MEPNs: Have you found other RN's to be perplexed by this new role?

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2008

Excuse my ignorance but I dont even know what an MEPN and GEPN is.

Please educate me.

Arrghh_Nnnn · Apr 29, 2008

MEPN= Master's Entry Program in Nursing or GEPN= Graduate Entry Program in Nursing.

-Sleepless in Seattle

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2008

MEPN= Master's Entry Program in Nursing or GEPN= Graduate Entry Program in Nursing.
-Sleepless in Seattle

So I still dont understand--what is an Masters Entry Program in nursing? Is that someone who is getting their Masters from the start vs their ASN or BSN in nursing then taking more courses to achieve their MSN ?

My former nursing school has a Masters program that allows you to sit for either the FNP test or the Education part( I dont know the exact name, but it is if you want to teach nursing) but you must work X amount of hours as a "registered" nurse before you can sit for those boards.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2008

Since I never heard the term MEPN until today, I did look it up. It is what I thought, getting your Masters in Nursing vs your ASN/BSN. The site I went to was a school in Washington and it said you could sit for your Nclex after 15months of school.

I guess my questions is what was attractive to you by going this route? I am assuming ultimately you wanting to be an NP?

From what I saw from the school in Washington that offered this program it looks pretty intense as far as classroom time. at least the 1st 2 years. Also very costly per credit hour, approaching 500.00 per credit hour,

There are many programs now that let you bridge from your ASN to MSN with in 4 semesters, or your BSN to MSN in 3semesters.

Many state schools offer a lower tuition for an ASN degree. In fact I know of technical schools offering 189.00 a credit hour for your ASN. That is a 2year program then you bridge to your masters and I know of many state schools that offer that online, where you set up your own clinicals with a local preceptor.

Arrghh_Nnnn · Apr 29, 2008

Oh Sorry Racing-Mom4,

A MEPN degree is a nursing degree targeted towards people who hold at least a BA or BS in another field, who want to enter the nursing profession. It is also a Master's Degree. So we are earning a Master's in Nursing and taking our prelicensure courses at the same time. Most of these programs are accelerated because we have to take all the classes an ADN would have and we also have to take all of the graduate level classes that qualify for a MSN.

Our programs hold us to a higher academic standard than traditional programs in that we cannot earn any grade below a 3.0 or we will fail out of the program. We are held to the level of the graduate school competencies, and write, research, and assess, everything. We also take some of the same Advanced Practice nursing classes like a NP would. So in my program we are also taking advanced patho, advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, in addition to the beginning level classes of those aforementioned classes.

We are trained in advanced research, so that we can help introduce more evidence-based practice based on evidence-based research into the clinical setting.

We also take advanced classes on ethics, leadership, and nursing theory.

Many MEPN program role option is the Clinical Nurse Leader as well. The AACN has called the CNL's the "guardians of the nursing profession." The AACN's ten assumptions for MEPN CNLs include:

Assumption 1: Practice is at the microsystems level.

Assumption 2: Client care outcomes are the measure of quality practice

Assumption 3: Practice guidelines are based on evidence.

Assumption 4: Client-centered practice is intra- and interdisciplinary.

Assumption 5: Information will maximize self-care and client decision-making.

Assumption 6: Nursing assessment is the basis for theory and knowledge development.

Assumption 7: Good fiscal stewardship is a condition of quality care.

Assumption 8: Social justice is an essential nursing value.

Assumption 9: Communication technology will facilitate the continuity and comprehensiveness

of care.

Assumption 10: The CNL must assume guardianship for the nursing profession.

You can read more about the CNL here: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Publications/WhitePapers/CNL2-07.pdf

Hope this helps. :nuke: :nurse:

-Sleepless In Seattle

Arrghh_Nnnn · Apr 29, 2008

Since I never heard the term MEPN until today, I did look it up. It is what I thought, getting your Masters in Nursing vs your ASN/BSN. The site I went to was a school in Washington and it said you could sit for your Nclex after 15months of school.
I guess my questions is what was attractive to you by going this route? I am assuming ultimately you wanting to be an NP?
From what I saw from the school in Washington that offered this program it looks pretty intense as far as classroom time. at least the 1st 2 years. Also very costly per credit hour, approaching 500.00 per credit hour,
There are many programs now that let you bridge from your ASN to MSN with in 4 semesters, or your BSN to MSN in 3semesters.
Many state schools offer a lower tuition for an ASN degree. In fact I know of technical schools offering 189.00 a credit hour for your ASN. That is a 2year program then you bridge to your masters and I know of many state schools that offer that online, where you set up your own clinicals with a local preceptor.

