Confused

[whitescrubsaremyfave]

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.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

whitescrubsaremyfave

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...

I know it is hard to hear advice that differs from what you want to hear, especially when you've "done your research". But also don't jump to conclusions: I never said that you are clearly unprepared for the rigor of a graduate nursing program, what I said was, your GPA suggests that you are. If you have been successful in other programs, then my advice is to make sure your nursing GPA reflects that you are in fact a capable learner.

Your initial post reads "Any feedback is appreciated, thank you so much in advance.", but if you want advice from only "people in your position" (or perhaps "people that agree with the conclusion I've already reached"), then best of luck to you. Again, I offered my opinion as I have had extensive experience on an admission panel for a quality APN graduate program which does offer a ADN-MSN option (though there is additional coursework required compared to BSN-MSN applicants). Take from it what you will, or ignore it if it's not what you want to hear I guess.

[whitescrubsaremyfave]

It's not hard hearing advice different from my beliefs, it is hard to hear it from someone who appears to not have experience with applicants that have previous degrees in the sciences outside of nursing.

My cumulative undergraduate GPA is a 3.66 and my graduate GPA is a 4.0. It also sounds like you are assuming. I mean no harm with my questions, I only mean to ask if you could explain what 25-30 credits of a BSN would do for me other then cost me time and $ and not make a dent in the GPA? Your POV is that it would boost my GPA, but I have over 140 credits. Additionally, you say it will demonstrate academic capability. But I already have two degrees so I guess I'm just not understanding why the BSN is different? Is there some kind of significance to it that makes it so different from other science degrees?

Thank you.

[RainbowSprinkles]

I personally think, obtaining your bsn after achieving an adn is just for nursing politics. Especially, if you have a degree in another area where you have developed particular skills. However, you can run into a problem if you ever decide to switch to a nurse practitioner role. Then you would have to go back to school for a bsn. Your still pretty young, maybe you can get an employer to foot your bsn, if you want to go that route. Best of luck o whatever decision you make!

[wyosamRN]

If you are looking at being an acute care NP, then the next step is to get some experience. Most programs for acute care DO require experience, direct entry programs for acute care are not as plentiful (I'm not sure they exist for reputable schools) as they are for the primary care setting. Most want that experience to be in the ED or ICU, so finding employment in one of those settings is your next step towards that goal. Depending on your area, you may or may not be able to go directly to ED/ICU, so you may have to put in some med/surg time to get there.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

In my experience at several different schools, non-nursing coursework either is not considered or only accounts for a tiny portion of the admission decision. You'll be fine as long as you keep your GPA/nursing GPA over 3.0 and have a good GRE.

-Someone who has applied to and been admitted to multiple MSN/DNP programs, none at for-profit schools or perceived degree mills.

PA school has more clinical hours. That makes up for less/no clinical experience.

[allaboutnursing77]

I can attest to that. Simmons University requires 83 for passing..

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

To the OP: I think you should heed BostonFNP's advice. She is *very* knowledgeable about NP admissions and what schools look for in their applicants. She is a seasoned professional and gives solid advice on this forum. I've never seen her steer anyone in the wrong direction.

As to your wish to pursue acute care as an NP: reputable schools require experience in ICU or ER before you can be accepted into their programs. Most hospitals do not hire new grads directly into the ICU. I know the hospital where I work requires step-down experience with vent care before you can be accepted into the ICU training program. And to work in respiratory step-down requires med-surg experience first. So, it's not a matter of jumping feet first into ICU. In order to be an acute care NP, you're going to need quite a bit of ICU experience. You'll need exposure to art lines, titrating pressors, CRRT, post-open heart patients, balloon pumps, Rotoprone beds, emergent intubations, etc. You're not going to get that experience on a med-surg or step-down unit. So, you're going to need to "pay your dues", so to speak, to get the necessary experience to qualify for a reputable ACNP program.

As far as the BSN being a waste of your time: NP programs heavily weight your nursing school GPA over your other courses. They do look at your non-nursing GPA as well, but the most emphasis is placed on your nursing courses. Most reputable grad schools typically require a 3.2 or higher GPA as a minimum. But if you look at their admission statistics, the average GPA tends to be even higher than 3.2. Yes, they may consider the fact that you completed courses at the graduate level. However, they are going to be taking a hard look at why your nursing GPA is so much lower. You can't state on an application "but my program was tough and they like to fail people". They won't know that, see that, or even care. That is why getting the BSN can boost your over-all nursing GPA. If it's "too easy", then it should be a piece of cake to waltz through it with a 4.0 GPA, right?