BA to ADN to MSN?

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Jul 4, 2010

I too had a previous Bachelors before going into nursing school. I went the direct entry MSN route. Not all direct entry programs require you to specialize (mine is a generalist Clinical Nurse Leader program) and is a 2 year program. I just sat for my boards on Friday and I graduate in December.

mmm333, LVN · Jul 4, 2010

Congratulations. You are one of the very few people in line with NLNAC's previous recommendation that new nurses be MSN-prepared. Eventually the MSN will be the entry point for RNs, though it may be a while before that happens. It seems like that goal is for the time being crashing into the reality of a taxed healthcare system and the fact that MSN nurses are statistically just as safe and competent as Doctoral-prepared nurses.

I'll add this link for the benefit of others who may not know about this trend:

NLN: Recommendations on Preparing Nurses to Deliver Advanced Practice Nursing - Nursing for Nurses

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2010

Thanks for the feedback! I am confident in my academic abilities enough to know that I can handle and even prosper in any of these programs. I definitely want to work for at least a year before starting an MSN program which is why those direct entry programs for people without a nursing degree don't appeal to me. The Columbia ETP I understand has a one year gap between the BSN and MSN portions and while I would love more of a window in which to gain more nursing experience, I would be OK with that.

My biggest concern right now with school is indeed finances (despite what many think, not all lawyers make tons of money and I am working in a non-legal profession right now which makes $quat but is a nice limbo job until I can start nursing school). And I fear I may be tapped out of loan possibilities due to law school (thankfully not maxed as I attended a state school). If I had the money flowing, I would no doubt choose Columbia, but I don't have it like that. So that is going to be a major factor in deciding where I go to school. I just want to have my options open to all possibilities and have plan B in place in case things pan out in different directions. I applied to one school this past year (an ABSN) and was waitlisted (and I assume not accepted since the class just started last week) so I will have to start applying all over but I am covering more bases this time. I have hopes I will be going somewhere this time in 2011. :up:

TerpGal02, ASN · Jul 5, 2010

I am looking into doing this as well. I have a BA in Political Science and am doing my ADN now. The public university in my state (U of MD) has a RN to MSN program that I am very interested in.

mmm333, LVN · Jul 5, 2010

@paco : Yes that Columbia program sounds great for you but any BSN will get you ready to do your MSN. As for financial aid, leave no stone unturned as some states have separate funding available to promote nursing and address the future needs of the state via workforce investment act, etc.

If you are in limbo waiting to get accepted, might I make one suggestion? One thing you can do right now is find a decent pathophysiology course as well as a nursing pharmacology course - take those prior to entering your program. These would be well worth the effort and put you on firmer ground than just having your prerequisites done. Patho will prevent you from forgetting your A&P. Pharma requires repeated review for memorization so a basic course would give you your first exposure ("loading dose"). If you have time, you could even take an "abnormal psych" or "biological psych" course as well. Those are available in any psych dept. and all of these courses are often offered as online courses. None of this stuff would look bad on your subsequent applications, either. Remember, what nursing schools want to see in an applicant is a high likelihood of success in school & on NCLEX. Don't stop with your minimum prereqs. Your competitors/peers have degrees in biology, psychology, human development, etc.

momwannab · Sep 13, 2010

Once you've become an RN, do you have to practice a certain number of years before beginning a MSN program?

mmm333, LVN · Sep 13, 2010

No. It depends on each school. The "better" schools (sometimes "better" means better, but sometimes it just means "more impacted") demand experience, GRE results, etc. There are programs that demand BSN preparation, those that take BA-RNs but add some prereqs, and those that simply take any RN. Some are online and some are on campus.

Generally it's better to do the MSN after gaining experience. In today's world "overqualified" is like a curse. Even being a new grad RN right now carries the curse of the overqualified, as nobody wants to hire them as CNAs or Unit Clerks, afraid that they will leave for the first RN job they can find. The last thing you want in this environment is to strengthen that curse by being a green BSN-MSN with no experience. There are other threads for that discussion though.

momwannab · Sep 14, 2010

thanks for the info mmm333 :)!

elkpark · Sep 14, 2010

Congratulations. You are one of the very few people in line with NLNAC's previous recommendation that new nurses be MSN-prepared. Eventually the MSN will be the entry point for RNs, though it may be a while before that happens. It seems like that goal is for the time being crashing into the reality of a taxed healthcare system and the fact that MSN nurses are statistically just as safe and competent as Doctoral-prepared nurses.
I'll add this link for the benefit of others who may not know about this trend:
NLN: Recommendations on Preparing Nurses to Deliver Advanced Practice Nursing - Nursing for Nurses

The NLN statement you linked to is only talking about not supporting the push to make the DNP the minimum preparation for advanced practice nursing (NP/CNS/CNM/CRNA), NOT that all RNs should be MSN-prepared. Shoot, the NLN, ANA, and other organizations haven't even been successful (in some 35 or so years of trying) in getting the BSN made the minimum for licensure.

I'm not holding my breath about the MSN being made the minimum for (basic) licensure ...