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Discussion

MSN FNP program that does not require accredited BSN program

The title should say it all. My wife recently received her BSN from a small school. She was the first member of the nursing program's first graduating class to take the NCLEX, actually. She is now working at a university hospital where we live, but wants to go on to get her Master's FNP. The school she went to made promises throughout her undergraduate education that they would receive accreditation shortly, but it has not happened, and unfortunately, it does not sound like it is going to happen anytime soon.

What are her options? Are there any MSN programs that would accept her with her degree? She had a 4.0+, passed her NCLEX, is successfully working as an RN in a cardiology unit...it's just that her stupid school is dragging its feet, or is simply unable to make good its on promise.

Help would be appreciated. Specific college names would be even more appreciated! Oh, and online programs are what she is looking for. Thank you!

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    May be an uphill battle. I would call a few schools and talk to admissions and see what they recommend.

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    (FYI, At this point, it doesn't really matter that the school is "dragging its feet" on accreditation; your wife graduated from an unaccredited program. Even if the school eventually achieves accreditation, it is not retroactive and will not affect your wife; she will still (always) be a graduate of an unaccredited program.)

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    Let me know if you find anything I am in a somewhat similar situation. Look into schools that are for profit and have not the greatest reviews like Kaplans online program, maybe even South University.

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    Elkpark, I don't believe that is true. Unless you are aware of some accreditation policy that I am not (and unless her school lied to her outright), accreditation is retroactive.

    Were you referring to something different when you posted the below statement elsewhere?

    "If a nursing program successfully completes the NLNAC process and becomes accredited, the accreditation will be retroactive to back when the school started the process -- so individuals who were students and graduated while the school was actively in the accreditation process will be considered graduates of an accredited program." - You

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    I'd be surprised if accreditation was retroactive, but I've been surprised before!

    As for the schools, I have not been in that situation, so I don't have any that I know would take someone in your wife's position. I would suggest looking at the schools who have RN-MSN programs and see if they would accept her BSN or which credits they would accept from it.

    Frontier has a program that might help her either toward a FNP or CNM. WGU has other RN->MSN programs. I'm sure there are many others people can tell you about, but those two come off the top of my head. Also WGU has a RN-BSN that they claim has liberal credit transfers into and that BSN is accredited, so she might be able to retake a couple of classes and get an accredited BSN that way.

    Just some thoughts.

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    An accredited BSN in required for nursing graduate programs as far as I know, especially FNP programs.

    Trust me, if someone would have figured out how to take students from unaccredited schools, the for profits would have done so already. I noticed even they say an accredited BSN is required for admissions, so I think there may not be an option.

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    • Experts
    Elkpark, I don't believe that is true. Unless you are aware of some accreditation policy that I am not (and unless her school lied to her outright), accreditation is retroactive.

    Were you referring to something different when you posted the below statement elsewhere?

    "If a nursing program successfully completes the NLNAC process and becomes accredited, the accreditation will be retroactive to back when the school started the process -- so individuals who were students and graduated while the school was actively in the accreditation process will be considered graduates of an accredited program." - You

    Emphasis mine. You state that the school is currently unaccredited and your wife has already graduated. Your post sounds like you are saying the school hasn't started the process of seeking accreditation. Unless the school was actively in the process of pursuing accreditation (an active candidate) while your wife was attending school, any future accreditation will not affect her.

    (Edited to add) Actually, to be v. precise and specific, ACEN (formerly NLNAC) or CCNE accreditation is retroactive only back to the date of the ACEN or CCNE site visit that is part of the accreditation process, not even the entire accreditation application process. The accrediting organizations are willing to grant "accredited program" status to students of the school as of the point at which the organization personally verified that the school meets its standards and requirements; they are not willing to grant "accredited program" status to students who graduate before they actually visited the school and verified it was in compliance with their standards.

    If your wife graduated prior to an ACEN or CCNE site visit as part of the school's pursuit of accreditation, any subsequent accredition achieved by the school will not affect her.

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    I remember talking to a nursing instructor I know at a school seeking accreditation. I asked her what would happen to the students who wanted to move on to an advanced degree. She told me that until the school is accredited, most of the larger schools will not accept the student, but smaller schools may...especially if the perspective student calls and speaks to the admissions people. The school that is working on it's accreditation should be able to provide proof of the process. Good luck to her.

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    For the OP, your wife might try talking to schools that offer a RN -> MSN bridge program or schools that have an RN -> BSN -> MSN program and see how much they would be able to take from her BSN program and what she would have to do to move forward. I would also talk to Western Governors University, as they seem to claim to be willing to take alot of your prior credits.

    Mag2014, If the school truly mislead, I would consider hiring an attorney to help you identify what is the truth in your situation and what remedies you may have. You probably have sunk alot of money into a program that appears to be of minimal value. I don't know the particulars of your situation, but it certainly sounds like a situation where having a professional represent you would be valuable and likely to lead to a better outcome than you are currently at. I do not know of any programs that would be likely to let you transfer many credits from your program to theirs. Your best bet in that regard might be if one allowed you to do a post-masters certificate.

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