Summary Of How To Become A Nurse Practitioner Without A Bsn/nursing Degree
Whether you are currently an RN or not, and you are seeking a career in the advanced practice nursing field, there are online programs available to get you started on the path to earning a masters degree in nursing. If you pursue one of these programs, be prepared to study hard and apply yourself. Just because it takes less time and is generally less expensive, it doesnt mean it wont be challenging. It may be more challenging than a traditional college MSN degree program. These online programs will test all of your skills, critical thinking, and time management. After completion, however, you will be equipped with the tools needed to succeed in helping provide quality care for patients while also gaining employment opportunities in a growing healthcare field.
Masters In Nursing Specializations
Because the health care field is so broad, many doctors, nurses and other health care professionals elect to specialize. Choosing a specialty dictates the focus of an MSN program. For instance, a family nurse practitioner curriculum focuses on developing treatment plans for patients, educating patients on how to avoid disease, encouraging healthy habits, performing diagnostic tests and analyzing results, and managing a patients overall health care.
On the other hand, a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner concentration focuses on making psychiatric diagnoses, conducting physical and mental health assessments, designing treatment plans , and providing education to patients and their relatives regarding the ways to promote mental health.
The Masters Of Healthcare
The masters of healthcare is unquestionably a prestigious and important degree within the healthcare field. It prepares an individual for a wide range of administrative and managerial career paths in the healthcare industry. If you are planning on pursuing a career that leads to policy and administration, the masters of healthcare is a good option to pursue, particularly if it is combined with the expertise of a bachelors of science in nursing.
There are a variety of different programs that are frequently referred to as a masters of healthcare. Many well-established and reputable medical institutions offer a masters of science in healthcare administration. Other organizations, including a number of for-profit universities and online schools, offer an MBA program a healthcare-specialized take on a masters of business administration. Masters of arts management programs also exist, some of which are extremely reputable.
If youre entering into your graduate studies with a BSN, and youre of a mind to pursue an administrative career path, a masters of science in healthcare administration from a leading institution is your best bet to complement your nursing expertise. If, for whatever reason, that is not an available option, an MBA is a reputable and internationally recognized alternative. An MA in management is an admirable degree, but is not as heavily associated with industries like healthcare and medicine.
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Advantages Of A Masters Degree In Nursing
There are many benefits in having an MSN degree. For example, it can open up new career doors. Besides the fact that certain specializations in the world of nursing will require a masters degree, certain positions within prestigious places will require an MSN.
If you intend to focus on a specific type of nursing, such as becoming a nurse practitioner, or engaging in nursing informatics, or taking on a managerial position in a hospital, then you will need a masters degree in nursing. Whats more, you can earn a much higher salary with this level of education compared to having a BSN. Many individuals with an MSN will find that they can earn a far higher salary than what an RN would typically earn. For instance, according to the BLS, a certified registered nurse with a masters degree in anesthesia can earn a media salary of around $153,780, which is around double what a standard RN can earn.
Types Of Accelerated Rn To Msn Formats
Accelerated RN to BSN to MSN
Short RN to MSN programs in this category do exist! Theyre designed for diploma or associate degree holders who would like to earn a BSN on the way toward a masters degree. Youll usually need to complete a fair amount of BSN-level coursework before you can progress to the MSN , but youll often be able to avoid certain BSN electives and take BSN and MSN-level courses at the same time.
Accelerated RN to MSN
To speed up the process of earn an MSN, some schools have done away with the BSN altogether. Instead, RN to MSN students take a certain number of BSN-level courses in nursing and then plunge straight into the masters degree. These kinds of programs may appeal to RNs with significant work & life experience.
Accelerated RN to MSN for BA or BS Holders
Weve mentioned this format before, but its worth repeating. If you have a non-nursing bachelors degree, youll usually be eligible for an accelerated pathway that only requires a few undergraduate nursing courses. Youll notice that some schools in our listings have 2 pathways: one for ADN/ASN/diploma holders and a separate one for BA or BS holders .
Self-Paced RN to MSN Programs
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How Much Are Msn Degree Progams
The cost of masters in nursing programs vary a little depending on the location and whether or not you are attending a private or state university. There may also be additional expenses for course materials. Some programs will also grant scholarships to competitive applicants, and many graduate students take out loans to pay for their education expenses. Below are a couple examples of tuition costs for private and state universities.
