RN with a bachelor's in another discipline

BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN · Nov 17, 2013

I think there are a few ADN to MSN programs that incorporate the BSN curriculum along the way, but don't actually award the BSN and therefore somehow manage to save you some money. However, a bachelors degree in a different field is not an acceptable substitute for a BSN and you are going to have to do the work one way or another.

DoGoodThenGo · Nov 17, 2013

IIRC Columbia University school of nursing in NYC has a BSN/MSN program but it is for those that have an undergraduate degree in another major besides nursing. School of Nursing | Columbia University Medical Center

kabir06 · Nov 20, 2013

Thanks,

I guess I have to go back and get a BSN then.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2013

Thanks,
I guess I have to go back and get a BSN then.

That isn't what people were saying. There absolutely are RN-MSN programs where you can skip a formal BSN tract.

cbstarkey · Nov 20, 2013

I have am an RN with a bachelor's in another discipline as well. That has not helped with my job search, at all. I also live in an area that is saturated with new grads from both ADN and BSN programs, which also means that there are several educational opportunities available. I am in an RN-to-BSN completion program that is nationally accredited and only required 30 credits for completion. That is very reasonable. Paying for more school while I have still been looking for my first nursing job over the past 3 months has been stressful, but it makes me feel like I am actively doing something while I continue to apply for jobs.

A couple of my friends have looked at RN-to-MSN programs but it was very questionable as to whether those were programs were accredited in any way.

Best wishes.

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Nov 25, 2013

HI,
I am an RN with a bachelor's in another discipline. Does anybody know any on line nursing schools that will let me pursue a master's in nursing or do I have to have a BSN before pursuing an MSN ? I really appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks in advance.

You absolutely do not need a BSN for acceptance into an MSN program. The easiest route is to become an RN through an ADN program at which point you can apply to any of quite a number of MSN programs, many of which offer the degree on-line, though of course you will still need to arrange for clinicals. Without the BSN however, you will have to take several MSN bridge classes, adding to the time and cost to get your graduate degree. There are also some institutions that offer a combined, accelerated BSN/MSN for second-degree non-nursing students (Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia is one).

I am a second degree RN myself and intended to pursue the RN to MSN route, hopefully becoming an FNP in the process. All of the institutions that I looked into however charged the graduate tuition rate for the bridge program classes, which ironically, was just about the same tuition amount required for an RN-BSN program. I chose the RN-BSN route and finished last year. I still intend to enroll in an MSN program but want to get some nursing practice time under my belt before I do so.

akanini, MSN, RN · Nov 25, 2013

OP, Excelsior College and Gozanga University are the only two online schools I know of that let's you bypass the BSN portion. I'm on the same boat like you and I'm I'm my first semester at Excelsior College. I LOVE it........ My first online learning experience!

Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP · Nov 26, 2013

Indiana University has an ASN to MSN program. I have another bachelor's degree but I decided to do my RN to BSN first to allow me job flexibility while I decide what sort of MSN program I want to do.

nursemeanie · Nov 26, 2013

I did an accelerated ADN program since I had a BS in another field. Then I did RN to MSN at Walden, no BSN was given.

akanini, MSN, RN · Nov 26, 2013

Nurse meanie, did you have to do Bridge classes?

nursemeanie · Nov 27, 2013

They didn't call them bridge classes per se, but there were several classes I needed to take before the actual MSN classes started. It took 3 years to complete the program taking one 8 week class at a time. I understand they have made changes to the program in the last few months.