Non-BSN to MSN advice?

[natty553]

hello all!

this is my first post, so please bear with me :)

i just recently graduated with a ba in anthropology. when i initially started college i was a pre-nursing major.. during the first two and a half years i finished all the prereq's required for entry into the bsn program (at sdsu). i won't go into the reasons for why i switched, but now since i'm done with undergrad i'm planning on going back into nursing.

i have a few questions:

for a person like me (i already have the prereq's down, about 30 hours of volunteer time and with a 3.3gpa), and :hoping: that i'll be qualified (enough) so i could start applying for programs next year (fall 2010), are there any accelerated/direct msn programs you would recommend? i'm checking out programs in ca, or, wa, nm, az, co, and hi...

would those who have gone through this or currently going through this consider me "qualified enough?" (petty, i know, but i don't know who else i'd be going up against).

in general, is there any advice or suggestions you could give me on making this transition? any possible ways to get more patient care experience?

i'll take any response! thanks for your time, hope this isn't too confusing...

[BusyMomRN]

Follow the links to the schools that were listed in an earlier post. Each school will have different qualifications and some will be more competetive than others.

I have a BS in Dental Hygiene and a 3.6 GPA, which isnt the best but not too shabby, and was accepted into a MSN direct-entry program in GA.

Narrow down the schools and apply, apply, apply! Good Luck!

[chemistry03]

I'm in the same boat you are. I am entering my final year of undergrad as a chemistry major and have recently decided that I want to switch into a nursing career. I have been researching and researching and RESEARCHING program after program after program. Along the lines of what Kebunt said, I was wondering if it was better to apply to just a BSN or go ahead with the BSN/MSN option. I am worried about not being "as qualified" because of my age and lack of experience. I have however begun volunteering at a Children's Hospital (my main goal is to become a Pediatric Nurse Practioner). Any thoughts....

[scurbro]

There are programs called Direct Entry MSNs some are hybrid BSN/MSN, some are not. University of Texas-Austin, University of California Long Beach, Pacific Lutheran University, Northeastern is the only one with an online Direct Entry MSN and that is interesting too.

For the most part, most MSN programs require RN and and are 2 years of study only, for these Direct Entry MSN programs they are 3 years of study at least, with the first year being intensive and full time.

I see you already have the links for schools. I am looking for this type but I didn't take any of the pre-requisites in College, but I don't want my BSN, since I already have a bachelors degree, I personally would prefer a masters degree. '

The program I am interested in the most is the University of Texas-Austin.