Not specialized MSN can you do APN?

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Hi all.  Perhaps some of you can answer this for me:   Thank you in advanced

I want to pursue advanced practice care -NP, CNM, etc ....not sure what, I just know I want to do advanced patient care.   I have a BS in Cell Biology and am currently 1 semester into an ASN.  However, my husband has just found out he has an out-of-state job transfer happening.    We are trying to decide if the kids and I stay here for to finish my ASN or if I can get to a program where we are moving (obviously this would be the ideal).  

I found a direct entry (with a previous BS) MSN program in the new area. This could be nice as I want an advanced degree.  However, this MSN is not specialized. 

 I understand many APN's hold MSN's but my understanding is they tend to get MSN's geared towards a specialty.  How does one go from a non-specialized MSN to NP, CNM, or another APN'ing area?  Can it be done without getting another more specialized MSN or a doctorates?     

It would be nice (and save a ton of time) to go straight to an MSN, BUT I also don't want to pay the $ of a masters degree if I cant get where I want to go with it.  

Any info you can give on how the different advanced nursing-programs work when it comes to general vs specific areas of practice would be appreciated. 

Thank you!

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I did some research on direct-entry MSN programs a couple years ago when I was trying to decide on ASN, ABSN, traditional BSN, or MSN. From what I researched there are some direct-entry MSN programs where you're basically graduating with a generalist masters degree in nursing.. which is why I decided not to go this route.. Didn't make sense to me as I knew I ultimately want to be a Psych NP. Since you're still undecided on what you want to do specialty wise, why not just apply to ABSN or ASN programs in the area where you're moving?

If that's not an option look into direct-entry MSN in something like clinical nurse leadership or something that would allow you to get a good job after graduating.. From what I researched, graduating with a generalist MSN doesn't guarantee better pay.. you're still a new grad w/no experience if you know what I mean. Also, look into the state BON for the area you live in now/ area you might be moving to & start researching the schools listed.

Also, it's possible to get the generalist MSN & just get a post-master's cert in a specialized field like FNP or Psych. You'd have to look into RN-MSN programs. Not sure how it works if you want to be a CNM. Hope this helps!

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Hi there, sorry for the late reply. I am just finishing up a direct entry MSN. I am going into a post master's FNP certificate program in January and will also be starting a nursing job at that point as well. It made sense for me to go this route as I had a B.S. Business - Healthcare Management, the direct entry MSN program was only 16 months long since I had a non-nursing degree already. I will say that the program I was in, was absolutely insane... especially the first and third semesters. It was like having an absolute mountain of work piled on you every week with no end in sight at times... I mention this because based on my own experience, I would not recommend going this route if you intend to have any spare time to do other things, or have any quality of life outside of just school. We had about a 25% washout rate in our cohort. So if you want to work at a bit more leisurely pace without so much stress and pressure, this would not be a good fit. The academic benchmarks are high and B's and C's will not cut it. (we were allowed one C, and more than that would result in dismissal). Now if you are uber organized and able to hyper-focus and don't mind putting your life on hold for a year or so, then this type of program may be a good fit for you.

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Specializes in oncology.
49 minutes ago, MrsLeo33 said:

The academic benchmarks are high and B's and C's will not cut it. (we were allowed one C, and more than that would result in dismissal).

This is typical of all graduate programs; like your MSN program.

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

In order to obtain licensure as an APRN you will need to get a graduate degree in the specific specialty area you want to practice in. A generalist masters in nursing may open up opportunities for leadership or teaching sooner than going through an ASN or BSN program, but on graduation you will still be a new-grad RN and there is unlikely to be much of a difference in pay initially.  This degree (masters-RN, masters clinical nurse leadership) will not allow you to become an APRN with it alone, you will need to go back for either post-master's certificate or DNP in the clinical specialty area in which  you decide you want to practice.  

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Specializes in Midwife, OBGYN.

The way I explain it is that an RN can have a generalist MSN but you can't be an APRN or CNM without at least a graduate degree (masters or doctorate) in a clinical specialty.

As other individuals on this thread have mentioned, if you are undecided on a specialty I would recommend that you go for your ASN, BSN, or ABSN then go the RN-MSN route for a specialty after you have researched which specialty that you would like to work in.  I researched the generalist MSN path a few years ago when I was applying to nursing school and as other nurses have mentioned it doesn't convey any benefit if your goal is to go into a clinical specialty.  It is an extra step that you don't have to take.  The programs are generally called Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) or something similar.  But don't confuse CNL with Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) which is one of the four recognized APRN specialties.  The other three are CNM, NP, and CRNA.

Alternatively, you can go through the direct entry route but I would recommend a hybrid or brick and mortar school that will help find your clinical placements.  Stay away from for-profit schools or schools that are completely online for programs that graduate with a clinical specialty.  You need to have in person clinicals to understand how to assess a patient, it isn't something that you can learn through a computer. 

We have also seen during COVID, everyone is trying to find clinical sites for APRN and CNM students and they are all currently booked due to the COVID delays so having a program that finds your clinical sites for you is important.

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Thank you all for taking the time to respond to my question.   

As of right now, my husband was able to get a work-from-home agreement with his job for a yr (through this '22 Spring).  I decided to continue in the program I had just started.  We will move the family over the Summer to the new state and I will come back to our current area for my last semester come fall.     

Right now I am aiming on getting my NP but will worry about where and how after I graduate the current program I am in.     

Again, thank you all!  You provided me with new and helpful info to consider and I really appreciate it.

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