I'm a marketing/pr professional, hoping to start an entry-level MSN program in the fall (God willing). I know these types of programs are relatively new. My question is for those of you who have completed such a program or you nurses who have coworkers from these programs, how are the nurses received in the work environment? I guess what I'm trying to see is if there's any type of tension or animosity directed toward those who enter into the field with an entry to nursing MSN degree. I know the "Clinical Nurse Leader" role has yet to fully materialize in hospitals and all of us will start off as entry-level RNs due to he lack of experience, regardless of the degree behind us, but I'm wondering how other nurses view those that have taken this route.
My ultimate goal is to become a neonatal NP, but I know I have to (and I want to) pay my dues first and get all of the experience I can as an RN. Other than allowing me to go back in a few years to get a post-masters certificate in neonatal NP, I have yet to fully comprehend what the MSN Clinical Nurse Leader degree will mean to my career starting off, and how I will be accepted and viewed by other nurses and administrators. But this is the best option available to career changers with ba/bs degrees in other fields, so I'm going with it.
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
Like everyone else has said, it's not relevant when you are new. I think an advanced degree is very pertinent--but it has to have some bite--meaning clinical experience.
Personally, I think it is just a way for the university to make money and sell it to people who are misguided into thinking that they can slide into a higher level arena immediately.
That's not how it works....
You are though, OP, one of the few that I can actually say may have come common sense--and I agree--if you are going towards the NNP route--going the CNL round seems like a lot of $$$$ spent unnecessarily...
I personally think getting a Master's as a CNL seems like an extra and unecessary step if you're ultimate goal is to gain experience as an RN and later become a NNP. I went the accelerated-BSN route, since I had a previous Bachelor's. The program was 12 months and now I am working on gaining some experience before I go back to school for advanced practice. I'm not too familiar with many CNL programs, but to me it seems like more time and money for a degree that you won't necessarily use. Is there a particular reason you're choosing the Master's in CNL route over an accelerated-BSN?
If your long-term goal is to become an NNP, why do a different MSN first? You'll have to complete nearly all of an additional MSN (or DNP, depending on how that proposal shakes out) later on in order to become an NNP; why put the time, effort and money into a Master's with a specialty you don't particularly want (and doesn't seem to be particularly marketable so far) when there are quicker and cheaper ways to achieve RN licensure, which is what you really need?
Why not do an ADN or BSN (accelerated or traditional), either of which would probably be quite a bit cheaper, get licensed, and start working on getting the NICU experience you need to qualify for an NNP program?
Well there are several reasons. One, I already have a BA and a MA, and since these programs are designed for those non-nursing ba/bs students, I think it is the best option for me to enter into this field, and financially it makes more sense, given the financial aid that I have to go after being that I already have an advanced degree. Secondly, I'm a Cali native and have no intentions on leaving Los Angeles. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of schools out here with Accelerated BSN programs and they are at least 3 semesters. Majority of the schools here offer the MEPN CNL programs as opposed to the accelerated BSN (not sure why all these schools decided to jump on this path for direct-entry, but you'll find these programs before you find the accelerated BSN for non nursing degree holders), so I'm really limited in that aspect (no interest in an ADN). The program that I have my heart set on is a CAL State, 2 years, $4500/year- I don't think you can beat this!!! And becoming a NP would take just 1 year (3 semesters) part-time as I would go for a post-masters certificate and not another Masters. But believe you me, if there was a direct-entry MSN with a Neonatal NP role that was affordable and local, I'd be sending fresh baked cookies and milk to the admissions board! But unfortunately, they do not exist.....not here at least, but I know there are a few sprinkled across the country - East Carolina University being one. So ultimately, this seems like the best route for me financially, time-wise and academically.
And like someone else said, my clinical path may change once I'm in there getting my hands bloody (
Sorry for the the long @ss thesis-style answer!
I start an CNA program at west la community college next month, so I'm hoping to get this experience prior to starting the program in the fall and hopefully work part-time as a CNA during the program so I can eat something other than top ramen noodles and lemon water for the next 2 years (although they have tried to freddy kruegar-style scare us by saying it is IMPOSSIBLE to work during the program).
