arockenhaus1

Some of you guys seem to be confused about the difference between NP and MSN. Nurse Practitioner is a title that requires you to hold, at least, an MSN degree. NP isn't a degree. An ADN to MSN program is going to be a straight shot. Depending on the program, you may or may not get a BSN in the middle of the program, but in the end it doesn't matter unless you plan on dropping out in the middle. NPs aren't bedside nurses and no job is going to care if you have a BSN or not if your applying for an NP position. The main draw to doing it the traditional way, ADN to BSN to MSN, is flexibility and that it might be cheaper. You will have more say in where you go to school and if you need to move that will be a lot easier to do. It will probably take longer. At the end of the day, if you know you want to be an NP, then I'd choose the direct route if you have access to one.

Hello all, I am currently in my first year of a 2-year direct entry AGACNP program. It's going super well and I feel like the program is setting me up for success. I do have a couple of questions though. Mainly, I'm confused on how the expanded role of the NP affects those who work in critical care, or even more generally, within a hospital. I am completely aware that there will always be patients who are too complex for me and that a physician with more experience might be a better clinician for said patient, but is there any benefits to the legislation that more and more states are adopting that give NPs "more autonomy" and "the ability to practice without a supervising physician" with regards to those who work in a hospital? Would I see any real change from working in a really restrictive state, like South Carolina, and a really progressive state, like Washington? I asked the director of the AGACNP specialty during a sit down with the lot of us, and he talked about how some of the legislation is more geared towards having NPs governed by the State Board of Nursing, and not the State Medical Board as well. Is this all that the legislation is referring to? I know a lot of what NPs can do is dictated by the facility they work in, but I'm sure the same can be said, to a degree at least, about those working in primary care. I'm just trying to figure out if there is any benefit, or drawbacks, to working in a more progressive state.

I have been admitted to a direct-entry nurse practitioner program. Specifically, an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care program. The program is a top-tier brick and mortar school and very costly. I'm looking into several ways of paying for the program and will probably settle for loans if neither NHSC nor NURSE Corps will work. My main question is whether or not a nurse practitioner working in acute care, as an AGACNP normally would, would qualify for the service aspect of the scholarship. I have read through the terms and I can't find anything specifying working in primary care, but the language used seems to suggest that primary care is required. Any insight into if/how an AGACNP would qualify for either of these programs would be appreciated.

From what I understand, Direct-entry programs are very inconsistent. There are some great ones that produce fantastic NPs, and there are terrible ones that do the opposite. I would just do some research on each of the programs that you are considering. I will be attending a "direct-entry" program in the fall at Vanderbilt for non-nurses and it is only 2 years. Granted, it is 2 full years; fall, spring, and summer. I am confident that this program is one of the better ones in the country. I have talked to several graduates from the program, several current students, faculty, and even just got back from their open house. The program is rigorous but doable. I would also nail down what kind of patients you want to work with, because of the 5 programs I applied to, all of them required that I choose what certification I would be studying at the time of application. I went AGAC-NP because I like working with acutely ill patients. FNP is by far the most competitive from what I understand, and I hear the market is becoming saturated with FNPs anyway. As to your question about how competitive you are, I'm honestly not sure. I can give you some of my stats I guess. I currently work as a Patient Care Tech at a large hospital in my home state. I draw blood daily as part of my job as well. Most of my volunteer hours, which is much less than what you have, is outside of medicine. I got my hours through helping set up and running polling places and things around elections. I did do some work at a children's hospital, but it wasn't clinical. It was mainly playing with the patients, and relieving the parents. Overall I would say I had about 200 hours. My GPA was on the lower side as well, around 3.3. I would say get that up as high as you can or be prepared to compensate with your personal statement or GRE on your application. I originally wanted to go to medical school, so I took the MCAT and did pretty well on it. I used that instead of the GRE and my high score on it is probably what set me apart. I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have.

I got my decision on 2-14 and the letter said that I had to accept the offer and pay the deposit by 3-14. So I a month to have my decision in.

How do you all plan on repaying your loans? I am looking into federal loan forgiveness, but Trump's proposed bill could do away with loan forgiveness. I'm curious to see what else there is available.

I got an email that there was an update to my application and I could view it by going to the application portal or whatever. When I got to the page, it said there was an update posted with a link to the decision letter. Also, I wouldn't give up yet. Maybe they are sending them out in waves.

Congratulations everyone! I was accepted into the prespecialty AGACNP program! And we should definitely start a facebook group!!

Yup. I've applied to 5 direct entry program for non-nurses and I'm applying to a couple of A-BSN programs in Arkansas, where I'm from. They aren't ideal, but they are plenty cheaper.

I didn't because they made it seem like they hadn't made a decision yet. Let me know if you call, and what they say.

I still haven't received a decision letter! I called them just now and was told that my application is still being reviewed and they would send it out when they're done. All they could do is confirm that they have everything they need from me.

Definitely, I know my excitement is unwarranted. I can't help it! It makes me hopeful!

What did you apply for? I'm feeling the same way! I know I shouldn't look into it, but here I am, getting more excited. I applied for the specialty AGAC-NP route.

I haven't received an email either. In fact, out of the 5 programs I've applied to, I've heard from Simmons the least. I received the initial, "Thanks for applying" email, but nothing after that.

I am applying AGAC-NP as well for the prespecialty route. I am from Arkansas.