ABSN or MSN CNL to be an Nurse Practitioner??

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 7, 2018

No, there is no standard for DNP vs. MSN when it comes to NP. There is no higher pay grade, nor are you a "more desirable candidate" for a job just because you have the DNP. The DNP is nothing but a glorified EBP project. You get no further clinical skills obtaining the DNP.

It's not as simple as "going for certification" to get the NP. You still have to put in the time to do your sciences and clinicals for the NP. There is no short-cut to becoming a practitioner. Are you even an RN yet? If not, you would still have to get the RN first to do a CNL program. If you already are an RN, there are RN-to-MSN (NP) programs out there. the ABSN would only be applicable if you aren't already an RN. There are direct-entry NP programs out there for those who have a BS or MS in other fields.

Bottom line: it's not a race to the finish line to become a provider. If you have the ability to obtain your RN (try getting an ADN at a community college, only takes 2 years) while working towards your NP, you'll get valuable experience in the field at the same time. If you're already an RN, then look into RN-to-MSN programs.

allnurses Guide · Jun 7, 2018

You need to do a lot more research before thinking about this investment.

charisma00 · Jun 7, 2018

You need to do a lot more research before thinking about this investment.

I have. I am still confused about a few things and I am extremely confused because there are a lot of conflicting information online. The more I hear personal experiences and use the expertise of actual nurses, the more informed I can be. Isn't that what this site is for?

allnurses Guide · Jun 7, 2018

I have. I am still confused about a few things and I am extremely confused because there are a lot of conflicting information online. The more I hear personal experiences and use the expertise of actual nurses, the more informed I can be. Isn't that what this site is for?

You need to start with the basics: how to get from where you are to where you want to be, which is some type of NP. Neither of the options you gave us get you to be an NP.

We really need to know where you are starting from to help: do you have a college degree either in nursing or non-nursing?

Remember that in order to become an NP you need to go to an accredited NP program. Not all MSN and DNP programs are NP programs. All NPs are MSN/DNP degree holders but not all MSN/DNP degree holders are NPs.

There are many pathways to get from your starting place to an NP program.

charisma00 · Jun 8, 2018

Remember that in order to become an NP you need to go to an accredited NP program. Not all MSN and DNP programs are NP programs. All NPs are MSN/DNP degree holders but not all MSN/DNP degree holders are NPs.
>> This I actually didnt know, thank you!
.

I have my Bachelors in a non nursing field,

The Paths I am considering are:

ABSN>NP (MSN or DNP route)

MSN CNL>NP (DNP)

or

MSN CNL>NP (via post masters certification)

I want to be a nurse practitioner with a terminal degree. Where I am located, some MSN NPs are being phased out where now they want DNP educated NPs. Does this make better sense now?

I would like to know the best path for the long run as I want to do most of my schooling young before i start a family

umbdude, MSN, APRN · Jun 8, 2018

I am looking at two schools, ABSN program at a local state college (1 year, $36,000- 55,000), or MSN CNL program at a nearby private school (2 years, $100,000 -120,000). I want to be a Nurse practitioner. What is the best path I can take, I would love to be set as soon as possible so I can have a family and have the best return on my investment. I hear MSN nurses just have to go for certification to become NPs, while i guess as a BSN nurses I'd have to go for an MSN or DNP program? I also hear MSN nurse practitioners are no longer the standard but DNP? so then Id probably would go to school so that. As you can see, I am lost. Please help!

Simple - Do not waste your money on the CNL program. It does not get you anywhere except in a lot of debt. Based on your post, you are incredibly confused even on the basics, so last thing you need is to waste $100k on a useless CNL degree.

