Beginning MSN/NP program immediately after Bachelor's?

[taylor.sponsler]

I am graduating from a BSN program in Pennsylvania this December. My ultimate goal is to become a nurse practitioner, and I am interested in graduating and immediately beginning NP classes to work on that degree. Is this possible? I know that many schools do not require experience, but do they allow you to apply and become accepted without actually having graduated from the program yet (or having your nursing license?) I am used to being in school so I am interested in doing this for the sake of staying on my routine, and of course working while I'm in school, as I do now. Has anyone gone directly from graduating from a BSN program into an NP program the following semester? What schools have you gone to? What are the best online schools for NP? Any information would be fantastic! Thank you! Trying to think about things early :)

[Gidget63]

Hi. I am not sure of a Dec. graduation timeline but I graduated in May with a BSN and started my FNP program in August. I applied for many of the programs between November and March. The majority of the programs made a decision prior to my graduation. A few made a decision after my degree was conferred. So, yes, you can apply and receive a decision prior to having graduated with your BSN. My acceptances were conditional on having an RN license by the start of the program which for my program was by August. As a new BSN grad in an FNP program, I do not have any problems with the academics as I was already used to studying, taking exams online, writing papers, etc.. I think the problem for me will come when I graduate as an FNP and have little/no RN experience. To offset this, I was lucky and found a RN job where the nursing director was willing to work with my program schedule. Most places wanted me in a new graduate nurse program which conflicted with my school schedule and once I told them that I was in the NP program and would need some scheduling flexibility, 3 out of my 4 job offers said NO and 1 agreed to it. Needless to say, I either eat, sleep, work or study and have no social life. My peers think I am nuts as I should just enjoy being in school. I hope the RN experience will help me with an FNP job and I won't be viewed so much as a new Nurse and a New FNP when I graduate in August. Don't let others discourage you as you will be able to handle the FNP academics and clinicals without a problem - or at least I have been able to. When I applied to FNP programs, I applied everywhere as I felt I only needed to get in 1 place. I ended getting accepted to several and out of a BSN class of 150, only 2 of us went on for our MSNs and the rest of the class went to work. More would have applied but the professors were on the side of work first, then go back for the MSN and discouraged many of my friends. . Good luck Gidget