I think that I will be a psych NP later in life, maybe in my mid to late 40 or early fifties, but for now I am interested in being a floor nurse. MEPN programs are attactive because of the level of education they offer. ADN programs in my area are more "task/ clinical skills" oriented. MEPN programs focus their education of the bigger picture of nursing that extends beyond clinical skills. It is akin to the old debate, what is nursing? Is it just a set of skills or something more? MEPN programs teach to the something more.

Also, a Master's degree is continuing along my degree heirarchy, that is, I have an AA, BA, and soon to be MSN. For me, it is a more efficient use of my time to earn both at the same time. Plus, I think nursing is more than a set of skills and the Master's degree programs teach to that.

Sleepless In Seattle.

menetopali · Apr 30, 2008

from my perspective - it's about time nursing came around! when i started looking at nurse practitioner programs every one of them i looked at required a BSN. because my RN and BA weren't enough, i went back got a BSN which was a waste of money as it was a rehash of ADN material and material that I had in my BA with a "...for nurses" disclaimer (why is it "principles of management for nurses" instead of "principles of management"?). :twocents:

livingthedream, APN · May 1, 2008

I am in the same type of program as you are in - an MENP. And I find that there is a bit of confusion both with other nurses and then as to what credentials that you have when you are done - are we MSN or MS RN? I go with the latter since I think it is safer, but I have seen it both ways.

I don't get a whole lot of issues with other nurses, but at our clinical sites, they are really nice to us - so I have not had anyone say anything negative to me, but people that I tell that I am getting my masters in nursing are usually confused since I have an undergrad in business.

Jolie, BSN · May 1, 2008

And I find that there is a bit of confusion both with other nurses and then as to what credentials that you have when you are done - are we MSN or MS RN? I go with the latter since I think it is safer, but I have seen it both ways.

I mean no disrespect, but how can one expect fellow RNs to understand the concept of a Master's entry degree when the candidate her/himself is unsure of the degree s/he is earning?

There is a difference between an MSN and a Master's Degree with a major in nursing. I suggest you contact your school and ask which degree you will earn.

Good luck.

Arrghh_Nnnn · May 1, 2008

I am in the same type of program as you are in - an MENP. And I find that there is a bit of confusion both with other nurses and then as to what credentials that you have when you are done - are we MSN or MS RN? I go with the latter since I think it is safer, but I have seen it both ways.
I don't get a whole lot of issues with other nurses, but at our clinical sites, they are really nice to us - so I have not had anyone say anything negative to me, but people that I tell that I am getting my masters in nursing are usually confused since I have an undergrad in business.

My Program is a MSN.

Sleepless in Seattle

arciedee · May 1, 2008

I, too, am in a direct-entry CNL program. A big part of the challenge has been related to the fact that the role of the CNL is new, regardless of whether you are pursuing it the traditional way or as a direct-entry student.

I've met both support and criticism during my clinical rotations. Some of the nurses have thought that it's great that there's an option like this for those of us with prior degrees/careers and many have expressed a wish that such a program existed when they decided to become nurses. But there are also those who feel that we must follow in the exact same footsteps that they did. I can see both sides of the coin. I know that this was the best path for me to become a nurse for reasons both practical and personal, but I have no delusions that this program will make me a better or worse nurse than anyone else. I am learning a lot in this program which I think will enhance my practice as I go on, but I also know that it's the person that makes the nurse, not the letters behind the name.

In terms of how I handle the negativity... I do try to teach people about my program, what it entails, what I did before, etc. But I think perhaps the biggest thing you can do for yourself is through your actions. I try to keep a positive attitude, thank anyone who has been willing to teach me (whether a unit manager or an aide), and take every opportunity to help and learn something new. People may still think my program is wacky, but if nothing else they can say that the students came in with a good attitude and worked hard. As our professors have said, you don't have to have the job title of "leader" to be a leader.