Plan of Action

[Shoshanne]

I was considering taking a sort-of direct-entry MSN program my school offers. Basically, non-BSN students finish their undergrad by junior year and get their MSNs and take the certification exams 2 years later. This way, my family can save money from my college.

But I also realize how potentially unemployable I might become, considering that many NP jobs in my city require at least 2 years of nursing clinical experience.

So my plan is this: since the school's MSN program for non-BSN students includes RN certification at the end of the first year, I'll still be eligible for RN employment afterwards. I thought maybe take those 2 years as an RN, THEN apply for NP jobs once I accumulate the experience.

Would this be a reasonable plan, or would 2 years be a long time such that what I learned for my MSN would be forgotten or obsolete?

[futureeastcoastNP]

I think it would be odd for you to go to school to be an NP and then work as an RN after. NP experience is even more valuable for NP jobs, so if you end up as an NP you might as well TRY for NP jobs first instead of immediately looking for RN jobs. You may find some clinic work somewhere and get enough experience.

[Shoshanne]

But many of the hospitals in my city require 2 years of clinical experience. How am I supposed to get NP experience if they won't let me in the first place? I know it'd be a step down working as an RN, but what other choice would I have? At least being an RN would make me some money to pay off the loans afterward.

[futureeastcoastNP]

But many of the hospitals in my city require 2 years of clinical experience. How am I supposed to get NP experience if they won't let me in the first place? I know it'd be a step down working as an RN, but what other choice would I have? At least being an RN would make me some money to pay off the loans afterward.

So either don't work in a hospital once you get your NP license or wait and work 2 years before getting your NP degree. It's going to be much harder getting a job if you graduate and then spend 2 years working as an RN. That could cause major role confusion as you are now educated to be a provider and yet still working bedside. Employers might also worried you've forgotten some of your NP skills.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

OP, I'm not sure I'm following your time frame for Direct-entry NP completion. All programs accept students who already have an undergraduate degree or higher. You don't start the BSN program during your junior year of college. You start once you have obtained a non-nursing degree.

Also, many programs encourage students to seek employment in an RN capacity after completion of the RN licensure portion of the program even when a BSN is not awarded at that time (many programs don't award a BSN at all).

Your ability to find NP jobs as a direct entry NP grad depends much on the job market where you live and the type of NP specialty you possess. There are direct entry NP's who worked as NP's right after obtaining their license to practice as NP's. All their RN experience was spent during school or none at all. I know of a few personally who did this.

[Shoshanne]

@juan de la cruz

In my school, you can complete your undergrad degree by the end of junior year and then matriculate to a specialty MSN program.

There are some places in my city where prior experience isn't required, but I still wonder if my MSN and NP certificate will still be favorably looked at, seeing as I'll be a non-BSN graduate. In your experience, how was the employability of those whom you knew also took a similar route?

Is it common for direct entry NP's to work as NP's right hand man after obtaining license?

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

All I can suggest is ask this school if you can get in touch with recent graduates or get the school to tell you where recent graduates got jobs. This is not hard for any reputable institution to provide.