Thanks everyone for your honest answers. Much respect!
Well there are several reasons. One, I already have a BA and a MA, and since these programs are designed for those non-nursing ba/bs students, I think it is the best option for me to enter into this field, and financially it makes more sense, given the financial aid that I have to go after being that I already have an advanced degree. Secondly, I'm a Cali native and have no intentions on leaving Los Angeles. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of schools out here with accelerated BSN programs and they are at least 3 semesters. Majority of the schools here offer the MEPN CNL programs as opposed to the accelerated BSN (not sure why all these schools decided to jump on this path for direct-entry, but you'll find these programs before you find the accelerated BSN for non nursing degree holders), so I'm really limited in that aspect (no interest in an ADN). The program that I have my heart set on is a CAL State, 2 years, $4500/semester - I don't think you can beat this!!! And becoming a NP would take just 1 year (3 semesters) part-time as I would go for a post-masters certificate and not another Masters. But believe you me, if there was a direct-entry MSN with a Neonatal NP role that was affordable and local, I'd be sending fresh baked cookies and milk to the admissions board! But unfortunately, they do not exist.....not here at least, but I know there are a few sprinkled across the country - East Carolina University being one. So ultimately, this seems like the best route for me financially, time-wise and academically.
And like someone else said, my clinical path may change once I'm in there getting my hands bloody (
Sorry for the the long @ss thesis-style answer!
I start an CNA program at west la community college next month, so I'm hoping to get this experience prior to starting the program in the fall and hopefully work part-time as a CNA during the program so I can eat something other than top ramen noodles and lemon water for the next 2 years (although they have tried to freddy kruegar-style scare us by saying it is IMPOSSIBLE to work during the program).
Thanks everyone for your honest answers. Much respect!
Mya
"
You are very smart and well educated. You have done your research, and you have found a path that works for your situation. Not everyone will understand as many of us nurses come from a variety of different educational backgrounds, experiences, and regions. I can definately understand why you would choose this route. Why get a lower level nursing degree when you can get a higher level one with less time and money? And yest getting a post-masters certificate makes perfect sense for you because as you stated there isn't a second degree neonatal NP program available to you.
however..........
just a thought, have you ever thought about going for FNP instead of neonatal? There are Master's degree programs available that are online and that are designed for the second degree student. You would be able to complete your clinicals in your local community. and yes, perhaps you don't want to ultimately work with adults, but you would be more marketable as an FNP than as a neonatal NP because you could see patients of all ages. If you were to go this route, you would be able to enter into practice as an NP sooner. check out Frontier (i believe they have a program for second degree students). California is pretty big, i don't know for sure but have you checked out second degree options for Family Nurse Practitioners in Cali?
Anyway, no matter what path you decide to choose, don't be like me. I originally got a non-nursing BA, then ADN, now enrolled in and RN to BSN to MSN in leadership and management. Once I finish this program THEN i have to go back for my post-masters (I'll be doing FNP). If I could do it all over i would have gone with a direct entry MSN or Accelerated BSN, but i had to pay for my ADN out of pocket and with tuition assistance from my employer at the time because I used all my financial aid with my bachelors degree. The program i am currently in is being paid for through a scholarship program and my post-masters will be paid for by my employer. so i am taking this looooong route due to both indecisiveness of what i really want to do, and also financial reasons. lets just hope i don't change my mind again! LOL
The work you do as an NNP vs. a FNP don't have very much in common. If the OP is interested in being an NNP and actually understands what a typical day is like for an NNP, then I would say it's not very likely she'd be interested in being an FNP. The same could be said vice versa. The difference is not just the patient population but the setting and activities are very different. I believe, although I don't truly know, that there is still pretty good demand for NNPs nationwide, so I wouldn't worry about marketability. My NNP friends who have recently graduated are all gainfully employed without significant difficulty, even in this economy.
