Entry into Practice: Direct Entry MSN Programs

Direct entry masters in nursing programs offer a rapid entrance into both the profession of nursing and advanced nursing practice. These unique programs are also known as entry-level or alternate entry nursing masters programs. This type of education is specifically tailored for people with a baccalaureate or higher degree in another discipline who seek a new career as advance practice nurses. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

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Direct entry MSN programs are approximately three years in length. They provide basic nursing curricula during the first year or so of the program (pre-licensure phase), with graduate core courses and specialty course work during the remainder of the program (graduate nursing concentration phase).

The first masters program for non-nurse college graduates was instituted at yale university in 1974. These programs have grown slowly over the ensuing years. In 2008, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing reported 56 direct entry MSN programs.

Entry-level MSN programs are very demanding, as they not only provide students with a general foundation in nursing, but masters-level courses for leadership or advanced practice as well. These programs are fast-paced, usually involving five-days a week intense study, with a combination of classroom theory and clinical coursework interwoven throughout.

Some programs award learners a BSN at the halfway point of the program, and then an MSN at the end of the program; others only confer one degree: an MSN upon graduation from the program. In the latter case, students forgo a second bachelor's degree. In either type program, students must pass the NCLEX-RN after successfully completing the pre-licensure component, before progressing to the graduate-level courses offered during the second half of the program. Following program completion, students are then eligible to sit for national certification exams for advance practice nursing specialties.

Areas of study in direct entry MSN programs include nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, clinical nurse leader, executive nurse leader, nursing administration, health care systems leadership, and certified nurse midwife. I have even heard of some programs offering nurse anesthesia by way of direct entry. An example is Georgetown university direct entry to advanced practice program. Another surprise is nursing education, which is offered in some direct entry programs.

A big controversy remains concerning entry-level MSN programs: are graduates adequately prepared for advanced practice nursing? What is the job market for advanced practice nursing graduates from these programs? Are they taken seriously by prospective employers? Many people are of the opinion that advanced practice nursing is just that - advanced practice. Critics assert that registered nurses need at least 2 years' experience at the bedside before entering into advanced practice.

What do you think?

Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

I went to the University of New Hampshire. The Masters entry is a CNL program. For the NP, I'd have to take the missing courses that I didn't take during the CNL program (some of the coursework overlaps), as well as the clinical component. You can look at their website to see specifics regarding the NP and CNL programs.

http://www.chhs.unh.edu/nursing

Hi all

I'm currently taking my Masters program in Health Admin, and will like to change career paths, so I'm really considering the entry level MSN programs. Please does anyone know of any schools in Houston Texas that offers a direct entry MSN?

Thank you

thanks for the info!

I just want to clarify that the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is not an Advanced Practice Nurse. It is a generalist degree for entry into practice. Students generally go into bedside nursing upon graduation.

Furthermore, a lot of people claim people do not want to hire them. I have never had a hard time finding employment with this degree. None of my former colleagues have either, to my knowledge.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
mariebailey said:
I just want to clarify that the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is not an Advanced Practice Nurse. It is a generalist degree for entry into practice. Students generally go into bedside nursing upon graduation.

Furthermore, a lot of people claim people do not want to hire them. I have never had a hard time finding employment with this degree. None of my former colleagues have either, to my knowledge.

*** I think in some areas direct entry masters grads are suffering from the actions of the direct entry advanced practice programs. In those programs the student spends a year or maybe a little more to become RNs. then they are supposed to work for a year and then go back for the advanced practice part on their programs. Our hospital hired several of these and nurse managers and long time staff were very upset that that they wasted a year of training on nurses who knew from the start they would only stay a year then head back to the university to finish their program. Not something they had told us in the interview. As a result some hospitals have become gun shy about hiring direct entry grads. Eventualy I think it will get straitend out and the difference in the programs will be better understood and the direct entry grads won't have a problem getting hired.

PMFB-RN said:
*** I think in some areas direct entry masters grads are suffering from the actions of the direct entry advanced practice programs. In those programs the student spends a year or maybe a little more to become RNs. then they are supposed to work for a year and then go back for the advanced practice part on their programs. Our hospital hired several of these and nurse managers and long time staff were very upset that that they wasted a year of training on nurses who knew from the start they would only stay a year then head back to the university to finish their program. Not something they had told us in the interview. As a result some hospitals have become gun shy about hiring direct entry grads. Eventualy I think it will get straitend out and the difference in the programs will be better understood and the direct entry grads won't have a problem getting hired.

Has this been resolved? I'm looking at a direct entry MSN in your area geared toward career-changing students who already have a BS/BA and experience in another field. It's a 2 year program and the NCLEX-RN is taken at the end. The idea is that grads are entry level RNs upon graduation and have the education to help them assume leadership roles once their experience as an RN warrants it. It's totally separate from the advanced practice programs, which are only for experienced RNs.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
scimom said:
Has this been resolved? I'm looking at a direct entry MSN in your area geared toward career-changing students who already have a BS/BA and experience in another field. It's a 2 year program and the NCLEX-RN is taken at the end. The idea is that grads are entry level RNs upon graduation and have the education to help them assume leadership roles once their experience as an RN warrants it. It's totally separate from the advanced practice programs, which are only for experienced RNs.

My observation is that DE MSN grads can get hired in the Twin Cities area of MN and not so much across the river in Wisconsin. Only my observation based on things I hear back from the DE students who I precept.

It great they the DE MSN programs have changed to what you describe above, that they are prepared as entry level RNs and only ready leadership rolls once RN experince warrants it. In the not very distant past I saw many DE grads who assumed that they would be hired into managment and leadership positions as new grads.