Contacting Interview Panel

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Hi guys,

I wanted to know about the likely hood of a person getting hired as fresh out of college with a msn but no bsn as I am deciding which program and degree to pursue.

So, I thought it was a good idea to contact some of the major hospitals in my area to get a feel of how they feel about hiring entry level msn students.

For all of them I pretty much emailed the general email address provided on their site and requested some statistics, FAQs or be forwarded to the proper person/department (hoping it would reach HR or one of the manager nurses) in hopes to address my question. However, out of the dozen hospitals, most responded by saying they do not forward information to the recruiting party.

This really sucks. I was really hoping I could meet with someone simply to discuss the outlook of my future.

So my question to you guys is, how do I approach this situation. Is there generally a person at a facility I could reach out to and have an open conversation with or is looked down upon and I shouldn't even have emailed the hospitals. (Even though I think it is a clever idea to reach out and do some research).

Thanks

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

Recruiters will generally accept of you try to connect to them on LinkedIn.

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Specializes in ICU.

Do you mean getting hired as an NP without any RN experience?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Are you seeking information about getting a job with an MSN without nursing experience? In my organization, you are only qualified for the same jobs as all other newly licensed (BSN) nurses. For most large organizations, this means acceptance into the nurse residency program. No experience = entry level...... no matter what type of job you're seeking.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

My institution's approach is the same as the HouTx wrote. We treat a new grad as a new grad, regardless of his/her entry-level degree. People graduating from Master's entry programs are hired into new grad, staff nurse positions. We don't discriminate against them, but consider them to be new grads like the others until they get some experience.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
My institution's approach is the same as the HouTx wrote. We treat a new grad as a new grad, regardless of his/her entry-level degree. People graduating from Master's entry programs are hired into new grad, staff nurse positions. We don't discriminate against them, but consider them to be new grads like the others until they get some experience.

Same answers, apparently not the desired ones, as OPs other thread.

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.
Same answers, apparently not the desired ones, as OPs other thread.

Maybe I can give OP an answer they want..

Some federal agencies increase your pay grade for having a master of whatever degree. Depends on the position, but it does apply to many nursing positions.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Maybe I can give OP an answer they want..

Some federal agencies increase your pay grade for having a master of whatever degree. Depends on the position, but it does apply to many nursing positions.

Excellent information. Does this translate into a new grad with no experience and their CNL as being more valuable or even as valuable as a BSN for the positions they would be qualified to work?

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

Eh, sort of. As valuable, yes. More valuable.. eh. Better paid, yes. For example, this is a copy paste from a nurse vacancy on usajobs:

GS-09: Master's or equivalent degree; OR, Two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education); OR, One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level.

So, translated: for this job you could walk in with no experience and an MSN, and be GS-09. If you walked in with no experience and a BSN, you'd be GS-07. Some other jobs, BSN would be GS-09 and MSN would be 10 to start.

Of note, the VA had a lot of psych NP jobs when I did the search Jules ;)

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Eh, sort of. As valuable, yes. More valuable.. eh. Better paid, yes. For example, this is a copy paste from a nurse vacancy on usajobs:

GS-09: Master's or equivalent degree; OR, Two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education); OR, One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level.

So, translated: for this job you could walk in with no experience and an MSN, and be GS-09. If you walked in with no experience and a BSN, you'd be GS-07. Some other jobs, BSN would be GS-09 and MSN would be 10 to start.

Of note, the VA had a lot of psych NP jobs when I did the search Jules ;)

But does this mean they are actually preferred when it comes to the hiring choice? Or would they rather someone with more hands on experience who they could pay a bit less? I don't know just asking and probably somewhat position specific.

Ahhhhhh as for VA NP jobs I would love it but as recent as 5 years ago my base salary is >$50,000 more a year than the highest VA pay grade and I won't live long enough to get enough years experience to even make that one. Even if they have increased wages my guess is not enough and although I remember the perks of federal benefits they aren't enough for me to lose thousands of dollars a year in my salary. Bummer because as a RN VA paid me well and despite many negatives I really enjoyed it.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I just wanted to clarify my position on something -- based on the other current thread about this topic.

I am OK with entry-level MSN programs. I have worked with some graduates of such programs who have been excellent nurses. However, they need to be prepared to have to work as staff nurses (along side BSN grads) for at least a year or two before a lot of people will accept them as suitable candidates for leadership positions. I know few people in respectable facilities who will hire leaders who have zero experience in the field.

However, what I have seen is that they after they get a year of two of experience, they are often ready for leadership positions a little sooner than the traditional BSN grads -- though that depends on the individual, of course.

So ... if I were a career changer with a BS in something else ... and looking to become a nurse ... an entry-level MSN would be the route I would probably choose. (I would choose and MSN with a CNL concentration and CNL's are prepared as generalists and would not lock me in to a specific specialty or role.)

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Can you combine these threads?

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