LPN to MSN??

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Long-Term Care, Pediatrics.

I have a random question for everyone. Have you guys heard of LPN's who obtain their MSN without having to get their BSN first? I'm an LPN with three years of experience (mostly med/surg), and in December I will have a bachelor's in science (with a double major in Biology and Psychology). I'd like to obtain my MSN and apply to medical school afterwards. I've already taken the prerequisites for medical school, I just have the MCAT left. But before I go on to medical school, I would like to work in nursing for a few more years. So I'd like to obtain my MSN, but if I still have to do the LPN-to RN-to BSN transition, then it might be a better idea to just apply to med school and skip trying to get my MSN first. Do you guys know if the 3 years of experience I have would help at all when it comes to trying to get my MSN? I've looked at MSN admission programs, but this is not a common question and I couldn't find any info on it anywhere.

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Some schools do have accelerated MSN programs for people with Bachelors in other fields. I'm not aware of any LPN-MSN though.

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I am only aware of programs that are RN to MSN not LPN to MSN but they may be out there.

otessa

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

There are programs out there that you don't even have to your LPN to get a MSN, if you have a Bachelor's in another field. It sounds like you've mapped out a pretty long journey for yourself. Just curious, why would you want to work as a nurse several more years if your goal is medical school? They are two very different disciplines.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Sounds like you are on a pretty steep career trajectory! Good for you.

Please be very cautious about 'skipping a step' (BSN) along the way. If you are a consistent AN follower, you will note that there have been several instances of nurses who were not able to get licensed in another state because of their 'alternate' pathway to MSN. Licensure requirements are outlined by each state and there are differences. If you have to relocate in the future, you don't want to get caught in this dilemma.

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I agree that, while I've heard of RN (diploma/ADN)-to-MSN programs, I've never heard of an MSN program that didn't require you to be an RN first (except the direct entry programs for non-nurses, but I would be surprised if LPNs would qualify for those, either).

If your goal is to go to medical school, why not just focus on that? Why pursue an advanced degree in a different occupation first? If you really want to "work in nursing a few more years," why would you need an MSN to do that? And it's not going to give you any particular advantage in getting into medical school. What are you planning on doing (professionally) that would justify the time, effort, and expense involved in taking an MSN?

There is no number of years of experience as an LPN that is going to give you any special consideration in getting into a nursing graduate program -- just as it wouldn't help you get RN licensure without the required additional education.

Best wishes for your journey!

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Specializes in FLOAT: PEDS, ADULT MED SURG, CARDIOLOGY,.

The Medical College of Georgia has a MSN program for NON RN's. You can become a Clinical Nurse Leader. You must have a bachelor's degree in any area OTHER than nursing. You CAN be a LPN in this program but NOT a RN.

http://www.mcg.edu/son/cnl.htm

GOOD LUCK!:up:

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.

I am with the others; if you're actively planning on going to medical school, why invest the time and money in furthering your nursing education?

While you would not make very much working as an LPN while you go through medical school, you would make more money than an entry-level non-healthcare job and you'd be getting health care experience. While you would get a higher pay and have more job opportunities as an RN, you will still rake up the costs of a DEMSN program and spend a lot of time getting that degree. My understanding with most DEMSN programs and even bridge ADN to MSN programs is that you still get much of the education you would receive in a bachelor's degree program but you don't get the bachelor's degree. So these programs can be very intense and take a couple of years.

If you're still thinking that you want to work as an RN prior to getting into med school (or during med school) why not look into an accelerated BSN program (which would be less expensive and less time consuming than the DEMSN---although still very intense) or look into an online school through which you could receive your ADN? (However, one concern with the ADN is that magnet hospitals, many of which are teaching hospitals, prefer to hire BSNs so you might not have any more job opportunities than you would with an LPN.)

I guess I find the OP's question to be curious as well, considering that nursing and medicine are such different disciplines. In all honesty, I think nursing school is tough at any level, and medical school is also tough. I would feel worn out and burned out, intellectually and emotionally, after doing a MSN program and medical school. I guess it isn't clear to me what the OP feels the advantage would be in working as an advanced practice nurse for a few years before going to med school. Might I suggest she look at being a paramedic or going to PA school instead? These seem, at least to me, more congruent with the discipline of medicine, which is her eventual goal.

Maybe the OP wants to try advanced practice nursing before medical school, which makes sense. Just as a warning, though, if medical school is really your primary goal and you have your heart set on becoming a physician, you may be piling on a lot of unnecessary expense and spending a lot of time pursuing something that is not your primary goal if you divert your attention to becoming an advanced practice RN. (Just an FYI here---some of the DEMSN programs prepare graduates for advanced practice roles as nurse practitioners. Others prepare graduates as clinical nurse leaders, a position that is controversial in some institutions. Those grads often end up doing bedside for at least a few years, so, if you end up in a DEMSN program that prepares you to be a CNL, you might end up doing bedside anyway until you are done with medical school.)

I guess what I am most curious about regarding your question, Lady_Luck, is, are you trying to decide between advanced practice nursing or medicine, or have you pretty much decided that your heart is set on medical school? Whatever you want, go for it---but I'd hate to see anyone make the investment of time, effort, and money into a nursing program if she really wants to be a doctor.

Why not take the MCAT and see how you do? Hope all goes well for you whatever you decide!

ETA: No, unfortunately, your three years of experience as an LPN will not necessarily help you get admitted to a DEMSN program. There are too many horror stories about experienced LPNs who get their RNs and are turned down for jobs when they're new RN grads because some facilities don't consider LPN experience to be "experience". That's a whole 'nuther can of worms and it is totally WRONG but it is, unfortunately, reality.

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My hubby is currently back in school in a Masters in Nursing program for people who have degrees in other areas. We have two daughters currently on premed tracks in college. Frankly, Hubby's Master's program was harder to get into statistically than med school. :-)

If you want to go to med school, why wait? Do it. If you want to be an RN, then I would suggest moving in that direction. It's my understanding that med schools want to see you having shown an interest in the health care field - which you have already done with your LPN work. I don't see having an RN in addition being an advantage in that.

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