You are very smart and well educated. You have done your research, and you have found a path that works for your situation. Not everyone will understand as many of us nurses come from a variety of different educational backgrounds, experiences, and regions. I can definately understand why you would choose this route. Why get a lower level nursing degree when you can get a higher level one with less time and money? And yest getting a post-masters certificate makes perfect sense for you because as you stated there isn't a second degree neonatal NP program available to you.
however..........
just a thought, have you ever thought about going for FNP instead of neonatal? There are Master's degree programs available that are online and that are designed for the second degree student. You would be able to complete your clinicals in your local community. and yes, perhaps you don't want to ultimately work with adults, but you would be more marketable as an FNP than as a neonatal NP because you could see patients of all ages. If you were to go this route, you would be able to enter into practice as an NP sooner. check out Frontier (i believe they have a program for second degree students). California is pretty big, i don't know for sure but have you checked out second degree options for Family Nurse Practitioners in Cali?
Anyway, no matter what path you decide to choose, don't be like me. I originally got a non-nursing BA, then ADN, now enrolled in and RN to BSN to MSN in leadership and management. Once I finish this program THEN i have to go back for my post-masters (I'll be doing FNP). If I could do it all over i would have gone with a direct entry MSN or accelerated BSN, but i had to pay for my ADN out of pocket and with tuition assistance from my employer at the time because I used all my financial aid with my bachelors degree. The program i am currently in is being paid for through a scholarship program and my post-masters will be paid for by my employer. so i am taking this looooong route due to both indecisiveness of what i really want to do, and also financial reasons. lets just hope i don't change my mind again! LOL
Thanks for the compliment (you can't tell me I'm smart enought......go on, tell me again!!......I keed, I keed )
I will check out Frontier, but I have yet to come across any direct-entry online programs with an NP emphasis. Are you sure these are not for RNs who hold a ba/bs in a non-nursing major? I will definitely set out on an intensive google search and see what I find.....but let me tell you, I'm so sick and tired, tired and sick of researching nursing! LOL....I feel like all my free time has been spent on nursing. Prereqs, research, orientations, looking for $ available for nursing students, lurking Allnurses.com, I mean this career change has turned me into a damn stalker!! LOL
Hey, don't beat yourself up. We all have our own individual walks in this thing called life and sometimes we take these crazy maze routes before we get to where we are meant to be, but it's life. I could just kick my own @ss for not discovering this career 12 years ago when I started college! But guess what, 12 years ago, I hadn't discovered myself, so how in the hell could I have possibly discovered my life long professional passion???? I know some folk out there wore stethoscopes or carried around gavels or handcuffs (stay with me here, I'm making a point) before they even learned to use the potty, but that wasn't me! LOL
I even went on to get an expensive masters degree in a field that I had just sort of fell into after undergrad and I thought "oh well, this is your career, so you might as well try and advance in it." And yet 3 years later, here I am learning all the damn systems of the body and having a blast skinning a dead cat and snapping photos with my blackberry and sending them to my facebook account to gross out all of my friends!! Who knew? LOL.....
So, I say all of that to say this, enjoy your journey and know that it was designed specifically for you by the Most High - no mistakes, just a few bumps, concussions and flat tires along the way - but no mistakes! (or at least that's what I tell myself to keep from crying!! LOL.......I'm joking!)
Sending you cyber wishes of luck on your continued path!
The work you do as an NNP vs. a FNP don't have very much in common. If the OP is interested in being an NNP and actually understands what a typical day is like for an NNP, then I would say it's not very likely she'd be interested in being an FNP. The same could be said vice versa. The difference is not just the patient population but the setting and activities are very different. I believe, although I don't truly know, that there is still pretty good demand for NNPs nationwide, so I wouldn't worry about marketability. My NNP friends who have recently graduated are all gainfully employed without significant difficulty, even in this economy.
Yeah, my heart is set on NNP. Next month, I start a 6 month volunteer assignment at a children's hospital out here, and I'd probably do it for free if I didn't have a problem with being homeless.
I'm a marketing/pr professional, hoping to start an entry-level MSN program in the fall (God willing). I know these types of programs are relatively new. My question is for those of you who have completed such a program or you nurses who have coworkers from these programs, how are the nurses received in the work environment? I guess what I'm trying to see is if there's any type of tension or animosity directed toward those who enter into the field with an entry to nursing MSN degree. I know the "Clinical Nurse Leader" role has yet to fully materialize in hospitals and all of us will start off as entry-level RNs due to he lack of experience, regardless of the degree behind us, but I'm wondering how other nurses view those that have taken this route.
