Advice please! 2 yr CNL vs. 3 yr CNS

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Please help me make a life-changing decision!

I was accepted to entry-level MSN program (for pre-nursing) at CSULB (Long Beach) and CSUDH (Dominguez Hills) :yeah:and must decide where to go very soon, and I don't know which is the better choice. :o

CSULB offers BSN & MSN with CNS in acute adult care with 3 yrs - 15 months of BSN (75 units) + 18 months of MSN (48 units). It also gives public health nursing certificate together with BSN, and it is possible to pursue other specialties such as NP after finishing MSN core works.

But CSUDH offers MSN in only 20 months (plus I have to take 2 courses during coming summer) - only 75 units. It is CNL option but I don't think there is certificate. Obviously it's going to be cheaper, both being Cal State University. Some classes are online, which I think will be convenient, but I don't know if that's going to count against the program.

My long-term goal is to become nurse educator. Before that, I would like to become a public health nurse, but I doubt that it will be good preparation for nurse educator. Actually, I don't know what would be good preparation.

So my question is, given my goals and options, I don't know which program is better for me. And I don't know to whom I should ask this. So what do you think? CSULB or CSUDH?

Sorry about wrong post.

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I mean, long post.

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Hi,

Congrats on both Acceptances :yeah:My cousin graduated from the CSULB program about a year ago and she loved that they had so many different options and areas to branch into. She, as well wanted to be a Public Health Nurse and that's why she chose CSULB. She is actually workimng now as a public health nurse at a local county hospital in the Bay Area and loves every minute of it.

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Thank you for your reply. So do you know it's really possible to choose different options such as NP or public health for MSN?

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From the way my cousin explained it to me (because I'm going to apply for next term after I take the TEAS), the first 5 quarters are devoted to pre-licensure classes. Then you can sit for the board after and the next phase is to choose which MSN option you want to pursue i.e public health, nurse practitioner etc. Then your MSN focus will be devoted to that area. I think this is a very unique setup compared to othe Entry-Level MSN programs because you have options of the area you want to specialize in as a nurse:nurse:.

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That is so great! I'm now leaning to CSULB. I was not sure because I was not 100% sure if I wanted to become CNS in acute adult care.

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The way I see it, if you know you want to go into public health or NP, then why not do it at once. On the contrary, with a Master's as a CNS, you would still have to go back to school after to pursue Public Health or NP.

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