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Discussion

RN to BSN to MSN Program Accreditation Concern

Does anyone know what the concerns/ issues are when going from BSN to MSN or NP/DNP? I am looking to eventually become a NP, but for now I'm enjoying my management position. I want to get my BSN, but I need to know what questions to ask. I want to make sure that when I graduate with my BSN, I will have options or "qualify" for MSN school. Does anyone know how to make this more clear? I have asked some schools, but I'm just afraid they are telling me what sounds good for their program and to stay in their program. For instance, If I get a BSN from Walden, could I get an MSN from somewhere else or...? I just can't seem to find a clear response to this. Any input would be great.

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    1. Make sure the university you choose is regionally accredited (WASC, Middle States, New England, North Central, etc)

    2. Make sure the university's nursing programs are nationally accredited by eith CCNE or NLNAC.

    Typically, accredited schools proudly display this info on their websites and marketing materials (accredited universities and programs WANT you to know this) If you are in doubt, I would check with www.ed.gov where you can search by school...

    Choosing a fully accredited RN to BSN program will allow you to transfer your credits and/or degree should you choose to continue your education at another institution.

    Using Walden as an example-

    1. Walden is regionally accredited by the North Central Association

    2. Walden's BSN program is nationally accredited by CCNE

    :)

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    tfree's comments are spot on. But there is one additional thing that you might want to consider (I say this from 20+ years in university admissions).

    Graduate admissions committees are comprised entirely of nursing faculty members, and they truly respect the opinions of other nursing faculty when evaluating graduate school candidates. The graduate programs (MSN, DNP and PhD) at my own institution require an academic letter of reference for entry to all graduate programs. Unfortunately, with all of the benefits of online BSN programs, one of the drawbacks is that faculty do not get to know their students well (especially in a 5 or 6 week class). In general, the academic letters of recommendation I have seen from the faculty of online universities are not very detailed, lack specifics on why a candidate is particularly suited for a demanding graduate program, and do not make an applicant stand out.

    Last year the MSN-NP programs at my University received over 170 applications for only 50 spaces. It is tougher to be in this top tier when the academic reference is vague and general.

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