Confused

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Hey everyone...

I am having a hard time trying to decide my path after graduation from my accelerated ADN RN program in fall 2018.

A little background....I hold a BSHS degree that I finished in three years (CGPA 3.77 & was in honors program, amongst a plethora of clubs/orgs), and am currently enrolled in the 15-month ADN at my local community college. While enrolled in this ADN program I am pursuing my MSHS (Master of Science, Health Sciences), at the university where I obtained my BSHS at. I am doing this because it's covered under scholarship and I would have to pursue it now, directly after undergrad, to get the scholarship. So far I have a 4.0 in the MSHS program and a 3.0 in my ADN nursing program. Unfortunately, my program (I'm not sure how others are) does not give any points for lab or clinicals at all and our grade is lumped into 10 credits of one/two courses that have only 4-5 exams a semester for a grade. So, if I get a B average with the exams, that's a B for all 7 credits (lec, lab, clinical). I scored an A on every nursing school exam this past semester, however, some incidents during finals week (instructor falsely accused me of cheating and tried to get me thrown out of the program, found not guilty per student affairs/nursing dept) caused me to bomb my finals and lose both of my As. I am feeling very discouraged because of this because those A's were VERY difficult to obtain. I was told by multiple instructors that they only hand out 1-2 As every semester, in classes of over 100 students. I find that pretty ridiculous and honestly it makes me kind of angry. I don't understand how that is a fair distribution of grades and I never had that in undergrad as a premed student but whatever...moving on..

I was going to pursue an NP program after I finish the ADN program. I have spoken with and the manager of and shadowed the unit I wish to work in once I am done with my ADN in December, a level 1 trauma ICU (I've been working in a MICU as a tech for the last few years), and I am so excited to pursue that job, so I definitely plan on working if I were to pursue that route. However, I have a feeling those great grades I had in my first degree will not continue in my nursing program....I am worried I will graduate with closer to a 3.0 then a 4.0 or even a 3.5 after the way the last semester ended up. The margin of error is so so thin.

Do you think I would even stand a chance applying as a new grad? Keep in mind, I do not hold a BSN, only the BSHS/MSHS, and RN. I know many are not fans of the idea that a new grad nurse is jumping right into NP, but honestly, my plan was to go to PA school after finishing my BSHS degree anyway without stopping to gain healthcare experience. I made the personal decision not to pursue that route because I fell in love with ICU nursing and felt the drive to pursue that instead. I know in my heart I want to be a nurse practioner in an acute care setting, I have always wanted to be a provider. I am also young (21) so I would 100% work as nurse while in school and probably even once I was done with NP. I just don't know if I stand a chance as a new grad, especially without a BSN. I could get it, but I wonder if it is worth the time/money. I could also pursue MSN because I would love to teach one day, but that seems backwards to obtain that first then go back for the NP certificate. Also I have heard that hospitals are reluctant to hire MSN prepared nurses?? I'm in Ohio if that helps.

Any feedback is appreciated, thank you so much in advance.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

I am worried I will graduate with closer to a 3.0 then a 4.0 or even a 3.5 after the way the last semester ended up.

Do you think I would even stand a chance applying as a new grad? Keep in mind, I do not hold a BSN, only the BSHS/MSHS, and RN.

I know in my heart I want to be a nurse practioner in an acute care setting, I have always wanted to be a provider. I just don't know if I stand a chance as a new grad, especially without a BSN.

You would be much better served by doing a ADN to BSN bridge program and really focusing on your grades (as well as continuing to try and graduate with at least a 3.5). Remember in most quality NP programs a B (3.0) is considered failing.

There are not many ADN to MSN/DNP-NP programs and most of them are quite competitive (at least the good ones are). By going for the BSN bridge you can make yourself a stronger candidate in a number of ways:

1. You can (hopefully) use the ADN-BSN bridge to raise your cumulative GPA and demonstrate that you can withstand the academic rigor of a graduate nursing program.

2. You can use your ADN and work gaining some clinical experience and networking at the RN role which may help your application.

3. You can finish your other program so you can focus entirely on your graduate nursing program once you start.

Pursuing your NP is a great goal to have, spend some time with some and make sure it's what you really want. You are young and have plenty of time to achieve your goals.

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Thank you for your input! I was also considering doing a one year MSN in education program because I already have another bachelors and I've found a number of programs that will allow me to do it. What I am wondering is if I want to education and NP as well if it even makes sense to do BSN at all and not just get the MSN first then do post masters NP. What do you think about that? I am typically a very strong student, top 10% of my classes, but my program just seems like they make it impossible to get high grades with the way the credits are set up as outlined above. So I wonder if a bachelors and masters in a very similar field would help. It almost feels like a BSN would be silly to obtain as everyone says it is quite easy when it is online and coming from an ADN program, plus I already have two degrees that demonstrate my academic strength in heavy science courses such as assessment, pathology, pharmacology as well as leadership and research courses. . WhT do you think?

