MEPN programs...this sounds too good to be true?

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[TD=class: alt1, bgcolor: #FFFFFF]Short story: I went to a top university in California and am graduating with a B.A. in Humanities. I have a pretty good GPA (3.6). I realized that I can't really do much with my career with JUST a B.A. and have decided to look into graduate school programs. I heard about the MEPN and started doing some research and it sounds too good to be true. So please correct me if I'm wrong here.

From what it looks like, I can obtain a Master of Science in Nursing. And there are many schools in California that offer this program. From what it seems like, the MEPN is similar to the traditional MSN, but is different in the sense that it is for baccalaureates who don't have a nursing background and those in the MEPN program may have to take a few more additional classes.

I've looked at a few schools like Western U of Health Sciences and Cal State Fullerton, and the admission requirements do not seem draconian at all. They require a few science courses, many of which can be taken at a community college, and most of the other pre reqs I have already fulfilled in undergrad (i.e. stats, social science, etc.).

I feel if I do take the required classes at CC, get some volunteer experience, and work hard, I might be able to get into a program, and dare I say, become a nurse *gasp*

But this really seems "too easy." I must be missing something. Is there a catch here? Are these programs extremely difficult to get into (i.e. 2% acceptance rate?) or are the job prospects for MEPN slim to none? I thought MEPN graduates basically receive a MSN? Am I right or wrong?

If anyone can help clarify for me, that'd be fantastic.

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[PMFB-RN, RN]

It's been years since I worked as an RN in California so I can't speak for that state specificaly. Here in the midwest there are also many of these direct entry masters programs. Yes a person with a bachelors degree can enter such a program and in about two year graduate with a MSN and be a new grads nurse (read ready to start learing about nursing for real).

In my state, and neighboring states these programs are VERY compeditive and expensive. They are a great deal for the school. They get to charge graduate tution for what is a basic nursing program.

I can tell you that in my area the graduates from the direct entry masters have not been well reguarded. This after considerable excitment about hiring grads when these programs were new. I am an instructor in my hospital's Critical Care Nurse Residency program. It's a 7 month residency for new grads going into critical care areas like ICU & ER among others. We no longer consider direct entry masters grads for employment. Basicaly we found them to be short on clinical skills (cost us more to train) and long on entitlement attitude.

However the situation there may be very different in your state than it is here in the upper midwest.

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^ Yeah that definitely does not apply to California. If all hospitals strictly only hired nurses with both a BSN and a MSN, then we'd have a bigger shortage of nurses than we already have.

I have 2 friends who were science majors in undergrad (not BSN), but went to get their MSN at the University of San Diego and at Azusa Pacific and they both found jobs within 1 month of graduation.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Yeah that definitely does not apply to California. If all hospitals strictly only hired nurses with both a BSN and a MSN

*** Uh, what are you talking about? The OP asked a question reguarding direct entry masters programs. I shared what I know about such programs here in the upper midwest. Who said anthing about hospitals only hiring nurses with both a BSN and an MSN? Where does your reference come from?

, then we'd have a bigger shortage of nurses than we already have.

*** Uh, there IS NO NURSING SHORTAGE. What you have there in Calfornia is thousands of unemployed nurses who can't find a job anywhere.

I have 2 friends who were science majors in undergrad (not BSN),

*** Yes considering that had their undergrad been a BSN then their experienced would have totaly off topic to this discussion.