Frustrated over direct entry MSN - prerequisites, but still determined

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I am currently working for a health care quality improvement organization in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After 3 years out of college, I have made the decision to go back to school for Nursing. I am most interested in obtaining a masters and eventually becoming a nurse practitioner.

I'm having quite the time figuring out how to complete enough prerequisites to apply to more than one school. Some schools require several course in social science and unfortunately I graduated in 2006, so many of my classes are no longer current enough.

My plan was to take general biology and inorganic chemistry in the fall, microbiology and organic chemistry in the spring, and an accelerated class for anatomy and physiology 1 and 2 in the summer. This would hopefully allow me to start a program in Fall 2010.

Some schools let you apply without having completed all your prerequisites. Others don't. I'm having the hardest time and am wondering if anyone else who was a non-nursing major has found an easier way around these obstacles.

Does anyone know about any programs in Massachusetts or California that have Spring entry / start dates? Does anyone have any general advice for the application process to a direct entry MSN program?

Thank you in advance! This board seemed like a good place to start.

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Can't you CLEP the prerequisites?

Anyway I'm a little confused. Assuming you have 120 credits, I'm not sure why an MSN program would be so concerned about social science credits. Do you already have a bachelors degree? I could see why they would be concerned with credits that are directly related to nursing.

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I'm in the same boat. I have a Bachelor's degree in Business and I'm interested, after a few years out of school, in going back to school to be a Nurse Practitioner.

My question in this: I'm fine with taking awhile to do the pre-reqs, but my problem is location. Obviously with nursing, there is a lot of necessary clinical experience. In the next few years, though, there is a good chance that I'm going to have to move around a little bit, since my b/f is in the middle of a program for school, and will be moving onto another one before long. Does anyone know of any direct-entry programs in which the classes can be done online, but the clinicals can be done at local hospitals? That might allow me to move in 2 years if I need to, and still finish the program. I see lots of programs online for Master's degrees, but most of them require an existing RN, which I don't have. Any help would be great... I've spent HOURS searching and I haven't had a ton of luck.

Thanks!

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I know Vanderbilt does distance learning. If you do a direct entry program, the first year is done on campus in Nashville, but you complete the adult portion online and back in your own community. There must be other distance learning, but I'm sure they will be similar. Because the first year is so intense and there is a LOT of work, I would rather do it on campus, not online. Good luck :)

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I'm finding that some of the direct MSN programs can require up to 7 science/math pre-reqs! I'm probably just going to do the 2 year ADN at the local community college (which doesn't require as many pre-reqs), then do an online MSN program. Amy Porter--this may be a good alternate for you as well. I would love to hear answers about any online direct entry MSN programs, especially if they are affordable!!!

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Just know you need to do a bridge program, you can't go ADN to MSN right away.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
Just know you need to do a bridge program, you can't go ADN to MSN right away.

OP's talking about a direct-entry MSN -- which are for BA/BS holders in other fields to combine the graduate courses with the core nursing curriculum in one program and graduate from nursing school with an MS and qualify to sit for the NCLEX.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

JTunoi, I'm surprised that a recent degree (2006) would already be subject to stale-dating. I can assure you that that is not universal. My DEMSN had a 10-year limit.

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I am in a direct entry program right now. IT is for people who have a bachelors, not an ADN. You need a bachelor's in something to get into direct entry. If you have an ADN, you can bridge into an MSN program, its just slightly longer. :)

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freyalisa Yes, thanks I know, I have an advanced degree and am changing careers. I'm probably going to get the ADN then do a RN-MSN online program since I can't find a direct entry MSN program online with local clinicals.
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Cool! Just wanted to make sure! Yah the online Direct Entry is tough to come by, and I wouldn't want to do it online...good luck :)

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