Online Direct Entry MSN?

kayji, BSN · Sep 13, 2019

Emory University has a BSN program that has online coursework and clinicals where you live. It's possible there is a similar MSN program offered somewhere, but I'm not aware of one. If price is your concern, the Emory program won't help at all ($~70k).

Are you definitely set on a direct entry MSN? You may have more affordable options for accelerated BSN or even ADN programs.

Juno · Sep 13, 2019

Thank you kayji! I’m not set on MSN. There are two realistic second bachelor’s BSN programs in my city (one of them very similar to Emory’s in format and price ?) and two direct entry MSN programs. Current plan is to prepare for MSN, take the GRE, etc but consider the second bachelor’s BSN programs as plan B. Of course direct entry MSN will give me more options etc after graduation but BSN will still get me where I need to go.

Right now I’m really trying to figure out if the two local direct entry MSN programs are my only options or if there are any more out there.

kayji, BSN · Sep 13, 2019

I think you will find a lot of people, including on this site, advising to look at a community college ADN if cost is your main concern. Where I live an ADN might run $7,500, compared to $35,000 - $60,000 for the second degree BSN or direct entry MSN programs.

I recently went through the same research and decision you are looking at (switching to nursing with a non-nursing bachelors). Initially I thought I should do a direct entry MSN (because who wouldn't want more options?). After doing some job shadowing and talking with RNs and NPs, I decided against it because the MSN without experience doesn't seem to actually open any additional doors. There was one nurse who called her direct entry MSN the "biggest mistake" of her life - because it was expensive and didn't help any more than an ADN or BSN would have.

I think we have a tendency to assign some prestige to the degree level that really doesn't exist within the nursing community. For entry level jobs it seems an RN is an RN.

Juno · Sep 13, 2019

For context, I have several years of hospital administration experience and I am mid-career so the situation may be different for me. So I understand what you are saying, but everyone is coming from a different place. Just trying to figure out if I have more options than what's available locally.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 13, 2019

While I can't guarantee that such a program doesn't exist ... I don't think you are going to find one ... at least not one that is well-respected. Pre-licensure programs require clinical practicums, and there are only a couple of programs that don't require you to do those "on campus." There are some programs, but I am not aware of any at the MSN level. But who knows? Maybe someone on this site has heard of one.

What are your career goals and plans? You seem to think that your hospital administration experience is going to be relevant in some way. Is that because you are planning to use a nursing degree to augment your admin career and not actually seek patient care type jobs? Are you really most interested in getting an academic credential in nursing and not so interested in actually practicing nursing? If so, that's OK ... but being clear on your goals and desired career path might help you decide which type of program may fit your needs best.

Juno · Sep 13, 2019

Llg- thank you for helping answer the online direct entry MSN question! I think I have enough information and I’m moving on from this question now!

I mentioned prior experience- for more context this was at a small facility and I was working directly with inpatient, outpatient, NPs, care coordination. So my goal of getting an MSN is not uninformed. Cost isn’t the only factor. I would like the option to become an NP and getting a higher degree would help that happen faster.

I’m most interested in documentation, compliance and research, but I’m open to going in the direction that makes the most sense as I go through the program. I understand that I don’t know what I don’t know, but I do know I want to be helping people a bit more directly than what I was doing before, and would like more schedule options.

I don’t want to drag this conversation on but I really would hesitate recommending an ADN to someone who has an unrelated bachelor’s. I had several people tell me it would take someone about the same amount of time to get an ADN as a BSN with a bachelor’s already done. And at least where I live, if you get a job as an RN with your ADN, you will be required to get your bachelor’s within a certain timeframe. I think most of the major facilities here are Magnet and maybe that’s why? But from my understanding an ADN is good enough only long enough to get in the door. I can understand this as a cost strategy if you’re trying to get someone else to pay for your education but if you’re sinking 1.5-2 years into something (with opportunity costs factored in) before you even get to that point, I don’t think it makes a lot of sense. Just my opinion.

Sehnsucht · Nov 2, 2019

On 9/13/2019 at 12:43 PM, Juno said:
I don’t want to drag this conversation on but I really would hesitate recommending an ADN to someone who has an unrelated bachelor’s. I had several people tell me it would take someone about the same amount of time to get an ADN as a BSN with a bachelor’s already done.

I have an unrelated bachelor's and most of an unrelated master's but for me, it made more sense to get the ADN. The BSN would have still taken more time and cost a lot more. A lot more.

Now my employer says I have 5 years to get that BSN, and I'm probably going to skip it and satisfy that requirement with an MSN.

I'm thinking that it's different depending on where you live and what schools are available. It sounds like there's more affordable BSNs where you live that work with your unrelated degrees better than my local schools do. For me, besides the cost and time considerations, my ADN school was more respected than the BSN school. Better education, better clinicals, better work ethic/attitude of students.

I'd advise everyone to write down a side by side analysis and timeline of their options and figure it out that way. And do go to the schools and talk to the counselors, not all their information is available online. Just like nursing, you need to get in there and do your own assessment. Roll the school over and look at it's sacrum, lol!