Thoughts on Accelerated MSN for Bachelor's in another area

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Hey y'all.

I am currently having a hard time and I think that y'alls insight would be really helpful. I want to become a Nurse Practitioner . I wasn't accepted into a BSN program in my area with a 3.5 GPA so I started in a LPN program. I work at a doctors office and they suggested looking into the accelerated MSN for someone who has a degree in something other than nursing. I can graduate with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies by this summer if I drop the LPN program I am in now. I really want to do the MSN program but my extensive research has shown a variety of responses on competitiveness, difficulty, and trust of these programs.

I guess I am wondering should I take the risk and apply for the accelerated program or continue with the LPN to ADN to BSN to MSN route?

Also would it look good to be a LPN applying to the accelerated program? Or can I do other things that would be a lot cheaper and less time consuming that would still enhance my resume ?

Thanks so much !

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I'm trying to picture how one can do an accelerated Masters in Nursing program....without actually being a nurse first?

Someone else is going to have to jump in on this one.

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I'm trying to picture how one can do an accelerated Masters in Nursing program....without actually being a nurse first?

Someone else is going to have to jump in on this one.

Master’s Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN)

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Specializes in ICU.

That's not accelerated. That's entry. And no, I wouldn't do an entry level MSN. I would do an accelerated BSN, then get your MSN.

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Specializes in CNM.

I love my Accelerated Master's Entry Program! My program is 16 months and is for Clinical Nurse Leader. I will be going back for Nurse-Midwife (APRN) after I am done with this program. Many of the nurses (preceptors and clinical instructors) have told us that they have preferred the MSN students over the other students they have precepted or instructed. Feel free to ask me any questions!

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Laura, I am so happy you responded because I have always dreamed of being a nurse midewife! Could you give me more info on your program and how that all works? Also the average GPA etc since I am still finishing my Bachelor's degree in Human Development! Thank you so much!

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My question, not trying to be rude, is would you be able to get in to an accelerated MSN program if you didn't have the grades to get into a BSN program? I would just be concerned logistically

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@StudentACNPTX I'm not sure-- that's why I posted on this forum; I'm trying to research all of my options and make the best choice for me. I want to be a Nurse Practitioner - willing to take any road to get there.

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Good ?I hope it works out. I'm not familiar with the accelerated msn programs but I did not originally have the grades to get in to my BSN program. I talked with the people at the school extensively and retook several classes before being accepted. My advice is if this is what you want to do don't give up! Be persistent and do whatever it takes!

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Ps after I was accepted I got great grades and now I am in a NP program. It will work out if you work hard!

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Specializes in CNM.

I'm at Georgia Regents University. I know there are some people in the program that have a 3.4 GPA that got in, but had a high GRE score. I don't know the average GPA score for the program at all. I know the minimum GPA requirement is a 3.0 with a minimum GRE score of 290. They also love community service so they love that kind of stuff when you apply. We have people from all sorts of different degree backgrounds. We have respiratory therapists, English majors, theater majors, Spanish majors, psychology majors, etc.

So in order to do the program I am in, you have to have a Bachelors degree from an accredited school that is non-nursing, meet the pre-req requirements, meet the minimum standards above, and of course get accepted. The program starts in the fall, and the following fall you graduate (in December) with a Masters degree. They integrate technology with in-class teaching. Some classes are online, some classes are taught in a classroom using an internet protocol (and the professor is teaching from another campus), and some classes can be a hybrid. At the end of the 16 months, and you get your ATT, you can sit for the NCLEX-RN. If you choose to do so, you can also become certified as a Clinical Nurse Leader. While no one graduating typically gets a job as a CNL right out of school (as you typically need several years on the floor experience), the MSN students do not have problems finding jobs. You get close to 1300 clinical hours by the time you graduate, and this doesn't necessarily include the volunteer activities you may choose to do.

I have heard of many RN programs out there that seem to set you up for failure or whatever you want to call it, but all the nursing professors that I have met genuinely wants everyone to succeed.

Once I am done here, I am going to apply to Frontier for their MSN/DNP program for Nurse-Midwifery. I have had a couple of friends from my school (either from my specific program or from the BSN program) go to Frontier and had no issues getting in :-)

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I see on their website that you can be certified as a Nurse Practitioner after you graduate- how long would that take?/ What is the difference between doing the msn and becoming a CNL and then getting certified as a FNP vs. doing the direct entry masters program that you graduate as a FNP in? I guess this is all new and extremely overwhelming !

Thanks so much for all of your advice

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