BSN vs. MSN - Nurse Practitioner?

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A little bit about myself: I am a Nursing/Army ROTC student/cadet at the University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY) at the UK college of nursing. My course is a 4-year BSN track...

After a 4-year BSN, is it possible to become an NP, or does becoming an NP require an MSN?

Does anything change if you are an Army/Military nurse, because they have their own specialty programs.

Any other BSN vs.MSN info?

Thanks, for the help, y'all!

I am abbreviating Nurse practitioner as NP.

I understood that. It just seems from your questions that you may be unclear about the role differences between an RN and an NP. They really are very different roles.

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Specializes in CNA.

Oh, sorry for the confusion..

As I understand it, an RN is a graduate of a nursing program that has taken the board exam, and an NP is an RN with a more advanced nursing degree.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.
It's 2015....BUT....that is a recommendation by the ANA, who isn't a credentialing organization. So far, no one has said definitively that anyone will need a DNP (Doctorate of Nursing Practice) by 2015, it's just a recommendation and a conversation.

But if it is true, I wonder, will current NP's with an MSN have to go back to school to get their doctorate to "fulfill" the NP requirements?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

No - if and thats a big IF, the DNP becomes mandatory, then those currently in practice with an MSN will be grandfathered in.

Back to the OP: there is no "on the job training" for NP. Even in the military.

Bottom line is you have to have at least an MSN.

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Specializes in CNA.

TraumaRUs --- THANK YOU! Exactly the answer I was looking for, confusion = clarified.

Thanks for all your help everyone!

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