change MSN concentration

BritFNP · Mar 25, 2014

I have heard it is not easy to switch program to program. Most grad programs will only accept a certain number of graduate level course/hours. If it is same school, I don't think its too big of an issue. Your core courses are the same usually until you branch off into your separate specialties. For example, my entire first year was filled with classes that the MSN educator students did too. Every school varies.

Azureshunter · Mar 26, 2014

Thanks for the input! Like you said, the first few semesters are the same for all MSN specialties. You definitely give me hope :)

PG2018 · Mar 26, 2014

My school just sent out an email last week about changing specialties. I'm a dedicated psych guy and will gladly stay away from the rest of the body, lol, but apparently a lot of the adult-oriented specialty folks and the pediatric folks are wanting to jump ship and go into family practice. Basically the email said "tough." They could either start over, with a new application, or wait until they graduate and do a post-master's cert. However, it's been done. It's all a matter of economics. The peds and adult classes hear "it'll be easier to get a job because you can see all ages," but neither really wants to work with adults or kids respectively.

On the flip side, the psych students are generally recruited well before graduation here, and the peds people see that as well. The adult side of the house graduates with an "OMG, I have no idea where I'm going to work!" mentality, and the family practice people generally make enough applications until they get hired somewhere. Interestingly, although they hear it'll be easier to get a job it takes them longer to find one so it's really a conundrum for the adult students.

Not at all trying to insult anyone that's in family, but our family practice students have the shortest program with the adults taking one more class and the psych and peds people taking two more than the family guys. I've read their course descriptions and one is basically a dilute pediatric course with similar rotations, a "childbearing and reproductive course" that is really ambiguous in the course description although one of the required books deals solely with birth control, and a final class focusing on "the geriatric population" so I'm not sure where the FNP folks get their training in everyday, adult sickness.

Not that my opinion amounts to much, but if you really don't want to go into family practice then don't do it. If your hear lies with adult specialties then stick with it, and you'll fare well in life.

Azureshunter · Mar 26, 2014

I think it all comes down to individual's perspective. We all have to do adult, peds, psych,... for our BSN. Doesn't mean all of us going to work in all of those areas. If the FNP gives me the most opportunities, then it is going to be my ultimate choice.

Cardiac-RN · Mar 27, 2014

LucyLucy, there were multiple people in my program that changed concentration from peds or adult to family on the way, after or during the core courses and before starting the clinical portion. They simply filled in positions that opened up as people dropped out/ failed out, and did not have to reapply. I do not believe anyone had to wait an extra semester or year to get into clinical either. There were just a handful of them and it sounded as if the program was OK with it because there were seats available that they could not just plug a new student into anyways. Have you already contacted your advisor/ lead faculty? I think it all depends on the specific program and what they can accomodate.

Good luck,

Cardiac-RN

Azureshunter · Mar 27, 2014

Thanks Cardiac-RN! It is good to hear from other people and knowing it is possible to switch. I have contacted my advisor, she said it is not possible now because the space are already filled up for FNP, but I can re-apply next semester. Keep fingers crossed.