BSN vs. MSN - Nurse Practitioner?

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  1. This is a discussion on BSN vs. MSN - Nurse Practitioner? in General Nursing Student, part of Nursing Student ... A little bit about myself: I am a Nursing/Army ROTC student/cadet at the University of Kentucky...

    by Mar 25, '11
    A little bit about myself: I am a Nursing/Army ROTC student/cadet at the University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY) at the UK college of nursing. My course is a 4-year BSN track...


    After a 4-year BSN, is it possible to become an NP, or does becoming an NP require an MSN?
    Does anything change if you are an Army/Military nurse, because they have their own specialty programs.

    Any other BSN vs.MSN info?


    Thanks, for the help, y'all!
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    by keegs13 Mar 25, '11 11:53 am
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  2. 16 Comments so far...

  3. Mar 25, '11 by
    After you graduate your BSN program, then pass your NCLEX....you'll have to go back to school to learn to be a nurse practitioner....that will most likely be an MSN program, but could also be a DNP program....in either case, you can't currently be an NP with a BSN only.
    Thirdwatch likes this.
  4. Mar 25, '11 by
    In order to sit for any NP certification exam, you need to have a MSN or DNP degree, or a post-MSN certificate from a University whose NP program is accredited in a particular NP specialty. For example, if you want to become an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, you will need to get a MSN from a University whose ACNP MSN program is recognized by the NP credentialing agency (ANCC).
  5. Mar 25, '11 by
    I believe I read somewhere that an MSN is required (as of now) ...but as of 2014, you need to at least have your doctorate.
    Thirdwatch likes this.
  6. Mar 25, '11 by
    Quote from RileyLola1018
    I believe I read somewhere that an MSN is required (as of now) ...but as of 2014, you need to at least have your doctorate.
    It's 2015....BUT....that is a recommendation by the ANA, who isn't a credentialing organization. So far, no one has said definitively that anyone will need a DNP (Doctorate of Nursing Practice) by 2015, it's just a recommendation and a conversation.
    Thirdwatch likes this.
  7. Mar 25, '11 by
    Very happy to hear that. Thanks!!
  8. Mar 25, '11 by
    Quote from RileyLola1018
    Very happy to hear that. Thanks!!
    indeed!
  9. Mar 25, '11 by
    After you graduate with your BSN, and pass the NCLEX, you will have to go back to school and get your MSN, at least, in order to practice as an NP. Simply having your BSN isn't enough to qualify you to practice in the role of a nurse practitioner. If I were going to get my NP, I would finish my BSN, find a job, work for a while and save up some money, and then go back to school when I had some experience as an RN, and had some money saved up.
    RileyLola1018 likes this.
  10. Mar 25, '11 by
    Im not sure if this is the same at every school, but at my university 1 year experience is required for the "generic" MSN, 2 years at a level 3 NICU for the Neonatal NP program and 1 year for nurse anesthetist
  11. Mar 26, '11 by
    Thank you all for your help with the BSN - MSN/DNP questions.. I have a few more to throw at you guys!
    I am on scholarship to the University of Kentucky for Army ROTC (anyone with Army ROTC scholarship experience, please help!!)

    1. After graduating with a BSN, how many years does it take in grad. school to get an MSN? DNP?
    2. Can I go to graduate school for my MSN or DNP after my 4 years (BSN) with my Army ROTC scholarship, or do I go to my first base to shadow after that?
    3. Could I become an NP just through the Army's training, sort of like a specialty, like ER?
    4. How much of a pay difference is there between a NP and an ER nurse with a BSN (preferably in the Army/Military)?



    ^ANY ARMY NURSES TO HELP WITH #2 & 3???!!