I would not get a bsn but an msn instead. I have a couple of questions as I work in a hospital now and all the nurses are scaring me since they have never heard of something like this.

1. How is it possible to take the licensure exam without any kind of degree in nursing? asn, bsn, etc..
2. Would I run into a problem not having the bsn and just the msn when I get out?
3. If I take the test in NJ will I have a problem taking the test in NY or any other state without the bsn?
Please help as I have to send a deposit soon.....

[ghillbert]

They sound like good questions to ask the school you're applying to. Programs vary - some direct entry MSNs give a BSN after some period, others don't.

Re #3 - if you take the NCLEX and get licensed, you don't have to take the test again. However you will have to meet the requirements of the new state if you want to get licensed by endorsement in another state, which is often an assessment of your education.

[AtomicWoman]

Anyone know of any programs in the southern NJ/Philly/Delaware area? Drexel has an RN-MSN program with a very short bridge (3 courses, I think), but they want you to have 2 years experience as a nurse first. I think what most people posting here want is a straight-through-to-MSN/NP program.

[AtomicWoman]

OK, I just took a peek at the Vanderbilt program. It's essentially the same as doing an ABSN and then going right into your MSN program, similar to what you can do at the school I'm accepted to. The first year of the Vanderbilt program is the portion that will allow you to sit for the NCLEX; they don't call it a BSN and it doesn't look like you are awarded a BSN, but that is essentially what it is. Then you move into the MSN specialty program. You have to pick your MSN specialty from the get-go, when you apply. Graduate tuition is $1,500 per graduate credit -- yikes!!

http://www.nursing.vanderbilt.edu/phd/feestuition.html

[JDCitizen]

Originally Posted by Buckeyejunk

I went through a "graduate entry" program but they're called different things at different schools (accelerated, bridge, etc). I had a bachelor's in Biology - but during my second half of college realized I was going to pursue advanced practice nursing so I stocked up on some unnecessary-at-the-time classes for the nursing side of things.

I was off school one year (hubby was in grad school) then went through the grad entry program - it was 2 years full-time to get my RN, (not awarded a BSN) and then another year full-time to the MSN & NP cert. I worked as an RN during that third year but not everyone does/did.

I have not had the no-BSN become an issue. Most people don't care what degrees I have at this point as I have been practicing for a while.

I have seen more and more schools dropping the years worked as a BSN to go MSN requirement. I don't know how it is affecting health care or nursing for that matter and I am not the one to judge but the trend is there.

It just so happned that the program I went to at the time required BSN than two years of working before MSN. By the the time I decided to go though the MSN program those rules had been relaxed. I do know know at the time of my program (MSN) one of the years spent was spent in classes designed to prove nursings as a profession and could have been time better used. It was as if the folks who were in charge of the programs had a fear that the nurses in the program had forgotton who they were (or something along that line)...