Anyone else in an accelerated NP program for non-nurses?

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i have a BS in Biotechnology and have just entered an accelerated nursing program. after the first two years you are awarded your BSN and sit for the NCLEX to receive your RN certification - after the third year you are awarded your MSN to become a Nurse Practitioner. it's pretty cool! just wondering if anyone else was in a similar program? :nurse:

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Which program are you in? I was going to enter a MECN program as well, but it was my understanding that the MSN does not qualify you to get your NP. You will need to have a minimum of one or two years clinical experience before you can do that, unless you are getting something like a CLN (leadership), but that is not an NP.

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Welcome to allnurses! :balloons:

I attended grad school (as a traditional, experienced-RN student) at a school that included a direct-entry program, so most of my classmates were direct-entry students (my school's program was one year of basic nursing education followed by the traditional 2-yr Master's program). So, yes, there are plenty of other students in similar programs to yours.

sugarlips -- there are a variety of direct-entry programs out there. Some award a generic MSN, which does not prepare you for an advanced practice specialty, and, AFAIK, most of those have become "CNL" programs. Other programs do offer advanced practice specialties, and you are qualified for certification as an NP, CNM, or CNS (depending on which concentration you chose) when you graduate -- no extra education is required. (I believe there is even a program or two out there that offers a CRNA direct-entry program, although that gets complicated because of the ICU-experience requirement for CRNA programs.) My school offered a few different NP concentrations, a few different CNS concentrations, and a CNM concentration, and the majority of students in the school were direct-entry students.

pink_zebra -- have you found the post-grad student forum yet? Many direct-entry students posting there. It's under the "Students" tab toward the top of the screen.

Post Graduate Nursing Student Forum: MSN/DNP/DNSc/PhD - Nursing for Nurses

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thanks elkpark! i am very new to this site and have not seen that section yet. i will have to check it out!

and sugarlips, no extra education is required other that involved in the program. i am in massachusetts, there are a ton of schools here that offer this. :)

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That's AWESOME!!

What school are you going to for this?? (noticed you said you're in Mass. also)

And what do you hope to specialize in??

:p

i have a BS in Biotechnology and have just entered an accelerated nursing program. after the first two years you are awarded your BSN and sit for the NCLEX to receive your RN certification - after the third year you are awarded your MSN to become a Nurse Practitioner. it's pretty cool! just wondering if anyone else was in a similar program? :nurse:
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snip, here is the link to my school :) it is unique in the accelerated program because it offers the BSN. there are many other in mass like it, but they only offer RN certification. the BSN is important to me because i actually hope to become a CRNA - the BSN is a pre-req for CRNA school here in mass. i have a BS in biotechnology and did research with liver disease for almost a year during my senior year at my undergrad institution. we did a lot of microvascular surgery on mice, part of which involved a lot of anesthesia administration. i got very into it! needless to say, i came into this program hoping to leave after 2 years upon receiving the BSN. however, if i do change my mind and want to specialize in something else after going through the clinicals, i will be able to stay the extra year to receive my master's and be able to sit for the NP exam. win/win!

Master of Science in Nursing (Accelerated Nurse Practitioner B.S. / M.S. in Nursing) - Regis College - Weston, MA

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

I looked into Regis' direct entry program. As well as BC and UMass as well. I actually opted for UNH's Direct Entry MSN. Its a CNL program, and 2 years in length. I am finishing up my last semester as we speak (and passed my boards this summer).

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melmarie, that is AWESOME!!! congrats!!! :) i live in mass so staying here was the best option for my family. i am actually looking into BC's CRNA program - that is my goal in a few years!

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