Master Program Right After Nursing School Possible?

meandragonbrett · Mar 18, 2010

Get a year of experience just to get yourself settled. Then apply to programs.

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 19, 2010

I don't know of any schools that will let you into a critical care NP program without at least 1 year of critical care experience. If this is something you truly want to do, then I din't see why getting some experience in the field will be discouraging to you. You might find that the experience fuels your fire even more.

mustlovepoodles, RN · Mar 19, 2010

Yike! You want to be a critical care NP with no actual nursing experience? Sorry, sista, but nursing school is not real experience. Most schools require 1-3 years of full-time nursing employment for a reason: so that you have some bonafide experience to build on. Book larnin' just ain't enuf.

My suggestion is that you find an ICU, CCU, NeuroICU, some kind of critical care unit and work hard to learn everything you can before you embark on the trail to higher learning. You will certainly have more confidence and credibility in the long run.

Moogie · Mar 19, 2010

Not to try to discourage you, but without at least a year or two of clinical experience under your belt, you will have a difficult time formulating a relevant research topic in graduate school. It is much easier to understand nursing theory and digest (and learn to disseminate) research if you have experience in a clinical area.

Additionally, most graduate programs require that a nurse specialize in a clinical area. It is hard to shift directions and get into a different specialty once one has finished graduate school. You can easily run the risk of pigeonholing yourself in a role that you may not enjoy or a specialty that isn't quite right for you. If you decided, say, after finishing an adult NP program that you really would have liked to have tried OB or mental health, you can't easily make that switch once you have completed or almost completed graduate school.

Why would working as a bedside nurse discourage you from getting further education? I understand---there's that idea of going back to school when you're still in the studying mode---but believe me, you will have a definite learning curve just to become accustomed to the different role of nurse vs. undergraduate student nurse---and you will have plenty of intellectual stimulation your first year at the bedside.

What do your instructors and advisors say?

tostos21 · Mar 19, 2010

thanks everyone for your suggestions. :up: I will consider working right away in the ICU for experience. My counselors suggest i look into master's in mgmt, nurse educator, or nurse informatics (I am not sure i fully understand what that entails?).

Moogie · Mar 19, 2010

thanks everyone for your suggestions. I will consider working right away in the ICU for experience. My counselors suggest i look into master's in mgmt, nurse educator, or nurse informatics (I am not sure i fully understand what that entails?).

Informatics is the use of technology (particularly computer technology) in nursing.

In all honesty, I would be really hesitant to start a master's program in nursing education or management without a bit of clinical experience under your belt. I'm in a program right now but I think some of my classmates with less experience are struggling a bit.

Good luck---hope all works out for you!

cookderosa · Mar 19, 2010

You can work and do classes during your 1-2 years experience. Many nursing programs (NP or other) will have some prereqs that you may not have taken in your BSN- you can sometimes do those as a non matriculated student. (stats, for instance, is one I see often mentioned for EVERYTHING. I also see a lot of the NP programs having science requirements that you may or may not have met) Anyway, since you are not 100% sure of a path, just use your time to work and research programs. When you find one, start working on any of the prereqs now (maybe online is an option) and when you have your experience, you'll be ready to apply. Many grad programs are hybrid and/or distance based, many are available as part or full time, and a few are on campus full time. From the research I have done, I get the impression that very FEW master programs require you leave work and attend full time (there are some specialties where that is the norm though, so again, you need to refine your goals).

Good luck and congrats on your graduation!! I just got my NS acceptance letter today, I can't wait to be where you are right now! :)

Lovelymo79 · Mar 19, 2010

Just to play devil's advocate here..while I totally agree with getting some experience first (I plan on doing the same thing after school - I'm interested in becoming an ACNP after time in cardiac and then ICU)..there are programs that let you go directly into a Master's program right after school. I know a girl who went straight through and became a NP after getting her BSN - no full-time experience (she did work part-time in the program). She didn't do acute care though.

Also, there are so many direct-entry MSN programs out there so SOMEONE is letting people in without experience (albeit probably not NP programs and definitely probably not acute care).

But like everyone said, it would be best to get experience, especially for acute care NP.

Moogie · Mar 19, 2010

Yeah, I guess only chumps wait to have any experience before they go back for an advanced nursing degree.

MinnieMomRN · Mar 19, 2010

Well, here's something else to consider... the job market. Go on Monster.com and plug in NP and your area. What are employers looking for? My bet is you'll see ads for NP's with 2+ years experience, or "strong nursing background, and new NP". Clinical experience while in school is just the tip of the iceberg. Employers want someone who has not only been at the tip of the iceberg, but has spent some time deep in the icy depths as well.

Another thing, if you DO get your NP, and then find yourself unable to get a job, it might be harder to find work as a RN. That employer will think twice about investing time and training on you, when they know you are just biding your time there.

Just food for thought...

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 19, 2010

Also, there are so many direct-entry MSN programs out there so SOMEONE is letting people in without experience (albeit probably not NP programs and definitely probably not acute care).
But like everyone said, it would be best to get experience, especially for acute care NP.

You have to remember -- schools are a business, too. They are selling a product. They are often happy to take someone's money in exchange for providing the education -- even if that person will have trouble finding a job after graduation and/or will be only minimally qualified. Just because a school will offer a degree or accept a student into a program doesn't mean it is a wise move for every student to attend that program.

Schools only run themselves. They don't run the profession of nursing ... and they certainly don't run the world.