My ultimate goal is to become a neonatal NP, but I know I have to (and I want to) pay my dues first and get all of the experience I can as an RN. Other than allowing me to go back in a few years to get a post-masters certificate in neonatal NP, I have yet to fully comprehend what the MSN Clinical Nurse Leader degree will mean to my career starting off, and how I will be accepted and viewed by other nurses and administrators. But this is the best option available to career changers with ba/bs degrees in other fields, so I'm going with it.
Any thoughts? Thanks!
I have personal experience with this because I am a ADN RN that worked up from a MA, UNit Sec, LVN to ADN and continuing. Anyway, I have oriented many MSN students who have a bachelors in a another career field and are going thru a fast track MSN. I like the concept and everything and I wish I had done it that way. The only problem that I have seem is these student have A LOT of theory behind them with NO experience. They are very BOOk oriented but some not very practical. I have heard many nurses talk about and have heard horror stories of theses MSN nurses doing REALLY DUMB things. I guess what I am trying to say is that a MSN student should have as much practical skills as theory skills and many nurses feel they are unprepared for the "floor" enviorment. I can agree that a MSN entry level student is equal to an entry level ADN student in my eyes, on they floor they really don't know much more..... How will you be recived, I think if you are willing to ask questions and NOT be pompous about your MSN degree, it will be OK. I have seen many ADN RN's snicker and roll their eyes when a nurses talks about how many degrees they have... LOL
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
OP,
Be forewarned. And I mean take this seriously.
NICU and the nurses in that specialty are VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY protective of these babies...
Since you've not been around them I can honestly say that is one of the TOUGHEST specialties to become proficient in.
Do not take for granted that minimal experience is going to be enough.
YOU will BE VETTED and I mean VETTED by 20 year NICU nurses...and it won't be easy.
It is a specialty where people from FLA know people in CALI.
Don't think that going straight for your NNP without LEVEL 3-4 experience and I mean A LOT of it....it is a specialty that requires hands-on skill...especially with the micro-preems...they bleed so easily..
If you think being vetted on a new med-surg floor is hard, you will be vetted 50 times over in the NICU.
Personally, I think it is just a way for the university to make money and sell it to people who are misguided into thinking that they can slide into a higher level arena immediately.
I can only speak for myself and my experience but your description certainly does not apply to me, my program, nor any of my classmates.
Hey, don't beat yourself up. We all have our own individual walks in this thing called life and sometimes we take these crazy maze routes before we get to where we are meant to be, but it's life. I could just kick my own @ss for not discovering this career 12 years ago when I started college! But guess what, 12 years ago, I hadn't discovered myself, so how in the hell could I have possibly discovered my life long professional passion???? I know some folk out there wore stethoscopes or carried around gavels or handcuffs (stay with me here, I'm making a point) before they even learned to use the potty, but that wasn't me! LOL
I even went on to get an expensive masters degree in a field that I had just sort of fell into after undergrad and I thought "oh well, this is your career, so you might as well try and advance in it." And yet 3 years later, here I am learning all the damn systems of the body and having a blast skinning a dead cat and snapping photos with my blackberry and sending them to my facebook account to gross out all of my friends!! Who knew? LOL.....
So, I say all of that to say this, enjoy your journey and know that it was designed specifically for you by the Most High - no mistakes, just a few bumps, concussions and flat tires along the way - but no mistakes! (or at least that's what I tell myself to keep from crying!! LOL.......I'm joking!)
Not only are you smart, you are wise. I think you will be very successful as a nurse.
......I keed, I keed 
PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN
2,211 Posts
Like everyone else has said, it's not relevant when you are new. I think an advanced degree is very pertinent--but it has to have some bite--meaning clinical experience.
Personally, I think it is just a way for the university to make money and sell it to people who are misguided into thinking that they can slide into a higher level arena immediately.
That's not how it works....
You are though, OP, one of the few that I can actually say may have come common sense--and I agree--if you are going towards the NNP route--going the CNL round seems like a lot of $$$$ spent unnecessarily...