A variety of questions

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1. What are my chances of getting into an accelerated BSN program? I have a 3.1 cumulative, a 3.7 at my most recent college where I completed my degree, and a 3.65 in prerequisite courses. I have a significant amount of volunteer hours, both in hospitals and unrelated. I also have a lot of shadowing hours. These schools do not require a GRE score, but would it help my application to send a great GRE score? (I am taking it for other programs I am applying to).

2. I am very limited on the schools I can apply to because these schools want anatomy and physiology with a lab (normally A&P I/II). However, my school offers them separately and therefore physiology does not have a lab. My anatomy class was 5 hours a week of lecture with 6 hours a week of partial dissection in a human cadaver lab. My anatomy lab teaches more than any A&P lab would, but they still insist I take a physiology lab. However, my anatomy w/ a lab + physiology without a lab transfer to other schools as A&P I/II and no one will let me retake it for a grade, nor do I really want to retake a two semesters of a lecture I have already had and retake a lab I already know most of the info from. Any ideas? :o I have submitted "petitions" to schools to waive the physiology lab due to my extensive anatomy lab and physiology course, but they have all been rejected.

3. Since I came into nursing late, I will graduate with a BA in Psychology. Since I want to go into advanced practice nursing, I have thought about those direct entry programs and the school I am currently at has one. The downfall is that you do not get a BSN, only become an RN and get your MSN. Will this be looked down upon that I do not have my BSN? Would I have to do an RN-BSN completion program if I wanted my BSN even if I had my MSN?

Thanks in advance!! :-)

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Specializes in SRNA.

Hey there....I'm waiting for admissions decisions for ABSN/MSN programs as we speak, so I'll give you my two cents:

Your chances for acceptance are varied (as many here will tell you). You will need to research any schools/programs you hope to apply to and they will most likely be able to give you minimum GPA requirements as well as the average GPA of the accepted candidates. Mostly, the rule of thumb for minimum required is 3.0. This can be calculated as cumulative, pre-reqs only, or a certain number of your must recent units (e.g. 60/90 units). This will be school specific. Your volunteer experience is valuable, I would continue to get as much patient care experience as possible, this will highlight your future application.

Are you sure you want to limit yourself to schools that will accept what you've currently taken for A&P? Cast a wide net for programs that interest you, which will probably require taking a separate Physiology class with lab. You can also take this as a junior college and don't be hesitant to do so, many of us do. An alternative can sometimes be to test out of certain pre-req classes (e.g. Excelsior) and some schools offer this, but again, school specific.

If you choose a direct-entry MSN (DEMSN) program and do not graduate with a BSN, you will most likely be granted a generalist masters degree and will not be considered an advanced practice nurse. You will be an entry-level RN that just so happens to have a general MSN. (I'm not sure by Advance Practice if you were specifically speaking to the role of an NP, or what your long-term goal is.) There are other combination programs out there (as those I'm applying to) that offer an accelerated BSN and MSN in combination. The ABSN is completed usually in 13 months (give or take) and then you move onto the MSN in a specialty field.

There are so many choices and paths out there, I implore you to continue your research regarding specific schools/programs and find the right fit for you. There are many great resources on this forum, but please verify all information you get from school/program administrators or admissions counselors.

Good luck! ;)

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I am applying to the two accelerated BSN programs in my area (I can only afford it if I live with my parents or stay where I am now) as well as this acclereated program. It does prepare you for the NP exams in my chosen specialty. Here is a link: http://nursing.osu.edu/Academic.aspx?page=9

So, I would be a certified nurse practitioner with my MSN, but not BSN. If I did it the other way way, I would have my BSN + MSN and be a certified nurse practitioner. I am going to be applying to both programs.

One accelerated BSN has a 2.5 minimum and a few have a 3.0 minimum. I can't find data for the average for admitted students.

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