A faster route to FNP?

[michaeleo]

I'm a 30yr old male, about to be medically retired from the army... I was interested in the FNP route, because it sounds like something that really interests me, working more on the diagnostic and long term care end of nursing. I don't have much desire to be an RN, but I know it's a means to the end, and a requirement.

I was wondering if this might possible work......

Instead of going BSN, another year or two of clinical experience, THEN getting in a 2 year FNP program, which would take 7-8 years.....

Would it be feasible to go associates... working as an RN while completing a RN-BSN which would allow me to pick up my 1-2 years of clinical experience during my first 4 years... then apply to an FNP program???

I could cut the 7-8 yr spread down to 6 years??

The difference I see, is that I can knock out my clinical experience needed while I finish my BSN in nursing, effectively eliminating 1-2 years between schooling, also allowing myself not to break from school for an extended period of time. Is that at all feasible?

I don't care how much time per day I have to invest, or if it makes the last 2 years of BSN stressful timewise.

Does part time count as clinical experience??? Most NP programs say atleast a year... the ones I am looking at anyways... Working part time as an RN during an RN-BSN will be fine for me.

A few things to consider:

Money is not an issue, I will be receiving 100% disability from VA and free medical insurance for life.

School costs are not an issue. I have up to 6 years of absolutely free schooling from VA Voc Rehab, all expenses paid in full, and a monthly stipend on top of my retirement/disability.

Thanks,

Mike

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

That sounds like a good plan. I hear BSN completion programs can take longer than 2 years in some universities. In any case, you're already banking years of RN experience while completing your BSN. You may want to consider an ADN to MSN program for FNP as well. There are only a few of them but they do exist.

[ExPharmaGirl, BSN, RN]

Do you have a Bachelor's degree in another field? If you do, you can try a direct entry MSN program.

I, too, am interested in an NP program. I chose just to apply to an accelerated post-bachelor's BSN program first because of short-term costs. I find out if I get in in the next 2 weeks.

If you are interested in diagnosing and treating, have you thought about being a PA? I personally prefer the nursing model to the medical model, which is why I am pursuing nursing.

[michaeleo]

I closely examined PA and NP. I do have a bachelor's degree but completed it on a military based advanced studies program in collaboration with Hawaii Pacific University back in my first enlistment as a mere child.... I don't want to jump right into an accelerated program. I havn't been to school in nearly a decade. I'd prefer starting from the base, and getting the full education including basic maths and sciences as a refresher.

I didn't like the PA model as much. I have experience with PA's due to the fact that they are usually the PCP for soldiers. PA are common in the army, a dime a dozen. It's been my experience that the medics are more reliable.

I would prefer working in a partnership in collaboration with a physician and having more free reign. A friend of mine is a physician, and he is dying to get out of the hospital in 5-6 years, he is the one who advised me to check out NP. We have been best friends since 5th grade and he is very trusting of my abilities on a professional level, and will give me alot more freedom in practice, which is what I want. He'll do the 20% approval of my charts required by our state, and won't be breathing down my neck while I try to work. He said he prefers working along side an NP over a PA, due to certain logistical issues on our states regulations. NP require less attention from him.

[casi, ASN, RN]

I believe that the direct entry MSN programs do require pre-req coorifice work. This would make it so you weren't just jumping back into school. The science classes required before nursing school have the potential of being fairly intense and would help prepare you for the nursing school coorifice load.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

You don't need a BSN to be an NP. Fastest way to do with, assuming you are not interested in an accelerated BSN, would be to find a community college where you can become an RN in two years. The Wisconsin Technical college system is set up that way. Then do an RN to MSN NP program. There are quite a few out there. Usually instead of a BSN they have a bridge program that takes from one to two semesters to complete. If money is no object then I suggest you look into Vanderbilt's RN to MSN program. In theory you could be a NP in 4.5 years.

Of course you could do PA in much less time at one of the associates degree PA programs.

[erwigg]

That sounds like a good plan. I hear BSN completion programs can take longer than 2 years in some universities. In any case, you're already banking years of RN experience while completing your BSN. You may want to consider an ADN to MSN program for FNP as well. There are only a few of them but they do exist.

are the ADN to MSN programs also called direct entry program? which ones are they?

