RN to PNP

Nurses Career Support

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Hello,

I am starting an RN program this August, which has a bridge program to USF which is a nearby university. My ultimate goal is to be an PNP. I kinda know the basics of how to get there. I know you need to get your BSN and work for a couple years in the field, which I am already working in the hospital. I am just wondering is there any programs that will allow me to start right away with just my basic RN to get my MSN to sort of 'by-pass' the BSN degree. I heard that this is possible. Please help, I want to make this the shortest route possible. I see on USF site that they have an ASN to MSN program. Wondering if the ASN is the basic RN license I will have at the end of my current program.

Please help, thanks!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

The process of becoming an RN (or LP/VN) continues to confuse a lot of people. First of all, the educational process only results in a degree/diploma NOT a license. Once you have received a degree/diploma from an accredited/approved school, you are granted permission to take either NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN, depending on the program you completed. If you pass NCLEX, you receive a license ... and THEN, you are a licensed nurse (RN or LP/VN). Although it is a very sad situation, it is very possible for graduates of the educational programs to fail NCLEX - which results in a degree, but no license.

The 'shortest' route to becoming a licensed nurse is simple..... complete your pre-requisites as rapidly as you can while maintaining stellar grades; apply to as many nursing programs as possible so that you can increase your chances of acceptance; proceed smoothly through the program. Would-be nurses spend too much time trying to find the 'perfect' (e.g., fast, cheap, with low admission requirements but excellent outcomes) program only to be refused admission because -surprise! - that's the very same program that everyone else also wants.

The route to NP is not 'quick and fast', nor should it be for these roles that carry enormous responsibility in highly autonomous settings. What qualifications would you want for your child's NP? As you have already discovered, admission requirements for most NP programs include a certain amount of relevant experience in an acute care setting. If you are unable to obtain an acute care job without a BSN, this could be very problematic.

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Thank you so much for the response, lots of valuable information!

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Most of the RN-MSN programs that I have seen in my research require a non-nursing bachelors (due to general education requirements) and most will grant the BSN after that part of hethe program is complete. Then they require a certain number of hours/years experience before the clinical portion of the MSN is completed.

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As a Pediatric Nurse for 20 years , let me tell you each day is a learning experience in the clinical field....if you wanna be a PNP for real , you pls gain the adequate experience...or else you will be putting lot of kids life in danger..there are many other areas of PNP which might not need that much experience like psych/ geriatric etc.....or else you must look nto one of those.

All the best.

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