university of minnesota MS program, second degree, non nursing

caligurl1 · Apr 10, 2010

Hi,

I was in a very similar position as you, I have a BA and MA and went back to school for nursing. The U of M Master's program is very competitive and expensive. Since you already have a bachelor's degree, I would consider looking to go the bachelor's route, not the masters program. You might change your mind in a few years and have a specialty license which would limit your options. I made a mistake of obtaining a specialization and am regretting that decision. If I could redo my decision, I would of looked at Chippewa Valley Community College in River Falls, WI. It is only a 30-45 minute drive from the cities and is super cheap. Once you have your RN, there are so many more doors open for you to go back to school (online, bridge programs, weekend programs, etc). For WI you need to be a CNA to apply to nursing school. Otherwise, UW Oshkosh has an online program which allows you to complete your clinicals in your hometown. Good luck!

creativetype2007 · Apr 10, 2010

Thank for writing back. For a masters degree as an RN and in 16 months, 24 grand is not that bad compared to many of these accelorated second degree programs. And since I want to move into being an NP, I can't see how it can hurt. I am not necessarily sure how it limits me when that programs seems to have RN's better prepaired then a lot of other programs I've seen. If am am mistaken, please share your thoughts. I value them.

Thanks.

bigskycountry · Apr 23, 2010

I graduated from the U of M MN program. I had a BS in another field and a career in a creative field for 13 years. I got a 4.0 in all my prereq's and worked as an ED unit coordinator to make sure I liked working in a hospital. No doubt it's very competitive to get into the program, and a high GPA is essential, but they are also looking for well-rounded people that are leaders. It is very important to have excellent reference letters, a heartfelt essay, and if invited to interview, let your personality come through. They are particularly interested in people who want to pursue NP, CNS, CRNA and educator routes. That said, it's a great program and the MN will give you a leg up in all future endeavors. There are 640 clinical hours in the program, which is way more than any BSN or ASN program I've ever heard of. Employers love this combination of intense clinical hours and graduate level classwork. They're paying relatively the same wage whether you have an MN, BSN, or ASN, so why wouldn't they get the most for their money? The market is unbelievably competitive for new grads and most employers are looking for at least a BSN. I say pay the extra bit of money up front to get at least a BSN so that you are positioned for being employed after graduation. You will also be able to more quickly "move up the ladder" and apply for management positions with a masters degree, if you choose to. If you are serious about becoming an NP, I would also advise checking out the direct-entry MSN programs at Marquette (in WI) and Iowa. Good luck! It is well worth the effort!