How many years will it take to get my MSN?

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I'm thinking about going back to school to become a NP. After I get my BSN, how many more years will it take to get my MSN? Is there anyway I can get it done in 2 years? Also, I will be getting my BSN at a traditional college, but I am thinking about doing MSN online. Any recommendations?

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I'm thinking about going back to school to become a NP. After I get my BSN, how many more years will it take to get my MSN? Is there anyway I can get it done in 2 years? Also, I will be getting my BSN at a traditional college, but I am thinking about doing MSN online. Any recommendations?

Why don't you focus on getting quality training instead of being worried about how quickly you can get through it? There are no shortcuts to developing into a good clinician.

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I know there aren't any "shortcuts" to developing into a good clinician. If it can be done in 2 years after getting my BSN then that is the way I am going to do it.

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Specializes in nursing education.

OP, NP programs are 40-some credits generally. Full time grad school is around 9 credits per semester- like three classes- but 6 cr/2 classes is much more doable if you are working. Each program is a little bit different and you should look at the specific programs' web sites of course requirements for MSN. If you go straight out of undergrad, you may find three classes to be just fine. In other words, two years is pushing it, but there may be courses in summer you can do.

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hey_suz- Thank you for simply answering my question. My intentions weren't to get a shortcut through MSN. I know it takes more than that. I just wanted to know if it could be done in 2 yrs. That's it. & If it takes more than 2 yrs then I am fine with that also. :)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Yes, you can do it in two years.

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I'm not an NP, but planning to be one eventually. I would say it really depends on two things - yourself and the school. For example, assuming that you want to attend classes full time, you could get an MSN in 1 and 3/4 years if you did Frontier's online program for Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner. http://www.frontier.edu/academics/time-frames

I'd love to do their ADN-MSN Bridge program myself.. skips BSN entirely and I'd be OK with that. That would cut an entire year off the time it would take to get my MSN. I agree with the other commenters that it takes time to become an excellent clinician.. but I'm also turning 50 this year and very much want that MSN before I'm old enough to collect Social Security.. :)

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Specializes in Endoscopy, PACU, Medicare skilled units.

I've looked into quite a few NP programs, both online and brick and mortar. Most seem to be about 6 semesters when going full-time. For example I hope to start next fall so my schedule would look like: Fall `13, spring `14, summer `14, fall `14, spring `15, and graduate the summer of 2015.

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A key consideration will be if you are working while in school. It is certainly doable to to complete a MSN-NP in under 24 months as a fulltime student. However, most schools do NOT want you to be a fulltime student and a fulltime employee. For example at my University, full time status = 12 graduate credits. Do you really want to take muliple classes and clock 25 hours/week of practica while working 40 hours a week? Graduate level classes will be more demanding than BSN classes (more reading, more writing, more analysis).

As indicated above, you want to give yourself time to be a great clinician. It is not a race. There is no toaster awarded to the person who gets the degree first.

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UVA Grad Nursing- I never said it was a "race." (as I've said 2 times already.)

I asked a simple "yes" or "no" question, can it be done in 2 years? That's it. I also said that I DON'T MIND if it took more than 2 years. My question is being made into something it's not. If it can it can and if it can't it can't.

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Specializes in Hospitalist.

It can definitely be done in your time frame.

Get some experience as an RN. Then, check out Vanderbilt. It's a 12 month accelerated NP program from a top program in the country.

I would always recommend getting as much diversified nursing experience as possible before moving toward managing pts as an NP, but you can be very successful as a new grad RN in an NP program as well.

Many other schools are 2 yrs full time. Some will accept new grad RNs, too.

Good luck.

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Let'schill- Oh good! :) Thank you!!

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