RN(ADN)+BS(Biology)...need accelerated BSN or MSN

OnwardEver · Jul 23, 2011

What do you want to do with your nursing career and for how long? Do you want to go directly into a masters program without any nursing experience or do you want to complete everything in a step-wise fashion allowing you time to get more experience as you transition? In addition to the nurse practitioner role there are also administrator, educator, and clinical nurse specialist roles to consider. It seems as though your ultimate goal is to complete a masters in nursing and become a nurse practitioner. If so, the UTEP MSN program sounds like a great option though you should ask around and hear from people who have gone through their program and find out what kind of reputation the program has before moving forward with it. It would be best if over the course of obtaining the MSN the UTEP program awarded you a BSN just in case you realize becoming a nurse practitioner isn't what you really want. Most accelerated BSN programs take 1 year and MSN programs take 2 years (total of 3 years which would take longer than UTEP's 2.5 year program). Then again, if you want your BSN for advancement opportunities as an RN to work/have income and benefits/gain experience while you pursue the MSN then you might try going for an accelerated BSN first and work as a bachelors-prepared RN while you complete your MSN program.

AG-RN · Jul 24, 2011

mcastro thanks for your advice....I will see about UTEP awarding a BSN while earning MSN. I am pretty sure I want to become NP vs admin,edu, specialist. Any advice about good RN-BSN online programs? Western Governors Univ has one that I can complete in 6 mo but I have my suspicions because I have always gone to state schools for my prior degrees. Any thoughts??

Sanuk · Jul 25, 2011

I have almost the exact same background; AAS in nursing, BS in Biochemistry. I am currently in the RN-MSN program at TWU (FNP track). You are not awarded a BSN in this program, but that was not important to me. Have you looked at TWU at all. Sounds like you are in Texas?

AG-RN · Jul 25, 2011

Sanuk thanks for your advice...I will look into TWU. I have been getting really frustrated with trying to find a program that is the right fit for me. It is almost like a full time job trying to find a program that fits "our" situation with these degrees I have because a lot of programs are not designed for a RN with a science BS degree. They are for RN (associate with no other degree) to BSN or MSN ....and BSN-MSN. But I will keep searching...

Sanuk · Jul 25, 2011

I agree that most programs are geared toward the ADN who wants to do RN-MSN. TWU did accept all of my classes as transfer credits (I earned my BS in Texas though, so I had TX gov't!) I am currently taking Nutrition and Statistics in summer session as conditions of starting the FNP program this Fall. These were the only two courses I had not previously taken (did Calculus and DifEQ but not Statistics, go figure!).

Good luck to you finding the right fit.

AG-RN · Jul 25, 2011

HAHA! that is funny...you took calculus and now you have to back track to statistics. You gotta love these program course requirements (sarcastic). Congrats on your acceptance!

OnwardEver · Aug 12, 2011

AG-RN, I don't have any recommendations to give as far as online bachelors programs for nursing, but I should note I saw a Jacksonville degree on the wall of someone practicing at a high level in a nursing organization recently. I would Google and search here on allnurses, there's got to be a thread ranking or discussing the online courses. Have you decided between a BS or MS program? Good luck!

AG-RN · Aug 12, 2011

mcastro...Yes, I decided to go to BSN program at University of North Alabama. Its a great program and I start on August 24th. I decided to work and take my time and progress to MSN maybe a year or two from now. Thanks for your all advice.