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Discussion

Accelerated master's program... stuck?

Hi all,

I entered into an accererlated master's program in Jan 2012 with only a BS in biology, in hopes of becoming a nurse, and then an NP, all in 3 years. The layout of the program is 3 semesters of undergrad nursing coursework, a year of online advanced nursing classes, and a year of NP clinical.

I finished up "phase one" last December, took NCLEX, got my license, and have been working full time as an RN for 9 months now while taking my online classes.

I'm starting to question whether or not I want to follow through with the program. I am pretty content being a bedside nurse, and even want to get into travel nursing. The schedule to finish out my program is super intense and would have me working five to six 12's a week if I wanted to keep my job while doing NP clinicals. Not keeping my job would entail taking out more loans and missing out on bedside experience.

So I'm happy being an RN and say I decide I don't want to finish my program... The thing is, I don't have a BSN. I have a "BSN equivalent," but no actual degree behind my licnese. My degree is awarded as a master's of nursing when I finish the program.

My credits won't transfer to a BSN program (anywhere), even though I took the same courses I would need to get a bachelor's degree. I've tried. I've cried and pleaded with my institution, and the numbers on the classes are arranged so they won't transfer.

Any advice on this??? I've had a few people tell me just to quit school if my heart's not in it and that with a license and work experience, I'll be fine... but I don't want it to come back and bite me in the butt if I have a hard time finding a job in the future (or traveling) due to not having a BSN.

Any tips/thoughts would be helpful. :)

Thanks.

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    • Guides

    I would go talk to a school advisor and see what they can tell you about it; if you qualified for the NCLEX you must have something along the lines of a degree.

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    You HAVE to continue to the NP portion? I finished my accelerated entry MSN in August as have the option of going back for another year to become an NP, should I choose to do so.

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    • Experts

    Different direct-entry MSN programs are set up differently, and some don't award a BSN degree, or anything like a degree, for completing the basic nursing portion of the program.

    OP, there have been a few people who have posted here in the past who were in your situation (finished the RN portion of a direct-entry MSN program, got licensed, had to or chose to leave the program without completing the MSN) who did run into trouble later when they wanted to apply for licensure in a different state -- they had met the requirements for licensure and gotten a license with no problem in the state in which they attended school, but (some) other states said that they didn't meet the standards for licensure because they hadn't completed an approved nursing program, which is a typical requirement (the direct-entry programs that don't award BSNs or clearly separate the pre-licensure and advanced practice portions of the programs have apparently negotiatied arrangements about licensure with their own BONs, but that doesn't cut the mustard in all states).

    Tough call to have to make ... Best wishes for your journey --

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