How long before starting Masters Program

UVA Grad Nursing · Oct 19, 2008

In nursing, generally the first degree is to educate a generalist nurse. Nearly all graduate degrees are specialty-based (the exception being the Clinical Nurse Leader). Advanced-practice graduate programs lead to advanced certifications with specific ranges of behavior/practice depending on the state Board of Nursing and various Nurse Practice acts.

It takes different people different amount of time to know what you want to be a specialist in. Some people know this in less than a year, other folks work in multiple settings over several years until they feel the 'click' to know what they want to specialize in. Do not set yourself an arbitrary date based on a calendar; you will likely know what feels right.

At my SON, we have admitted brand new grads (1 week past NCLEX) as very part-time grad students taking 1 course per term if they show the admissions committee that they have this focus and knowledge of a specialty area. These student take the core classes in the first 12 months (reserach, theory, pathophysiology, etc) while working full-time. But enrolling brand new RNs is not common (2-3 per year). Most of our new MSN students are 2-3 years out. As a data indicator, the mean age of our MSN students is 34 (this included those who went the ADN to BSN to MSN route, as well as those who received second degree BSNs). The age range is 22 to 59.

I would strongly encourage you to focus on your nursing skills and becoming comfortable as a RN in the first 12 months. If your mentor/manager feel that you can add in a graduate class or two in this 12-month period, then consider taking some general courses that can complement your knowledge as a new grad.