- Boston College: $1404/credit or about $42,120/year
- University of Texas: $1390/credit or about $14,000/year for state residents
The cost of education in the U.S. can be a huge turn off for many people interested in earning their masters. While there is no doubt that getting your masters could put a dent in your wallet, tuition costs do not need to dictate your future. Since nursing is in a public service field, there are many programs and scholarships that can help you pay back or fund your education. The following are some examples of loan forgiveness programs for nurses:
Each state may also have their own way of helping you pay off your loans.
Are You Ready For The Msn
It goes without saying that earning an MSN degree is a great deal of work. Are you ready to put in the time, effort, and dedication it will take to earn this degree? Its also important to know which type of program you would do best in and what suits your current lifestyle, whether you have work obligations or a family to take care of.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I ready to move ahead in my career?
- Do I have the fiances, time, and mental energy to put into earning a degree?
- Am I willing to make sacrifices so I can focus on my degree?
If you answered yes to the following questions, you could be ready to earn and MSN degree and forward your nursing career.
Are you interested in earning a Master of Science in Nursing degree and advancing as a nurse? If you want to learn more about online classes you can take at your convenience with an accelerated schedule to help you graduate sooner, you could find yourself at home at ECPI University. For more information, contact a friendly admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
Gainful Employment Information Master of Science in Nursing
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Alternate Routes To Becoming An Np
There are four additional routes to becoming an NP that are worth noting. The first applies to bachelors program graduates who would like to enter the nursing field without having to repeat bachelors program general education requirements. These are students who have not yet trained for RN licensure and thus qualify for what are often called Accelerated BSN programs. An Accelerated BSN program provides students who have a bachelors degree in a non-nursing field with only the coursework and clinical training necessary to qualify for RN licensure. Once they earn their BSN and RN license, students can then pursue an MSN program for training in an NP specialty.
There are also Direct Entry MSN programs, which are similar to Accelerated BSN programs, but combine BSN and MSN training into one program. Students in these programs typically earn their BSN, become licensed as an RN, and then continue on through their MSN coursework. These programs, which require a non-nursing bachelor degree, often have strict admissions requirements as they are fast paced and academically challenging.
How Does Our Direct Entry Msn Program Work
To understand how our second-degree MSN program works, it helps to look at the typical path nursing students take toward earning an MSN.
Today, the majority of new nurses are graduating from BSN degree program. Still, a number of registered nurses start out with a two-year Associate Degree of Nursing , though that percentage is declining.
Typically, upon passing the NCLEX-RN, a BSN or ADN degree-holding nurse enters the workforce, opting to pursue an MSN later, if at all. To earn a masters in nursing, both would need to enroll in an RN-to-MSN program, though it would take the ADN holder longer to earn an MSN .
What Marquettes Direct Entry MSN program near Kenosha does is it lets you use your non-nursing bachelors degree as a starting point so that you can focus exclusively on your nursing education, allowing you to earn an MSN in 1821 months. Unlike a traditional college degree path, there are no electives or second concentration requirements every course you take will apply directly to your nursing career. The result is an intensive program that covers everything in a BSN program and an MSN program.
As a note, because our Direct Entry MSN program encompasses both BSN- and MSN-degree curriculum, we cannot accept BSN holders into the program.
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Paths To Earning Your Msn Degree: How Long It Takes Based On Your Nursing Experience
Whether youre already a registered nurse or youre looking to break into the field, you may be considering earning a masters in nursing as a powerful way to advance your career. The timeline for earning your masters varies based on the path you take.
Lets look at the different paths to an MSN degree based on your education and experience.
Can You Go Straight From Rn
It is possible to go straight from an RN to an MSN without a BSN. Programs that offer this option typically take less time to complete. These programs provide RNs with the opportunity to become an advanced practice nurse in a short amount of time, opening up the ability to hold more advanced positions sooner.
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Career And Salary Outlook
Pursuing a traditional MSN can prepare you for leadership positions in clinical and non-clinical roles. While APRNs working as nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners can expect 26% job growth through 2028, theres also plenty of opportunities for nurses who want to pursue specialized MSNs in a wide range of in-demand career paths like nurse educators, clinical nurse specialists, and genetics nurses, Poindexter says.
Theres a tremendous demand for psychiatric advanced practice nurses.
