Best step towards DNP

l0k33_RN · Aug 19, 2010

An RN is earned after passing the NCLEX exam - you are eligible to sit for the exam with any of the following: a diploma earned via a hospital-based program, an AA, or a BSN. As far as where you are ATM and where you want to go, CIO is a lofty goal - may want to identify some markers along the way to achieve.

A 2.6 won't cut it, probably: most post-grad programs expect a minimum of 3.0 in previous course work, and "A's" in nursing/science classes. You will need a MSN, NP (focus) in order to sit for the NP exam.

Nursing education is rapidly evolving - do some research and see if you can identify programs in your area that may allow you to utilize your previous undergraduate degrees in order to segue into a MSN/NP degree. I know of at least one, accredited, university in SoCal (where I live) that offers such a program. As noted, however, you will most likely need to work on your GPA in your last 60 units completed, with an eye towards a 4.0.

Good luck!

eggman · Aug 19, 2010

Thank you for the quick reply Kurt. Figured the gpa would be the biggest obstacle - live and learn. Well, at least I have no debt, right :smokin: ? Is the school you are referring to in Cali the school you attended?

I think I have three possible solutions, so if you don't mind me asking, I'm curious which route would you recommend?

A. Go into debt to quickly complete a RN and finish a RN-to-MSN program courtesy of some employer.

B. Bitting the bullet, taking a semester off and nailing some pre-reqs via some community college to get into a MSN-entry program.

C. Finding a 9-5 and complete the pre-reqs one at a time via online classes.

l0k33_RN · Aug 19, 2010

Are your nursing prerequisites complete within the last seven years? This is typically the maximum threshold for BSN programs. Also, application for these programs is both lengthy and impacted, usually - not something, unfortunately, one can decide to jump into w/in a semester (unless you go with a for-profit institution - be wary of accreditation if you go that route).

Given the options you present, I would go the student loan/BSN route, if you already have all the prerequisites satisfied.

P.S. Azusa is the one, local school I have found that offers an EMSN NP program... 3-4 years in length, and it is a private institution (not where I graduated from, though)

kenpochic · Aug 19, 2010

I recently decided to go back to school for nursing and I already have a bachelors degree. I decided to go with an ADN program and than do a Bridge Gap program into a master degree program. I am interested in becoming an RN first assistant or CRNA. My overall gpa was 2.9 however my prereq gpa was a 3.4 which is another reason why i decided to go to an ADN program through a community college.they only look at your pre req gpa. not to mention you save a lot of money. if you are planning on going back for your masters mine as well save the money when you can.

kenpochic · Aug 19, 2010

FYI not all universities etc offer bridge gap programs for people who are RNs and have a bachelors degree in another area. but they are around. it just not the most common thing so do some research

eggman · Aug 20, 2010

Y'all are great. Thanks for the advice.

elkpark · Aug 20, 2010

OP -- Your title for the thread specifically mentions "DNP." If you know you want a DNP, there's no reason to get an MSN -- there are a growing number of BSN-to-DNP programs out there that will prepare you as an NP. With your previous degrees, have you looked at/considered accelerated BSN programs? These are for people who already have a BA/BS in another area, and consist of just the actual nursing content of a BSN degree (the same content and clinical experiences of a "regular" BSN program, but shoehorned into a shorter length of time). They are typically 12-18 months in length (depending on the individual school), and prepare you for initial licensure and entry into practice.

However, be prepared to have trouble getting into any nursing program with a 2.6 GPA. Nursing programs are quite competitive these days, because of all the demand, and many programs (even undistinguished, non-big-name programs) only take people with >3.5 GPAs (because they have so many applicants for a limited number of seats, and they have to have some kind of objective system to narrow down the applicant pool). In the last nursing program in which I taught, an undistinguished state university BSN program, all the literature for the nursing program said that a minimum GPA of 2.5 was required to apply, but the reality was that no one with less than a 3.6 actually got accepted -- just because there were so many applicants with high GPAs. You'd be amazed at who is not getting into nursing school these days -- kazillions of highly qualified people are applying, and there aren't enough "slots" available for everyone who wants to get in.

