RN, BSN (with master and Doctorate in other field)

[RNtoFNPAspirant]

Hello members,

Greetings!

I am currently pursuing my RN, BSN at UST. It is an accelerated program. I will graduate in Aug 2021. I intend to pursue FNP after I graduate with my BSN.

I have a few questions and seek suggestions from senior/experienced/knowledgeable nurses/members.

I already hold Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate in other healthcare field (All 3 in the field of Physical Therapy). I have been a Physical Therapist for 13 years. This is a career change that was long overdue. I understand it is an inflammatory topic and I do not want to step on anyone's toes here. I want the fastest route, I am not asking for low-quality schoolwork either.

My objective is to get my FNP at the earliest, online coursework preferred with local clinical placement. I know of only 1 school offering 1 year fulltime FNP post-BSN.

Do you guys know of any school that considers masters in other field and lets one join post master's certificate FNP program with RN, BSN? 

I do not want another master's degree unless I must. I have done a lot of schooling and I am getting old and want to save some time and money both.

I sincerely appreciate all your assistance and other advice.

Thank you

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Post-master's certificates are for ONLY those with an MSN. MSN is the required standard for certification so no, your master's in another discipline will not suffice. 

You will need another master's in order to be an advance practice nurse. 

[guest874748]

I know that in California there is some rule that requires nursing programs to offer challenge exams for all nursing courses (at least for the ADN and BSN programs) perhaps you could check out a FNP program based there and see if it's for the master's programs too. I'm sure as a PT some of the NP material has to overlap, so it wouldn't take too much studying and would cut down on the time and expense a bit.

[caliotter3]

Challenge exams for all nursing courses in CA?  Is this recent?  Why not common knowledge?  If that were so, there wouldn't be too many bums warming seats in CA nursing programs (pre-pandemic).

[guest874748]

Money I'm sure. Of all the ridiculous college success annoying stuff they made me do in high school and throughout college, none of them ever mentioned CLEP. How many people would take any gen ED's knowing that you could test out of them for $90 and get college credit?

If you Google "credit by exam california nursing" you can find the student handbooks all say something along the lines, "challenge exams available for all nursing courses" I'm assuming since for profit schools also have this written that it must be some kind of requirement by the state considering other states don't have that option (with the few that will let you test out of pharmacology and pathophysiology- which really aren't even nursing courses)