Dropping out in mid-program?

So confused. You want to get into an NP program without your Bachelor's degree?

If that is even possible, you want to be an advanced practice nurse without actually being a nurse first and without having any nursing practice?

You want to be an advanced nurse but not so much a nurse? How does that work?

Hi haha sorry that was confusing. So there are many programs which also offer a combined accelerated RN with NP (total of 3 years). They are called master's entry or direct entry masters. Those are for people who do not have a nursing degree or RN but has a bachelor in another area. So I am waiting for their responses as well but the admission decisions are given out in January/February of 2017 for summer start. So my problem is I want to wait for them but at the same time, there is no 100% guarantee if I get into those programs...

So you want to be an advanced practice nurse without actually being a nurse first?

Be careful. A lot of programs do an joint accelerated BSN/MSN, but that does not make a NP. You still have to do the clinical certification portion of a NP program, in addition to the accelerated BSN/MSN. The clinical portion of a NP program wants you to have clinical experience as a RN first.

The reason schools offer a joint accelerated BSN/MSN is that you can fund the entire degree with federally backed student loans, which are much easier to pay off. If you work for a nonprofit - most hospitals - for a total of 10 years the entire debt is forgiven under the PSLF program. That's a benefit you don't get with a BSN only program that is usually majority funded by private loans that have to be paid back in full.

I am also in the same boat, I will be applying to several ABSN, ADN and entry-level master's programs within the next year. The application period for the ADN is next March, but the application periods for the master's programs start in September, so it's a big time difference. If I do get into the ADN program, I may just accept it because I want to get started ASAP.

In your case, I would weigh the pros and cons. If you take the ABSN route it will take longer to become an NP, but you will get more experience as an RN which will help you in your career. If you go for the masters, it might not look that good to employers to have an NP with little experience and you might have to work as an RN for a few years anyway for that experience. I wouldn't drop out of a program midway as a placeholder for another program because of the cost (unless that doesn't concern you) and it could burn some bridges. Just my two cents.

If you don't want to work as a nurse, why not apply to PA programs? They have more clinical time built in them because many students do not have healthe are experience. At least a year if RN experience is typically desired by NP programs. I worry about your career options with such a program.

Also, do they help you find preceptors? That may also be a barrier to you since you have no connections to providers in a professional capacity. Preceptorships can actually be hard to come by, particularly without an "in."