Thanks so much

[LeLeeFNP]

ADN to MSN is different then direct entry. direct entry is for an individual who is NOT and RN, but has a bachelors degree in non-nursing and wants to entry into practice with an MSN degree. with direct entry in most cases you bypass the ADN and BSN because your first year is prelicensure (in which you complete curriculum to become an RN) and your remaining program is the MSN portion. Some programs will allow you to take the NClex after prelicensure, then continue with your MSN while you work part time as an RN. Other direct entry programs have you complete the entire MSN before you can take your NCLEX. Keep in mind that if you did this option you would have to take your RN and NP boards at the end of the program. You could chose FNP as your specialty with programs that offer it.

An ADN-MSN is totally different. This is when an RN with an associates degree wants to complete a MSN in accelerated format. Some programs have you obtain the BSN and MSN, but 1-2 semesters will count toward both your BSN and MSN, therby shortening the program by up to a year and a half. so instead of doing a 2 year RN-BSN and then another 2 year MSN, the entire program may take you 2 1/2 to 3 years.

There are Also ADN-MSN (also referred to as RN-MSN) programs where you bypass the BSN altogether and go straight for the MSN. If you decide to do the ADN route, this type of program may be particularly helpful to you since you have a non-nursing bachelors and you may already have many of the pre-reqs.

Having explained all this, I have to agree with the previous poster who advised you to go for the Direct entry option. I would not waiste time getting an ADN if your ultimate goal is to get your FNP. You will spend the same amount of time and money trying to do an ADN, then RN to BSN or RN to MSN. As someone stated earlier, the direct entry programs have prereqs so that you don't feel like you are jumping right in, and the first year will be strictly RN curriculum. Since time is your biggest concern and not necessarily money, go for the direct entry.

[Rustin]

If you have a 100% disability Voc Rehab may not retrain you. It is pretty hard to get them to pay for graduate school too. Good luck, Rustin

[Wildschmidt]

It depends how much time you want to spend in schooling, but I would recommend some sort of accelerated program, given that you already have a bachelor's degree. If you go back for an ADN or BSN, not only will you have to take all the nursing and science classes, but you have to retake things like writing and history. Most accelerated programs require some prerequisites, and you can do just your RN or go straight into the MSN. There are also programs where you stay in the same program but they require or encourage you to take some time and work as an RN in between.

With these programs your timeline would look like: take prerequ's (usually A+P, biology, chemistry, nutrition, etc.) for 1-2 years, enter program, get RN (1-2 years), work as an RN (can skip or take years if you want, depending on program), finish MSN and become FNP (1-2 years).

You can also combine taking your prerequisites with working as a CNA or tech, getting some patient care experience. This helps a lot with admissions and making sure this is what you want to be doing!

Obviously, you can spend as much time in school as you want, but this way more of your time will be learning new things and it is more directed towards the FNP which is what you want.

[DirtyBlackSocks]

Thanks for your service.

Keep in mind the rating the Army gives you will not be the same as the rating determined by the VA when you're out.

I was discharged at 35% and still remain at 20% after 4 years of fighting with them back and forth. I initially only got a 10% rating!

Also, Chapter 31 will not cover anything that takes more than 3 years of school, and you cannot use up 3 years towards a higher degree - you have to have accomplished a degree within those 3 years. At least this is how it has been repeatedly explained to me by my Voc Rehab counselor. If you know of a loophole to get extended time, please share

[mammac5]

I don't know anything military benefits...but as a tax-paying American citizen, I hope we're going to cover all your education since you chose to serve our country.

Having said that, you might check into "bridge" programs that accept those with degrees in fields other than nursing (or sometimes just enough college credits even without a degree) where you can do all the RN requirements in 1 calendar year as a full-time student OR 2 full years as a part-time student. After passing the NCLEX, you would then roll right into an NP program.

Vanderbilt School of Nursing offers such a program. There are specific courses required for entrance...some of which you may have, but not likely if you did not major in something healthcare related. They include anatomy, developmental psych, statistics, etc. So you may need a year or two to complete the prereqs. Check out the program and see if it's what you're looking for. I believe Columbia also has a similar program. I'm sure there are others, I just don't know them off the top of my head.

Best of luck and thank you for your service!