I think you have a great chance. I was a hospital administrator (went to grad school with two masters) and now realize I was to be a psychiatric NP. I think your mental health background will do...
Yes, I don't think you need an associate for what the direct master's entry program. But, you are getting an associates in nursing and then going into the masters?
I'm a non-nursing professional whose university/grad school studies were not nursing. In the Bay Area there is a nurse practitioner program (UCSF) program for non-nurses. What they call a Masters...