Anyone have any advice for BSN as second degree?

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 19, 2012

I'm about to finish my BS in Biology this December, and I've decided that the path of a NP with a pediatric specialty really seems like my cup of tea.
I see there are numerous 'accelerated' programs out there; then there are also some that allow you to take the BSN and MSN coursework simultaneously.
Would I be better off choosing one over another, or for that matter, is the college at which I receive my BSN/MSN relevant at all?
I've got a 3.9 and superlative exam scores, so I don't think I'm limited by that. I'd just rather minimize costs as much as I can while not sacrificing my exposure to excellent medical facilities that some schools boast they provide.

*** There are accelerated BSN and MSN programs that prepare you to be an entry level bedside RN. There are also direct entry MSN program that allow one to be trained as an RN then procede directly into NP training.

Accelerated BSN programs for those with previous bachelors degrees have a track record of being highly sucsessful and one will find graduates of such programs working in all areas of nursing.

However the programs that produde an NP without bedside RN experience are more questionable.

NPs and PAs compete for many of the same jobs and on a day to day basis there may be little to no difference between their jobs. However PAs recieve far more clinical training than NPs do. This is due to PAs usually coming to the profession without significant medical experience. NP programs tend to assume one comes to the NP program with a lot of bedside RN experience and so have much less clinical training.

Many people in the medical field are sceptical about thise "instant NPs". I know where I work there are no considered for emplyment since every NP job lists bedside RN experience as a requirment. I have worked with some of them and was not impressed personaly. I would investigate the employment prospects before you invest in such a program.

My advice is to become and RN and gain work experience then apply to an NP program.

JillyPlot · Sep 19, 2012

I was in a similar situation as you except that I had a degree in education and decided to go into nursing after 5 years of teaching. I looked at 2 local direct entry accelerated BSN/MSN programs, but decided no to go that route because I want to get at least 2-3 years bedside experience before I go into the NP program. I spoke to a few RNs as well as one NP and a few doctors I know personally. They said in order to get the most out of the NP program and have the best prospects for jobs, I needed a few years of experience working as an RN. One of the programs I looked at did allow you to defer your entry into the MSN program for up to 2 years, but who says I will have a job that soon after graduating that I would get sufficient (in my opinion) experience before that 2 years passed. So, I ended up choosing an accelerated BSN program that I will complete in 11 months (I don't start until April) and plan to apply to graduate programs after a few years working. I will be just under 30 when I graduate and hope to become an NP by the time I'm 35, just to give you an idea of my timeline after over a year of researching the best options for me.

crouthers · Sep 21, 2012

Yea, an aside that is in small print on many of the combined MSN/BSN programs is that before beginning graduate level courses you must have at least one year of experience as a RN. So in order to get said experience you go through the first year, attain your license, work a year, and then I suppose continue your studies.

Very deceptive in my opinion. Anywho, it does seem like an accelerated BSN is a good option. Is there a consensus on whether the school you attend has any bearing on job outlook, median salary, or anything of the like. I know when pursuing say an MBA that unless you go M-7 or higher then many consider the degree to have little value, but is the situation similar in nursing?

As in, would it be advisable for me to go to Duke/Yale/etc, or would a lesser known school suffice where I would pay a fraction of the cost in tuition.

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 21, 2012

Yea, an aside that is in small print on many of the combined MSN/BSN programs is that before beginning graduate level courses you must have at least one year of experience as a RN. So in order to get said experience you go through the first year, attain your license, work a year, and then I suppose continue your studies.

*** Who would want to hire such a nurse? Why hire an RN who you KNOW is going to leave just as they are becoming usefull? That is part of the reason direct entry masters grads are not hired in some health systems.