What are my chances of being accepted to a direct-entry MSN program?

[Falco421]

I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on how my stats and experience will stack up in applying to Direct-entry FNP or AGNP programs this fall. I'm planning on casting a wide net, but I'd like to minimize the number of applications I complete as much as I can to cut down on application fees (and to have mercy on my gracious recommendation letter-writers!)

I am a Massage therapist specializing in injury-treatment work, with about 3.5 years of professional experience, including management. I have a 4.0 GPA from my BA (religious studies--socio-cultural, NOT theology:)) as well as in my science and math prereqs, and a 3.9 from my additional Massage Therapy associate's degree. GRE is pretty good: 169 verbal, 156 math, 4.5 writing. My letters of rec should be strong. My biggest fear is that my massage therapy experience won't be considered "clinical" enough, although I firmly believe in the work and that it is patient care. I haven't had time to volunteer as I've had to work full-time to pay my way through school, although I have shadowed at a community health clinic a couple times.

What do you guys think? How much is hospital-based experience held up in importance for admissions? I really want this so badly.

[CardiacDork, MSN, RN]

The issue is that you would be practicing as an NP without a lick of nursing experience and NP programs already are lacking strong clinical components. Just look at the hours PAs put in vs NPs. This is because anyone can go and become a PA traditionally. You can work as an MA and have your prerequisites and BAM you're in PA school.

NP school while many don't have a required minimum year(s), they have a recommended and many nurses obtaining their NP have at least 1 or 2 years which I believe is sufficient. You can only learn so much as a bedside nurse but it's not so much about the knowledge as it is about developing a clinical compass.

I am not belittling your experience as an LMT, but it is not a field which would harvest your clinical intuition or clinical compass. My mother works as an LMT and she also performed in sports and injury related populations. However it's clear that she has a clinical/medical deficit in terms of speaking beyond her area of expertise (neuromuscular/skeletal/massage).

Think about it is this way, you are a primary care NP and you have a patient that may be showing subtle signs of needing to be admitted to the hospital. On what knowledge or experience base would you be sniffing out the danger signs for this patient? You simply wouldn't have the clinical compass and you could cost a life.

[Falco421]

I understand and respect your opinion and believe that these are valid concerns. From what I can tell, it seems to be a common topic on this forum for people to criticize the direct-entry NP pathway in general. I fully understand the challenges that this path entails, but evidence shows that students graduating from direct-entry NP programs are equally successful in their roles as are nurses who have taken the traditional route. I have to believe that these programs prepare students adequately, or they would not exist. These programs are intended for students who are career-changers. For me, this is my only entry into nursing, and an ABSN is not an option, as I am unable to get loan funding for any more undergraduate credits. But since I know I want to be an NP anyway, I don't see this as a problem.

I posted this question because I'm trying to gauge just how competitive these programs are, and how my stats and experiences will stack up, so I can choose my applications accordingly.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Aside from PP's very articulate & accurate advice & the logical comparisons between vocational certification & a degree ..... Who in the world is going to hire an inexperienced NP?? My organization employs a lot of NPs in various settings. We don't even consider anyone without demonstrated expertise in their clinical field. Our patients deserve more.