Get your ABSN and continue your research on NP programs.

charisma00 · Jun 8, 2018

Simple - Do not waste your money on the CNL program. It does not get you anywhere except in a lot of debt. Based on your post, you are incredibly confused even on the basics, so last thing you need is to waste $100k on a useless CNL degree.
Get your ABSN and continue your research on NP programs.

okay, since this is the second time i am hearing i am confused, what should I do more research on? I do not get what I am missing here and I would like some guidance.

allnurses Guide · Jun 8, 2018

I have my Bachelors in a non nursing field,
The Paths I am considering are:
ABSN>NP (MSN or DNP route)
MSN CNL>NP (DNP)
or
MSN CNL>NP (via post masters certification)
I want to be a nurse practitioner with a terminal degree. Where I am located, some MSN NPs are being phased out where now they want DNP educated NPs. Does this make better sense now?
I would like to know the best path for the long run as I want to do most of my schooling young before i start a family

You'd be much better off starting with the ABSN then moving to a NP program (either MSN or DNP) once complete.

verene, MSN · Jun 8, 2018

The best path is going to depend on your starting place, your goals, your financial means and life circumstances. Nursing is great because there are so many pathways that accommodate many different people from different life circumstances. It is also super confusing because there are many different pathways.

You say you want to become an NP - do you know what specialty? Do you have previous healthcare or non-healthcare experience with that population? Where are you starting from in terms of education - do you have a prior degree? How much can you really afford to pay for a nursing school program? Are you already carrying a large debt load? Are you the sole income for your household? Are you able to move to attend a program or are you needing to stay in your current location? These will all factor into which program is best for you.

Because you seem a little lost, these are the basic of the path to NP:

1. Obtain license as an RN. This can be accomplished via an ADN program, BSN program, ABSN program, or the 1st year of a direct entry MSN/NP program.

2a. If you are an in a direct-entry MSN or ABSN/MSN combined program you would continue directly into your chosen NP specialty course work.

2b. If attending one of the other options you can apply to continue straight into a NP program. OR - as is is frequently recommended on this site - you can take a few years to get some work experience at the RN level and save up money for graduate program.

In any case, to become an NP you will need to attend a program that results in eligibility to sit for the NP license exam of whatever specialty you chose. This can be either a MSN program or a DNP program. These is some push for programs to convert to DNP level, however at this time no state requires the DNP in order to obtain a license, and assuming such regulation comes to pass, MSN holding license NPs will be grandfathered in.

All of the pathways have pros and cons. I'd recommend casting a broad net and looking at all of the options available to you and all the potential pathways you could take on this journey, then start narrowing down which ones are actually realistic for you.

nyc-cnm · Jun 8, 2018

Definitely do the ABSN.

Your choices are:

Do the ABSN, become a nurse with a bachelors degree. Then attend an MSN or DNP program to become a nurse practitioner.

Or, do the MSN CNL, become a nurse with a masters degree, and also a clinical nurse leader.

To tell you the truth, no one has any idea what a CNL is, but it is not a nurse practitioner.

As a new grad CNL, you would be qualified to do the same jobs any new nurse. and you still would have to go back and get a second MSN, post masters certificate, or DNP as a nurse practitioner.

You would be no nearer to your goal of becoming an NP, but would have spent twice the time and twice the money.

(The post masters certificate for nurses who already have an MSN would generally include only the clinical courses, as you would already have completed the nursing theory, research and other non clinical courses. I just looked at the web site of a local school, and their post masters certificates take well over a year to complete, so this is not at all a quickie route to become an NP.)

cmonlaf, MSN, RN · Jun 9, 2018

I have an MSN CNL and can't just get a post masters certificate because my MSN is entry level (I also had a non-nursing bacherlor's). Post masters certificate programs for NP generally require you to have a degree in advanced practice already (such as another concentration in NP or CNM, CNS). I am currently in a BSN to DNP program because of this. The programs that do consider other nursing masters weren't really much shorter, if a semester or one or two classes. A CNL masters is just not up to par with an APRN masters. Thankfully my CNL program was pretty short as it was accelerated and much cheaper than the program you are considering, otherwise I would have probably got my BSN.

In short, definitely get your BSN, if anything simply due to the cost with almost no added benefit. The only way I can see it being beneficial is if the school you are looking for for the CNL would waive some of the classes if you decide to go there when you eventually get your DNP or post masters certificate. My school would only count two of these. Not worth it.