Can I apply to a Nurse Practitioner program with an R.N and only a B.S?

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I am interested in becoming a Nurse Practitioner but because my B.S is in a non-nursing field (Anthropology), I keep being directed by advisors to consider the entry-level MSN program with a Clinical Nurse Specialist track. I am only interested in an MSN program with a Nurse Practitioner track because I am interested in the treatment and dignosing of patients and would like the freedom to write prescriptions to patients.

I know I will have to obtain an R.N at some point. My question is, can one become a Nurse Practitioner with only an R.N and a B.S? Or would I be required to go back for a second bachelor's degree to obtain the B.S.N?

If I do have to have a B.S.N, then should I avoid going to an associates program and just head straight into a 4 year university to get the B.S.N? The problem is I hear it's difficult for post-bacc's to be accepted into a B.S.N program.

Thank you in advnace for any clarification you can give me.

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Some schools will admit an RN whose BA/BS is non-nursing, while others want the BSN. Might be best to research the MSN programs in your area, then make some plans from there.

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Nurse Practitioner is a Master's prepared nurse. you must get the MSN and complete the required coursework, and licensing requirements to get prescitptive authority.

If you already have a BS degree, you have two options, the direct entry MSN, or the second courser program and if you can find an accelerated on,e you may be able to get done in about 16 months or so and get a BSN, then complete the MSN.

It will depend on what is available where you wish to go to school.

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Hi

I'm interested in understanding what course work is involved in earning a licences as Psychiatric Nurse Practioner.

I'm 45 years RN working as a Psychiatric nurse.

I'd like to further my education in a course of study that is most efficient and minumal in time, yet lead me to the position as a Psychiatric Nurse Practioner.

Can a BSN - MSN bridge program offer me the appropriate knowledge and opportunity to sit for the NP test?

And is my understanding correct, in that, in order to become a NP I need to earn MSN ?

I'm hearing and reading 2 lines of thought on becoming an NP.

The first is, I need an MSN and after I earned an MSN than I enter a 2 year Nurse Practioner program.

The second line of thought is that, I can earn the opportunity to sit for the Nurse Practioner exam after completing an MSN program.

Any guidance / information regarding the course of Psychiatric Nurse practioner would be appriciated..........................

Terri :)

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Hello, Terriwas,

Two ways as explained above to complete this.

1 - You may enter a program if you already have a BS degree in another discipline, then, complete the course requirement/s for Psych NP. You will be conferred the MSN degree (some programs will also confer the BSN degree part way through the program), sit for NCLEX, then sit for board Psych certification upon completion/graduation from the NP program.

2 - You may enter an MSN program (already an RN, ADN/BSN) and complete as described above - some programs confer the BSN as stated. You will graduate with an MSN and you will have completed the requirements for the Psych/mental health NP program. Then, sit for certification as psych/mental health NP.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

My APN program conferred an MS degree - not an MSN even though my major was in nursing - so many schools will not require a BSN - a BS will be fine, but they will likely want you to have the senior level nursing courses you didn't get in the AD program - ie: pathophys, leadership & Mngt, community health, an intensive care course etc...

By the time you go back and get those, you will likely end up with a second BS or BSN anyway.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

It is still a masters and that is the minimum for NP education. MSN or MS with major in Nursing - same requirement/s.

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Hi Siri,

I'm still not sure if I understand how I can earn the opportunity to sit for the NP exam.

I have only a RN degree.

Can I enter a bridge program BSN - MSN than after completing my MSN can I tack the exam for NP, or do I need an additional 2 years of education in a nurse practioner program ?

Also, my main objective is to be a Psychiatric nurse practioner.

Would I need to be certified to add the specialized portion of Psychiatric, to my title of NP ?

How long approximately would it take going from RN to BSN -MSN (bridge program for MSN / assuming I can become an NP in this way ) to a Psychiatric NP?

Thank You Siri :)

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Hi Siri,

I'm still not sure if I understand how I can earn the opportunity to sit for the NP exam.

I have only a RN degree.

Can I enter a bridge program BSN - MSN than after completing my MSN can I tack the exam for NP, or do I need an additional 2 years of education in a nurse practioner program ?

Also, my main objective is to be a Psychiatric nurse practioner.

Would I need to be certified to add the specialized portion of Psychiatric, to my title of NP ?

How long approximately would it take going from RN to BSN -MSN (bridge program for MSN / assuming I can become an NP in this way ) to a Psychiatric NP?

Thank You Siri :)

Hello again,

When you are seeking the MSN, you can do a track as an NP in the specialty area you seek. So, since you are desiring the psych/mental health track, seek out these programs. You will grad from the program with an MSN (or, as guage14iv did in her program, an MS with a major in nursing, which is the same) - then, after you grad, you will sit for certification as psych/mental health NP.

In other words, you will be in a psych/mental health NP track, grad with an MSN and at the same time, fulfill the NP requirements of the program, and sit for certification as psych/mental health NP.

Hope this helps.

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I am interested in becoming a Nurse Practitioner but because my B.S is in a non-nursing field (Anthropology), I keep being directed by advisors to consider the entry-level MSN program with a Clinical Nurse Specialist track. I am only interested in an MSN program with a Nurse Practitioner track because I am interested in the treatment and dignosing of patients and would like the freedom to write prescriptions to patients.

I know I will have to obtain an R.N at some point. My question is, can one become a Nurse Practitioner with only an R.N and a B.S? Or would I be required to go back for a second bachelor's degree to obtain the B.S.N?

If I do have to have a B.S.N, then should I avoid going to an associates program and just head straight into a 4 year university to get the B.S.N? The problem is I hear it's difficult for post-bacc's to be accepted into a B.S.N program.

Thank you in advnace for any clarification you can give me.

FYI, one year ago I graduated from a program that had the direct entry option. I already had a BSN with several years of experience and I had no idea these programs existed. I want you to know that the non-RN students had an extremely tough time in clinicals. They were told by underlings (LVN's, etc) that they had no business becoming a NP since they had never worked as a R.N. After graduation, the majority of those people worked as a RN for several months, even though they were NP's. Those programs are VERY controversial and nurses have total disrespect for them. If I were you I would seriously consider a P.A. program.

Also, the Neonatal NP programs are no longer admitting any non-RN's to their programs. They will only admit RN's with a minimum of 2 years working in the NICU. I believe that every single one of the programs will start requiring this again because the direct entry programs are so controversial

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FYI, one year ago I graduated from a program that had the direct entry option. I already had a BSN with several years of experience and I had no idea these programs existed. I want you to know that the non-RN students had an extremely tough time in clinicals. They were told by underlings (LVN's, etc) that they had no business becoming a NP since they had never worked as a R.N. After graduation, the majority of those people worked as a RN for several months, even though they were NP's. Those programs are VERY controversial and nurses have total disrespect for them. If I were you I would seriously consider a P.A. program.

Also, the Neonatal NP programs are no longer admitting any non-RN's to their programs. They will only admit RN's with a minimum of 2 years working in the NICU. I believe that every single one of the programs will start requiring this again because the direct entry programs are so controversial

I am sure that I will get yelled at for adding this comment, but ran into a student the other day, his name badge at the hospital stated.

---------------

MSN Student

This was his first semester in school, a newbie the same as a student starting their first week of clinicals in a regular program, but for those that do not know about the direct entry programs would expect that he had already completed a four year program and had experience, nothing further from the truth. And can actually cause issues for him down the line.......

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