Welcome to allnurses, and best wishes for your journey! :balloons:

eggman · Aug 21, 2010

Thanks for the invite and the advice. Some good people around these parts.

trouble getting into any nursing program with a 2.6 GPA

I just find this difficult to believe. I have a friend who, despite the fact I love her, is as sharp as a bag of wet mice (don't think I'm saying I'm much better with my oh so glorious 2.6). She recently went through one of those private, overpriced RN programs without having a second (or possibly a first) glance at her gpa. And she also doesn't seem to be having problems landing any jobs, even after she failed the NCLEX twice. There has to be a overpriced, private BSN somewhere as well, right? Econ 101 - increased demand causes supply increase. Or is there some element I'm missing (too few educators, limited resources, bottlenecks, unfavorable monopolies)?

kazillions of highly qualified people are applying

Even when the United State's population is just over 300 mil? Where are all these people coming from? I understand the demand for nursing school, I just find it difficult to believe there are no options, even somewhere completely undesirable like North Dakota (not hating on ND, just would never want to live there). :smokin:

I'm not doubting your considerable experience, especially since you are coming from a strong nursing education background. I just can't bring myself to believe that there isn't a path that doesn't involve picking up debt by retaking two full semesters of pre-reqs. I have no problem going into debt if I know there is light (a career) at the end of the tunnel, but doing the debt for pre-reqs... can't justify it if the competition for BSN school positions is near impossible to land.

elkpark · Aug 21, 2010

Thanks for the invite and the advice. Some good people around these parts.
I just find this difficult to believe. I have a friend who, despite the fact I love her, is as sharp as a bag of wet mice (don't think I'm saying I'm much better with my oh so glorious 2.6). She recently went through one of those private, overpriced RN programs without having a second (or possibly a first) glance at her gpa. And she also doesn't seem to be having problems landing any jobs, even after she failed the NCLEX twice. There has to be a overpriced, private BSN somewhere as well, right? Econ 101 - increased demand causes supply increase. Or is there some element I'm missing (too few educators, limited resources, bottlenecks, unfavorable monopolies)?
Even when the United State's population is just over 300 mil? Where are all these people coming from? I understand the demand for nursing school, I just find it difficult to believe there are no options, even somewhere completely undesirable like North Dakota (not hating on ND, just would never want to live there).
I'm not doubting your considerable experience, especially since you are coming from a strong nursing education background. I just can't bring myself to believe that there isn't a path that doesn't involve picking up debt by retaking two full semesters of pre-reqs. I have no problem going into debt if I know there is light (a career) at the end of the tunnel, but doing the debt for pre-reqs... can't justify it if the competition for BSN school positions is near impossible to land.

Well, yes, there are plenty of proprietary voc/tech "colleges" out there with nursing programs that will pretty much take anyone with a pulse who is willing to pay their outrageous prices for a minimally adequate (often, not even that) nursing education. However, these schools often have issues with accreditation that make them problematic if you want to continue your education in the future, as you have indicated you do.

Increased demand does not = increased supply when it comes to nursing education, for all the reasons you mentioned (except "unfavorable monopolies" -- haven't run into that one yet ...) There are limits set by state BONs on how many students a nursing program is allowed to accept, based on the school's numbers of faculty and available clinical resources. There is not only a national shortage of nursing educators, there is also a growing shortage (oxymoron, anyone?) of available clinical facilities, esp. in the specialty areas. Many (most?) nursing schools increased their size and number of students they could accept a number of years ago, during the last so-called nursing "shortage," and programs are pretty much at the maximum size reasonably possible now. Also, many new nursing programs were started up at that time and, in many areas, there is now a nursing program on nearly every street corner -- most cities of any size are completely saturated (hence, the shortage of available clinical sites). However, in spite of this, most of the legitimate, reputable programs are now flooded with applicants (no, I don't know where they're all coming from, but they're certainly there). (Again, the fact that many of the proprietary tech/voc schools have no waiting list and can admit you immediately is not a good thing; more like a big red flag ...)

I did not mean to suggest that you wouldn't be able to get into a legit nursing program somewhere -- I was just offering a cautionary note. Many people new to nursing have no idea how competitive nursing programs are these days and assume they can just walk into a program (the program of their choice) whenever they choose. However, one of the great things about nursing, IMO, is that there are usually several different routes to get to where you want to be. If you're willing to put time and effort into "shopping around," and possibly relocating, I'm sure you can find a program somewhere that will meet your particular needs.

eggman · Aug 23, 2010

Thanks for the reply elkpark. Really clarifies what I've been trying to wrap my head around.

Looks like I've got a lot of research to get on. Thanks again all.

BTW - I've been giving kudos for replies. Is this proper forum etiquette?

happy2learn · Aug 24, 2010

You typically give a kudos if you like a post. Pretty much it.

Be careful about overpriced private RN programs. If you're goal is to be a DNP, I would highly suggest you spend less on the RN degree as you will be spending a ton on the DNP portion. Also, it should be a red flag that someone failed the NCLEX twice, IMO. There are also many people who go to these schools, and then have to re-take their gen ed courses as they will not transfer to a university. I've met plenty of those people. If your end goal was to be an RN, then I guess it wouldn't be an issue. But since you want to go beyond RN, it would be an issue, and a big hassle, for you.

Your best option is to work on your pre-reqs at a community college, to build up that GPA, then apply to schools.

Good luck to you.