What is your opinion of people who do a direct entry masters program? (they go straight from a bachelors in a non-nursing field to a masters in nursing to be a nurse practitioner)

cdnurse, I can't say if the nurse is dumb but the program is not as dumb as it sounds. At least the programs that I have looked into or the one i will start this fall. My program is a 20 month MSN program but it is not a specialty it is just a general masters similar to a second bachelors degree in nursing program except more classes on the graduate level and you can transfer these course towards your specialty. The program intells a mixture of classes and clincials in 20 months full time including the summer but what it really prepares you for is to sit for your boards. Basically you are cramming what you would learn in a ASN or BSN program in 15 to 20 months plus you have to take prereqs before you can even start the program like a ASN or BSN program and some of the prereqs can take up to a year and a half to complete before you can start.

Because, these people aspire to become registered nurses but see the need to go back and get a LPN to RN or ASN in order to become a nurse. I know I want to eventual become a CRNA and I was adviced to get either a second bachelors in nursing or a general MSN instead of going back to the basics since I will be learning the same info and still have put in as much or more time in to get to my goal. This only my opinion and i could be wrong.

It's okay, good luck without the nicotine I know it be hard to quit. Yes, this track to nursing may not be for everyone but alot of school have funding(federal grants, scholarships etc.) to lessen the cost of these programs and once the nurse completes the program usually the hospital they work for will help to pick up their debt from school. At least the friends i know that went through similar program told me this and so did the hospitals if you agree to work for them to a certain amount of time. (usually 2-3 years)

sometimes I feel like the emphasis on graduate degrees, BSN and MSN and the new doctorate of nursing,
all seem to pull us further away from the bedside. Nursing theory and management skills aside, we all need to be proficient in the basic skills; otherwise we are academia, not nurses.

Just my opinion.

Browncl, I want to give a prime example, Me!!!!. I am getting ready to take my LPN state nursing boards soon. I will not use my license to bridge over until a RN nursing program even though I have all my RN classes completed, the reason being, is what vickeylee1070 said, I feel I don't have the skills, and experience to do so. We are tallking about human life here. I would of been comfortable hadn't I worked a while as a LPN, then bridge over, but to bridge over as a generic LPN, no way jose!!! hyperthecally speaking. I understood your comment, that's why I quoted CDnurse comment, you were on point, financially, but in my opinion, I don't think it help in the experience, and bedside nursing, that is my opinion!!!! though, to clarify the statement about getting the ADN and BSN, not using the accelerated program, but using the traditional route, sorry, I didn't explain in dept. What I mean, do the traditional route first, then if you go to work, let your job help you financially. I am not against the accelerated program, but I think you shouldn't do a accerated Master's nursing program first, that's my personal opinion!!!

I just graduated and passed my NCLEX-PN, I will start working as a LPN, ASAP and I have begun my core for the RN program. By time I begin the LPN to RN bridge I will have worked for 1+year as a LPN. I feel this is a better route for me personally than going straight to RN school for a number of reasons. I will have the opportunity to grow in my skills before doing RN clinical rotation, I will have a broader perspective than I might have had going straight to RN and most importantly I can work in the field of my choice while I further my education.

Perhaps Some people will benefit from going directly to RN school. For me, I could not afford to go directly to RN school. I worked full-time and went to LPN school at night. As an LPN I can work 3-11 shift and go to school during the day. By the time I reach the bridge program I will have established myself as a competent nurse and a dependable worker, thereby enabling me (hopefully) to adjust my schedule to coordinate my two priorities.

I would like to maybe eventually work my way to a BSN, but right now I feel that SKILLZ are the most important and the theory can wait until later.

*browncl:* As far as I am concerned, you need to do what you are comfortable doing and what you know you can handle. All the other opinions are just that -- opinions; although based on experience, instinct, and education you can't define your path by the path that would be best for others. All this scrutiny does not take into account the most important factor here: who you are: as a person, as a student, & as a future nurse. If you feel you are capable of this accelerated program and that this program will prepare you for the best position in nursing *for you* (which translates into the best for your patients); then you know what you need to do.

I am only in my second semster of the ADN program so my experience is limited. However, personally, I felt that I should have become a CNA prior to the ADN program. Sure, I had to take the CNA class and I became certified and registered with the State. But the basic care skills were not there and I felt inept when it came to applying the nursing skills (RN) that I was learning because I was so consumed with doing the right thing with providing basic cares (CNA).

My instructors disagreed. They said they would rather have a student that was not practicing as a CNA for several reasons. 1) (They said) It's hard to get the CNA to change the mindset from CNA to RN because of previous set patterns. 2) They would rather take the extra time & teach someone how to do something, then try to unteach someone bad habits learned from experience.

Again, I would recommend that you do what you feel is the right thing for you. Best of luck!

thank you all your advice and opinions, they have truly helped me to make the best decision for myself. I am planning to contact some hospitals and see if they offer a student nursing, nurse intern/extern program so that I can gain more practical nursing experience besides just my clinicals. Thanks again Sandy52,cuttie, vickeylee1970, Marg,RN2B and JonZ. Wish me luck in my pursuit.