online RN to MSN with bachelor's in another field

Mogol · Dec 6, 2018

bump...anyone?

chare · Dec 6, 2018

Hi all! I am looking for an online bridge program RN to FNP that would take my bachelor's degree (in another field) into account. I spoke to a brick and mortar school that would do that, and I would have to take only 3 classes to get my BSN, but so far I haven't found an online program like that. If anyone can recommend something, it would be great.
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A Google search using "online RN to MSN with bachelor's in another field" resulted in "about 1,900,000" returns. Obviously not all of these will be RN to MSN programs, however some of these clearly state in the viewable information that it is.

Best wishes.

Mogol · Dec 6, 2018

There is no need to be mean. I did the google search many times, most of these are regular RN to MSN programs....That is why I am posting here. Not trying to waste anyone's time, I tried on my own and didn't get anywhere. If you don't feel like it's a legitimate question on my part, ignore it, but I know that I personally would be happy to help with such a question if it was asked of me.

Polly Peptide, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Dec 7, 2018

Just to make sure I'm answering the right question - are you currently a nurse or no?

Mogol · Dec 7, 2018

yes, I am an RN. Thanks!

203bravo, MSN, APRN · Dec 7, 2018

I did the google search many times, most of these are regular RN to MSN programs.....

This is confusing... you are asking about possible RN to MSN programs because you can't find any online, but when you did an online search you found regular RN to MSN programs? regular meaning brick and mortar programs?

Polly Peptide, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Dec 7, 2018

Just off the top of my head, I am pretty sure Frontier offers an associates/RN to MSN. Also, Vanderbilt offers a path for associates/RN to MSN AND bachelors in another field to MSN. But the latter is longer and would put you through an additional year to get your RN, which you wouldn't need. Vandy is B&M but if you are distance and already an RN, you can do the program in a "modified-distance format", which means take some of the didactic online and visit their campus in blocks. You can go to their website for more info.

LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP · Dec 9, 2018

I don't think chare was being mean at all. Perhaps you aren't searching for the right terms. I attended Walden's RN-to-MSN program for Nursing Education (I have a BS in Biotechnology) and am currently in a Post Master's AGPCNP program at USA. You may want to try searching for "RN to FNP online programs." When I did, many of the top hits were online RN to NP programs. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors!

Mogol · Dec 9, 2018

Thanks, for your responses, everyone! I guess I didn't make myself clear. I DID find many RN to MSN programs, online and regular. What I am trying to do is find a shortcut to get my BSN since I already have a bachelor's. Once I get that BSN, I plan to go on to FNP. So I am trying to see if anyone was in the same situation and what you chose to do. Did you find an online RN - MSN program that took a lot of the credits from your other bachelors? Or did you get your BSN in one place and then MSN elsewhere?

Also, once we are on the subject, if you did get your FNP online, I would love to hear what school you went to and what your experience there was.

As you see, this is more of a "personal experience" type of question, which is why google wasn't so helpful...

Thanks in advance!

Polly Peptide, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Dec 9, 2018

I could be wrong, but from what you're saying, it doesn't sound like that path (BSN, then MSN) would be very efficient.

If you already have your RN with an associates (I'm assuming) AND you have your Bachelors in another area, you could just skip the BSN and go straight for an MSN, becoming an FNP, which is your end-goal anyway. There is no need to get another bachelors degree in the middle.

If you do it the way you're talking about, your only options are ADN to BSN completion programs, which will make you repeat a lot of your "bachelor" type of courses; or ABSN (accelerated) programs, which will make you repeat your nursing courses. You might have to stumble on a unicorn to consider BOTH your nursing and your bachelor courses you've taken.

So back to my point...why not just skip the middle and go straight for what you want? There are quite a few programs that do this. You are phrasing this as if getting a BSN will make this faster for you, but I genuinely don't think so.

Britt96, ADN, RN · Dec 9, 2018

Frontier Nursing University has an option for people who have a previous Bachelors degree and an Associates degree in Nursing. When you apply for the program you have to put together a portfolio of your work and education experience. Their program is mostly online. You will have to go to campus once for orientation (Frontier Bound) and another time before you begin clinicals (in your home area).

Admissions Criteria: Master of Science in Nursing | Frontier Nursing University

Also, a previous poster mentioned Vanderbilt. I believe their FNP program is all online, too. You do clinicals in your home area. Vandy is incredibly expensive though.

Hope this helps!