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Discussion

BSN through Direct Entry

Hi All,

I am preparing to apply to direct entry nurse practitioner programs with a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health in the near future. Not all of these programs will allow you to earn a BSN en route to a MSN. I realize that the importance of having a BSN is very much related to ones career goals, however I have been told by several people that if I do go to a direct entry NP program, going to one that allows you to earn a BSN is extremely important. Does anyone have further insight on this topic? Thank you!!!

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    I have been involved in similar discussions. Based upon what I remember (by no means a thorough and factual compendium), it is because the 'required' basic education required for licensure that is listed in some state NPAs are limited to Diploma, ADN & BSN.... no MSN. So, if you are an entry-MSN, you would not be eligible for licensure in that state. I can't recall which states this applies to, so you'd have to do your own investigation.

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    What the previous poster said is not true. as long as your permitted to take NCLEX. I will be entering into a Accelerated Entry level MSN and my program as well as others have been around for at least 10 years and no one has ever had a problem getting licensed in any state. However you might have to explain your degree to hiring managers but by this point i'm sure most have heard about accelerated programs. That can be a good or bad thing depending on the reputation of the school you decide to attend or the reputation accelerated grads have left with hiring managers. That's why its always best to do your research. As for doing an accelerated NP. I to considered doing this at one time but when you get to the provider level i think its best if you have an adequate amount of experience. But browse around this forum a bit and you'll find many successful NPs with minimal experience. One of my nursing instructors who has a doctorate once told me that alot of nurses don't understand fully how or know the many ways nurses are trained and after reading the above statement and countless other forums on this website, i'm convinced he is right

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    • Experts

    One problem that has been posted here in the past is individuals in a direct-entry MSN program that does not award a BSN who complete the basic nursing education part of the program and either choose to leave or become unable to complete the remainder of the program. They are eligible for RN licensure in the state in which the program is located (because of whatever arrangement or agreement the school has with the state BON), but, when they try to move to another state, they have found that they are unable to become licensed in other states because of the requirement that they have completed an approved nursing education program, which these individuals have not done. If they were in a program which awarded a BSN, they finished the basic education and got the BSN, and left their program, they would be fine. But, because they left midway through a program with no official credential, they are not eligible for licensure in other states.

    I'm sure that situation doesn't arise often, but people have posted here in the past about finding themselves ineligible for licensure after moving to another state. If you go to a program that awards a BSN and, for whatever reason, aren't able to continue beyond the basic nursing stage of the program, you have a BSN. If the same thing happens in a program that doesn't award a BSN, you are just someone who dropped out of nursing school.

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    @ellpark is right. In programs that dont award a prelicensure degree the student must finish their to maintain an active license

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