2nd degree nursing programs

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has any advice about applying to 2nd degree programs. I have been reading different posts online here and several are very critical of the accelerated programs due to the lack of clinical experience provided.

I believe this statement is not accurate since each state's BON have set standards regarding clinical hours. It doesn't make any sense for accelerated programs to have lower standards than any other program. These acclereated second degree programs simply manage to squeeze everything about nursing in 12-16 months (NO BREAKS).

I would love to due an accelerated program but on the other hand the idea of having more time to take classes and get more experience also sounds good. I am interested in going on to get my masters and can't decide if I should be applying to just the 2nd degree program or the ones that offer the combined 2nd degree/master's degree.

All depends upon what works best for you and your family. Make sure you have your support people involved in your decision. You're going to need all the help you can get!

Its amazing how every nursing school has different prereqs. While most have the standard set of requirements-micro, A/P, stats, and developmental psych, many have there own requirements. Some require ethics, religion, sociology, and/or chemistry-organic and inorganic. I hate to decide not to apply to certain programs just because I can't find anywhere to take the prereq (inorganic/organic chem). Also I have been doing prereqs for the last two years and want to get started.

You can them find somewhere. Local Community Colleges are great places to look.

Does anyone know of any 2nd degree programs that don't require the GRE? Most require it and I have seen one it looks like that requires the prenursing exam but most do not.

UMDNJ's accelerated BSN/MSN program does not require GRE's.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. My college adviser hasn't been able to give me much advice since she is used to dealing with students applying as transfer students to nursing programs for their first degree.

Thanks.

Research online.

The best nursing program is the one that works for you. No one else can really take all of the factors into consideration.

Regarding clinical experience: If nursing school were supposed to teach you everything you needed to know, it would be twenty years long. I think that regardless of how much clinical exposure you get in your program, your first year as a nurse will likely make you think you never studied at all. The first nursing job can be a rough transition for some, but finding a supportive environment for new grads is really the critical factor in my opinion.

You really cant judge every program or situation by the same criteria. The criticism that people have for accelerated programs or master's entry programs is completely unfounded and is partially based on resentment that some feel that others "haven't paid their dues". Decartes is accurate in stating that the state BON have a say in the minimum amount of time allowed in clinicals and no school could go below this minimum.

With regards to comparing clinical hours: I will be starting a master's entry nursing program soon. We will be in clinicals 24 hours a week (that is right--3 days, 8 hours each day!) for four semesters. Compare that to the ADN program at the local community college in which students are only in clinicals for 6 hours a week.

The other issue: In the accelerated and masters entry programs, all of the students already have a bachelors degree at minimum. In my masters entry program, most of the students I talked to at information sessions already have masters degree. Compare that to someone with with only a highschool diploma in an ADN program. We HAVE paid our dues!

I haven't seen a masters entry program that doesn't require the GRE. The minimum score required is pretty low--500 for each section really isn't that great of a score.

If you have a decent community college nearby, it is a great place to get your pre-recs out of the way. In my cc, since I was taking pre-rec courses on weekends, most of the other students were also working professionals trying to get into nursing school.

Good luck in your research and journey. You will have lots of good company!

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has any advice about applying to 2nd degree programs. I have been reading different posts online here and several are very critical of the accelerated programs due to the lack of clinical experience provided. I would love to due an accelerated program but on the other hand the idea of having more time to take classes and get more experience also sounds good. I am interested in going on to get my masters and can't decide if I should be applying to just the 2nd degree program or the ones that offer the combined 2nd degree/master's degree.

Its amazing how every nursing school has different prereqs. While most have the standard set of requirements-micro, A/P, stats, and developmental psych, many have there own requirements. Some require ethics, religion, sociology, and/or chemistry-organic and inorganic. I hate to decide not to apply to certain programs just because I can't find anywhere to take the prereq (inorganic/organic chem). Also I have been doing prereqs for the last two years and want to get started.

Does anyone know of any 2nd degree programs that don't require the GRE? Most require it and I have seen one it looks like that requires the prenursing exam but most do not.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. My college adviser hasn't been able to give me much advice since she is used to dealing with students applying as transfer students to nursing programs for their first degree.

Thanks.

As one of the posters said, do your research online. You can find inorganic/organic chem at community colleges (I took those courses there). You can also look at pre-req online classes (do a Google search; there are lots - I took some classes at online at Foothill: http://www.foothillglobalaccess.org/) such as dev psych, pharm, pathophys, sociology, etc. (Samuel Merritt in Oakland, CA also has links to other online colleges about their direct entry program http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/default.cfm). You can also challenge some of the pre-reqs by taking an equivalency exam (excelsior college has those available - it's another online place). But check with the SPECIFIC schools for their pre-reqs.

The GRE is required for grad schools or direct master's programs. There are plenty of study guides you can buy or check out at your local library. Just spend the time to brush up on some of those math skills and you'll be ok.

Finally, figure out what area you're interested in. For example, if you want to become a family nurse practitioner (FNP), look for programs that specialize in FNP's. Some people want to become nurse mid-wives but there fewer schools that offer that degree to direct entry students. Good luck.

NYU offers a second degree accelerated BSN program that does not require the GRE. Once accepted you can apply for direct entry into a masters speciality.

Good Luck!!

Northeastern University does too! :)