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Discussion

NP program v. MSN-NPs

I am currently working in rural acute care and am considering pursuing an NP program for the purposes of primary care practice. I have two questions:

1. Is there any value in pursuing a longer MSN-NP program compared to simply doing a program to qualify to write the EC exam?

2. Which university MSN program is least fluffy (ie. theoretical)?

My background is that I am a second-career nurse who initially graduated with a biochem BSc at Queens and worked for many years in research and scientific writing before completing an accelerated BSN program at York. I hated the York program because (similar to UT) it had a lot of (Watson, Rogers and Porifice) theory-based fluff in it, which was a complete waste of time. I would not consider pursuing further education at York for that reason, and I would not want to pursue any other nursing graduate program which is similarly fluffy.

I am really enjoying clinical practice and I would consider working as an NP in an ER or community, and I feel like having an MSN might give me more career avenues later on if I want to leave clinical care. However, from what I've seen at York (poster presentations), a lot of the graduate-level projects have minimal application to actual clinical or administrative practice.

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    First of all, I think all universities have that ''fluff''. I went to mac, and there was lots of theory. I also found it at the college level when I did the PN program. So I dont think you can get away from that.

    In Ontario you need to have a masters to be an NP. The straight NP programs are for those who have a masters already. The MSN-NP programs are concurrent. So yes, it is worth it, as it is a requirement.

    How long have you been practicing?

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    I've been practicing for a year now. I'm thinking about applying in a couple of years after I gain more experience. I have noticed that most ONtario schools offer an NP certificate program outside of masters-level grad studies. School of Nursing, Queen's University

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    I guess I was incorrect. I have only ever looked into the adult-NP stream, and they all require a masters.

    I would think the masters is beneficial. It is only an extra year and can be concurrent. Eventually it may be a requirement, so you may as well get it now. I also see many job postings where it is a requirement. I don't think education ever hurts.

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