Graduate Schools?

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Specializes in Cardiology, ED/Trauma, Med-Surg, Telemetry.

Hi everyone:

So to begin currently I am a Senior in an Undergraduate program for Biology Pre-Med. My original life plan was to become a doctor and head out to medical school, but unfortunately, after an internship in the ER with several doctors I felt that the nursing field had more of the on hands experience that I was craving. I am steadily making my decisions to apply to specific programs for an accelerated
RN
(because I am graduating with a Bachelors degree NOT in nursing) and some of the programs include: UCONN MbEIN, Columbia ETP program, etc...

I am focusing my search on more direct entry
RN
-MSN programs with a Neonatal NP speciality in the master program. Does anyone have any opinions on programs that have this available? What do you all think of the Neonatal NP field? Any opinions at all would help because so far I am the only person in my group of "nursing" friends to decide this type of route.

I'd appreciate any help at all that can be given. Any opinions would open my mind-set. I really think I have the qualities to handle this type of field but need more help getting to that goal. Thanks!

- Jeana :heartbeat

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Hi Jenna,

A few things:

1) I am a senior undergrad who has also decided to go into nursing

2) I currently go to UConn and have looked extensively into the MEIN program.

Uconn's program starts in January and has different prereqs that many other schools (they require a genetics course that I didn't have time to take) and they won't look at your application until all your courses are complete. I was planning to start a program as soon as I graduated, so I couldn't do that.

I am from Connecticut and have absolutely loved my time at UConn. It is absolutely in the middle of nowhere, which may be an issue, but the school is phenomenal. I have a bunch of friends in the regular undergrad nursing program, and they have really enjoyed it.

I don't know where you are in your process, but I have just done most of my pre-reqs and have finished applying to schools. I am going to be a midwife, so I also looked into BSN/MSN programs. The good thing about those is that you're generally considered a graduate student the whole time, which is very helpful for financial aid. If you apply to second bachelors programs you may have more trouble getting federal loans, and will have to deal with private lenders.

Let me know if you have any questions, or want to know anything else about UConn! Go Huskies :)

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You would need two years of full-time experience as a bedside nurse in a level 3 NICU prior to attending an NNP program. DE programs with an NNP track would have to build in time for the student to gain this experience.

Here's a thread from last year that I found using AN's search function:

https://allnurses.com/post-graduate-nursing/neonatal-nurse-practitioner-380947.html

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Specializes in PICU.

Regardless of the requirement for NICU experience prior to starting NNP clinicals, I think it is a much wiser choice to get your BSN first then work at least a few months before applying to graduate school. I was convinced before I started nursing school that I wanted to work in the NICU. When I finally got to work there for a week, I couldn't believe how much I didn't like it. NPs are not like MDs in that they have a very specific, narrow scope of practice. You are licensed for one area and that's all you can do without going back to school. So I think before you put all of that effort into school, make sure you like it first!

Also, if you really think you'll like a more hands-on experience, you may find you like bedside nursing more than the NP role. And at least at my hospital, the RNs can make more than the NPs, since NP salaries are not much higher than RN salaries.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Moved to the post-grad forum (vs. the GN forum) to encourage responses. :)

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Specializes in Cardiology, ED/Trauma, Med-Surg, Telemetry.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I am currently looking into the MEIN Program at UCONN and the ETP Program at Columbia University. I still searching for more schools that offer BSN/MSN programs but haven't had much luck! I appreciate all your opinions and they really helped. I will continue my search and hopefully I will come across something :) Happy New Year also...

Jeana :heartbeat

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Thank you everyone for your replies. I am currently looking into the MEIN Program at UCONN and the ETP Program at Columbia University. I still searching for more schools that offer BSN/MSN programs but haven't had much luck! I appreciate all your opinions and they really helped. I will continue my search and hopefully I will come across something :) Happy New Year also...

Jeana :heartbeat

This link might help!!

http://www.bestnursingdegree.com/programs/direct-entry-msn/

It's Direct-Entry programs listed by state. :-)

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This link might help!!

http://www.bestnursingdegree.com/programs/direct-entry-msn/

It's Direct-Entry programs listed by state. :-)

(Just a quick mention -- this is a commercial site that lists programs that have chosen to pay to be listed on the site, so the list is not necessarily complete or exhaustive. It's certainly a place to start, however.)

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(Just a quick mention -- this is a commercial site that lists programs that have chosen to pay to be listed on the site, so the list is not necessarily complete or exhaustive. It's certainly a place to start, however.)

Good to know! Do you know of any other good sites/schools not listed?

Thanks!

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The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has a very inclusive site listing all sorts of educational programs (RN-BSN, RN-MSN, MSN, DNP, PHD, Accelerated BSN, and Accelerated MSN). These lists are at

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/nurse_ed/nep_index.htm

The AACN conducts a survey of all nursing schools every fall, and this list reflects the October 2009 survey. The 2010 survey results will be posted there when available.

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Good to know! Do you know of any other good sites/schools not listed?

Thanks!

(I see UVA beat me to it ... :D)

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Thanks!!

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