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Discussion

Help Selecting FNP Program

Hello all! I recently began an ADN Program in Austin, Texas at Austin Community College that will culminate August 2015 (it is an accelerated program for licensed health professionals). My ultimate goal is to become an FNP with a DNP degree. I have been searching for the last several months for an appropriate pathway to get me what I want in the least amount of time; I am an experienced learner and want to return to the full-time workforce as soon as possible.

I am looking for a bridge program where I can use my previous academic experience to transition into an MSN or DNP Program. My academic experience is:

AA-General Studies

AS-Dental Hygiene

BAS-Dental Hygiene

MPH-Public Health Practice

The best I can find so far is an ADN-MSN Program with UT Tyler. While I am not opposed to completing some BSN coursework to help bring me up to speed, it seems most programs will take 3 years (a full year in the BSN component) to complete the ADN-MSN and then another 1.5- 2 for the DNP.

Ideally I would like a post-master's certificate plan for the FNP coursework. I see many across the country but all are post-MSN, no other master's degree will suffice; I know I would have to complete advanced assessment, pharmacology, and pathophysiology in this plan as well as clinicals, etc. I also have looked into DNP Programs that have an FNP option, but all (that I find) seem to have the MSN requirement. My goal is to start a degree program Spring 2016; I hope to take and pass the NCLEX in Fall 2015. I would like the program to be 3-3.5 years, but at this point that seems unlikely. I need an online program as I am locked into staying in Austin for several years.

Anybody have any suggestions? Thanks!

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    You aren't opposed to completing some BSN course work? You do realize you need an RN to be an NP. I'm not sure what you are really aiming for. You are going to have to do all the BSN coursework (or ADN and find a program that is adn to MSN).

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    Yes. I just began an ADN program. I am looking for an NP program that will allow me to enter with ADN and a non-BSN bachelors.

    You aren't opposed to completing some BSN course work? You do realize you need an RN to be an NP. I'm not sure what you are really aiming for. You are going to have to do all the BSN coursework (or ADN and find a program that is adn to MSN).
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    If your suggesting that the post-masters certificate is post your MPH, I don't believe there are any post masters certificate programs like that. I believe (I could be wrong), they are all after a MSN of some sort. There are some programs that will consider your background degrees instead of having to obtain a BSN prior to starting your MSN/NP program, and some may consider giving you credit for a class or two in the program (I'm thinking you might not need an epidemiology or community health course if you already have that with the MPH) but I would guess the rest of the programs would be required.

    One option to consider, I know a couple of folks who have gone this route is Western Governors University for a BSN/MSN. They might comp you out of enough of the courses for you to complete that in a minimal amount of time, and because of the way they structure their program it would then be very cheap as well. Then having a MSN you could do a post masters bridge to a NP program. It seems like it would be a longer route until you look at it in depth.

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    You will need to look for an RN-MSN/NP program to directly enter with your RN and no BSN. Most are fairly selective and most require nursing experience; then you still may need to complete some undergrad coursework. It may be quicker and cheaper for you to do an ADN to BSN then apply to NP school.

    If you wanted to go straight through, you would have saved a lot of time in a direct-entry NP program.

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