straight MSN?

[climberrn]

This didn't seem to fit in the specialty threads but please move this if you need to.

I'm in the process of applying to grad school, NP programs. In my research, many of them have a certain number of credit hours required, with a lesser number if you already have an MSN. Out of curiosity I started looking at general MSN programs and haven't really found that many (admittedly, it was a cursory search). Most say MSN but then have a focus of education, public health, or NP. Is there JUST an MSN program or is there always some extra focus?

[imenid37]

Th clinical nurse leader is a generalist nurse rather than a specialist nurse. Some people get this degree if they already have a BS/BA because it is apparently easier to get a loan for a graduate degree rather than a second BS/BA. Mostly they work, from what I have been told, as a staff nurse for several years to get experience, before taking on the real role of the "clinical nurse leader." Here is a link. http://nursing.umaryland.edu/programs/ms/cnl-faq.htm

Personally, I'd rather see someone come in as a BSN, but I can see that w/ financial considerations, this may make sense. Most of us think of MSN nurses as "advanced pratice or specialty." but this role doesn't fit into what we have traditionally seen w/ graduate prepared nurses. A person could get this degree and then get a DNP if they go onto become a practitioner or CNM, rather than a post-masters certificate..