Accelerated nursing programs are available to people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field and wish to enter the nursing profession. Also known as direct entry programs, entrants to these “second degree” nursing candidates have become more numerous in recent years as have the educational programs to meet their needs. For those seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing prior to sitting for the RN exam an accelerated program usually takes twelve to eighteen months. A generic Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) usually takes three years to complete as a second degree. Actually it’s a third degree, as most students spend the first year earning a BS in Nursing and the ensuing two years in graduate study. The accelerated MSN may be a generic degree. A “generic” MSN degree is one that does not supply training for any of the advanced practice nursing options.
- University of California/San Francisco has a three year MSN second degree program that provides full training for the specialty areas offered for advanced practice. There are a few bachelor’s degrees such as the BFA that do not qualify a student for this program.
- Johns Hopkins University offers the direct entry as a combined BSN and MSN program that allows the student to spend the first year in basic nursing studies and make a decision on a MSN specialty thereafter.
- Columbia University includes both the BSN and the MSN in its direct entry program, designed to take three years for full time students. Once into the advanced practice portion of the program students have nine specialties from which to choose.
- University of Virginia takes twenty four months to complete and leads to graduation with an MSN as Clinical Nurse Leader. This title does not imply any particular specialty other than leadership and administrative skills provided both by the MSN program and the previous unrelated bachelor’s degree program.
- Northeastern University offers a direct entry MSN program that does not include completion of a bachelor’s in nursing. Sixteen months of study leads to the NCLEX nursing exam which qualifies you as an RN. Following six to nine months of clinical practice in a cooperative environment and then begin studying for an advanced practice nurse specialty.
- Oregon Health & Science University has a three year MSN program for students with a non-nursing baccalaureate. The first five quarters are devoted to undergraduate work leading to the completion of a BS in Nursing. Thereafter the program is master’s level courses that lead to an MSN in either Nurse Midwifery or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
- University of Illinois/Chicago has the Graduate Entry Program for MSN students holding a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. The first fifteen months are devoted to full time study of nursing, whereupon students take the national exam for Registered Nurses and are then eligible to practice. The rest of the program is devoted to studying for one of the MSN specialties and may be done at any of the University’s four campuses. The school encourages students to work as RNs while completing the accelerated MSN program.
- Ohio State University has a three year Graduate Entry Program for the MSN which requires full time study for the entire period. Students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX after six quarters of study and must select the MSN area of specialization upon admittance to the program.
- Rush University offers a two year program that leads to an MSN in Clinical Leadership. The six quarters of academic work is followed by an additional quarter of clinical hours in a residency setting. This program is an example of a generic MSN.
- Boston College has a Master’s Entry Route for the MSN in which the first eleven months are spent completing basic nursing studies that will allow students to sit for the RN exam. The MSN degree allows for specialization for which students must take certification exams. The entire program takes twenty one months.
Sources:
http://nurseweb.ucsf.edu/www/ix-ms.shtml