A nurse practitioner can be a psychiatric nurse practitioner, an acute care nurse practitioner, or primary care nurse practitioner, Poindexter says. And within some of those roles there is greater demand. For example, were seeing a tremendous demand for psychiatric advanced practice nurses because we have such an extreme shortage of providers nationally and those needs are growing.
Of course, your exact salary depends on your geographic area, years of experience, area of specialization, and type of employer.
While its difficult to calculate the exact impact a traditional MSN can have on your earnings, the difference between a BSN-educated RN and an MSN-educated RN averages about 9%, according to a Medscape survey of nurses. If you advance your career to a DNP, youll see an additional increase in salary.
Occupation
$83,160
Is Getting An Msn Worth It After All
Aging populations, critical care needs for a growing number of patients from all areas of life, technology innovation and development, nursing shortage, all are just a few of the important factors that are radically changing the medical world, globally. All these, combined with the fact that most of the health care positions are in the top jobs of the future, are the reasons why getting a masters in nursing could prove to be a promising and rich career.
But wondering whether or not earning your masters degree in nursing is worth it is extremely subjective. Every nurse makes sacrifices to complete their degree. And its not just about getting a better pay and a higher education, its also about your personal and professional goals and passions.
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What Will I Learn/what Classes Will I Take In An Msn Program
A lot depends on your area of focus and which school you attend. A few courses from one school with classes posted online are as follows:
- MSN Professional Nursing Core
- Organizational Leadership and Interprofessional Team Development
- Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice
This is just a small sample of total course work, and only from one school. To find out your particular path, you will need to find a program based on your
- Current degree level and experience
- Desired specialization
- Ability to take online or local, in-person classes
What Exactly Is An Online Bridge Program
As discussed briefly above, an online bridge program is a unique higher education degree program created to help students advance their current education to the next level by providing the necessary information needed to connect the students knowledge from where they are to where they need to be academically. Many programs offered can be done in an accelerated amount of time and cost less than going back to a traditional college to earn the same degree.
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How Long Does It Take To Earn An Online Msn Degree
There are many factors that affect how long program completion time will be for each individual. A few of these factors include program type, student academic progress, and credit transferability. See the Tracks image at the top of the page for an estimated program completion time. Programs range from 18 months up to 36 months. Again, these amounts of time all depend on the individual student and may include the influencing factors listed above.
Length Of An Msn Program: Full
Post-baccalaureate students can choose to pursue their MSN on a full- or part-time basis. Many schools offer both options. While full-time MSN programs take less semesters overall to complete, they generally require a larger time commitment on a weekly basis, as students must enroll in 2-3 classes per semester. Part-time programs, on the other hand, allow students to take fewer courses each term, so they can continue to work full time or manage other work/life obligations while earning their degree.
Because of the differences in enrollment, a full-time MSN program takes 15-24 months to complete, while students earning their MSN part time finish in 24-48 months. Typically, schools recommend that MSN students who intend to maintain full-time employment during their degree program enroll part time in order to provide enough time for coursework and clinical hours each week.
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How Long Does It Take To Complete The Program
Typically, this program can take up to two years to complete. Some schools will require that you have a certain amount of work experience before you can be admitted, but MSN programs generally require the following:
- A Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- A registered nurse license
- Minimum GPA and GRE scores
- Clinical experience
Many traditional MSN programs are offered on a part-time or full-time level. Time-to-completion depends on type of program and area of specialty. Non-clinical, generalist degrees typically take the shortest amount of time.
Some accelerated programs require full-time participation because the program is designed to provide an intense immersion experience. Direct-entry MSN programs can range between 18 months to about three years of full-time study. Bridge RN-to-MSN programs can be completed in about three years, with variations based on areas of specialization.
Indirect Care Msn Specializations
The following MSN specializations will enable you to impact the healthcare system and clinical outcomes of patients by influencing healthcare from an indirect role, meaning you will not provide hands on clinical care. These roles are often referred to as advanced practice nursing roles, meaning they require a masters degree or higher. However, according to the AACN these are not APRN roles.
- Clinical Nurse Leader You will focus on improving patient care by leading, facilitating, and overseeing healthcare teams. You will work to improve patient safety, reduce costs, and improve healthcare delivery.
- Nurse Educator You will prepare nurses by educating them in professional and academic settings to ensure constant advancement of healthcare and improve patient outcomes.
- Nurse Administrator: You can specialize as a Nurse Executive or in supervisor, director, and nurse manager roles. As a nurse administrator of any kind you will lead healthcare teams and create effective work environments.
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