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
whitescrubsaremyfave

It almost feels like a BSN would be silly to obtain as everyone says it is quite easy when it is online and coming from an ADN program, plus I already have two degrees that demonstrate my academic strength in heavy science courses such as assessment, pathology, pharmacology as well as leadership and research courses. . WhT do you think?

I think the "easy" BSN would make you a stronger candidate for NP school, would allow you to apply to and be accepted by better programs. You could speak to local programs admissions departments and find out what they are looking for.

In my admission work for a local NP program for the DE students use a composite GPA of the pre-requisite courses and the overall GPA, but for ADN/BSN-MSN program use entirely the core nursing curriculum GPA. If you don't make the cutoff, your application will probably not even be reviewed.

From my opinion, you are better off goign from ADN to BSN then to NP because of your core nursing GPA issues. If you had a 3.6+ in your ADN program then the story might be different.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
Remember in most quality NP programs a B (3.0) is considered failing.

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A "B" is considered failing? Not that I think anyone should settle for less than A if they can help it, but I don't think I have ever heard of a program that considers a B as a failure... even the most elite of schools. Did you mean a 3.0 overall GPA?

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
A "B" is considered failing? Not that I think anyone should settle for less than A if they can help it, but I don't think I have ever heard of a program that considers a B as a failure... even the most elite of schools. Did you mean a 3.0 overall GPA?

All of our quality local programs require an 80-83 or better (and/or 3.0 GPA) to be considered "passing" in graduate NP school in core curriculum.

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Specializes in Neuro/NSGY, critical care, med/stroke/tele.
I could also pursue MSN because I would love to teach one day, but that seems backwards to obtain that first then go back for the NP certificate.

Just to clarify that an NP program *is* an MSN (or DNP) program. In order to be eligible for NP licensure, you prove to the state's nursing board that you have completed study at the graduate level and passed applicable credentialing exams for your specialty/track. These are what make you eligible for advanced practice licensure. You cannot apply without completing graduate study in the form of a masters or doctorate - though it is possible to RE-specialize through a certification program in a new specialty area (CAGS- certificate of advanced graduate study) when you already are an NP.

Good luck! Sorry about the situation around finals, that sounds rough.

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I'm well aware it is a master's! I have been researching this prior to even beginning nursing school at all. I am comparing MSN in education then post masters NP cert to obtaining BSN then applying for the MSN FNP programs. :) And yes it was quite an awful way to end the semester!

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

I agree with other posters that your best bet is to complete an ADN to BSN bridge program. Get the best grades you can. When applying for your MSN, your grades are just one factor. Schools will also look at your experience, essays, interviews, recommendations, etc. If you get good grades in the BSN program, along with good grades in Health Sciences, you should have no trouble getting into a good NP program. Good luck.

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My biggest gripe is that I wonder what a BSN would really show...if it is anything like people make it out to be it is easy online classes about theory and leadership, which I have now taken at the undergraduate and graduate level already. It seems as if it would be more of the same thing, but from a more nurse-specific POV. I just wonder if it is even worth it with the availability of MSN programs that allow you to apply with a non-nursing bachelors, both MSNs in education and MSN FNP programs. I have recently found out I was one of the only students to get out of last semester without failing/getting C's in my two nursing classes, so I think that speaks for our program as a whole. I don't know anyone that got an A in either class. I don't find the information overwhelmingly difficult at this point (Med Surg 1) however I think our program in particular likes to fail people. I don't say that lightly I actually truly believe they like failing people. This is what others have to say about my school - https://allnurses.com/ohio-nursing/cuyahoga-community-college-253744.html I think those comments pretty much sum it up. So I wonder how I could best utilize my time/money, and it almost feels like a BSN seems unlikely to display any of my academic skill set any differently then heavy science courses that a majority of people would fail in my first degree (biology, gross anatomy, advanced microbiology and physiology, physics, organic chemistry, chemistry, health assessment, research, culture in healthcare, leadership in healthcare, etc etc.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
My biggest gripe is that I wonder what a BSN would really show

Again, your ADN GPA at 3.0 shows that you are a student that would be borderline failing in a graduate program. The BSN would allow you to get the GPA up to a level the demonstrates you are capable of the academic rigor of a graduate program. It would probably also save you a bit of money and allow you to get some resume building experience.

I just wonder if it is even worth it with the availability of MSN programs that allow you to apply with a non-nursing bachelors, both MSNs in education and MSN FNP programs.

Remember there are two types of non-nursing bachelor programs: most are geared towards direct-entry students (not nurses and include the undergrad nursing curriculum) while less are ADN-MSN bridge programs (these programs often are competitive and your GPA would be limiting here).

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I completed a rigorous graduate program as well as an undergraduate program. Actually, from my research, it appears there are a plethora of MSN in education programs that offer non bachelors prepared nurses the same exact program that they offer their BSN prepared nurses. Did you complete one of these programs? Could you elaborate on why courses on leadership, theory, culture etc that are part of a BSN program would demonstrate anything different then my previous degrees? I was more so looking for someone with a similar situation as mine. But thank you for your input on me clearly being unprepared to handle the rigor of a graduate program...

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