MSN to gerontological NP

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Hello All, I am currently working on my BSN after 13 years in med-surg and now hospice...I have plans on continuing towards my MSN and possibly gerontological NP. I am currently enrolled in a comparatively affordable program but unclear if I would be able to receive my NP certification only at another university after attaining my master's at my current school. And if so, how long would that take? My current university only offers MSN in nursing education....I hope I am being clear with this question....Thank you in advance for any advisement.

Melinda

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to student NP forum.

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Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.

One can do a post-MSN degree through the schools that offer NP programs. Depending on the school, there may be some pre-reqs that will be needed to complete the process, but the actual NP program would then be the same as going to a school that offers a MSN-NP program combined.

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Just speaking from experience, you may be better served to find an online NP program that is exactly what you are looking for and going into that after your BSN. Getting my MSN (non-NP) took me just over 3 years, now I'm going to do an online PMHNP post-graduate certificate and that program is 6 semesters (2 years)...so if I would have done a little more work initially and found an online PMHNP program, it would have likely taken my 3.5-3.75 years total to finish. Finishing a MSN in a concentration that you don't plan to use, just to enter into a post graduate certificate program is really just an extra step. In my case, my MSN is administration, and I feel like somehow I'll be able to use it, but in retrospect I really wish I would have just done a direct route. Good luck!

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Thank you for your reply, I am just at the beginning of my planning, your insight was very helpful.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

OP, are you specifically interested in Gerontological NP? Just wanted to chime in because that program and certification are no longer offered. You could do an Adult-Gerontology NP either in a primary care or acute care track.

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Thank you, I have noticed that through my search, I'm leaning towards primary care adult/gerontological NP. Mostly because that is where my experience lies....Anyone know of a good online program, that won't need me to mortgage my house?!

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Specializes in ER.

Not sure what your price is looking for. Mine is around 30-35k but I am paying people to find preceptors because I don't have the time or energy and I am shy about calling people for preceptorship. And I can't do them all in the ER where I have a few people who said they would be a preceptor. It costs more than some programs but the clinical hours are spread over 5 semesters instead of the usual 3. I find this "safer" for me because I can schedule more easily.

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Thank you for your information, I have a little less than a year to decide so I have some time to research different options.....

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