The direct entry MSN program is designed for individuals who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in a subject unrelated to nursing and who wish to enter the field as an RN. Most of these programs take two years, as does a standard RN training program at the associate’s level. At the completion of a direct entry MSN program the student is qualified to sit for the National Council Licensing Exam-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). This program is a good two-year option for someone with a baccalaureate; it has become popular because many people who have found their undergraduate degrees increasingly irrelevant have turned to nursing as a profession. In essence, someone completing a standard direct entry MSN program is emerging with RN nursing credentials and a graduate degree.
Direct Entry to BS and MSN
Some schools offer a direct entry program that results in a dual degree: both the bachelors and the master’s in nursing are completed simultaneously. This option prepares the student for a general nursing career with the BS program and completes an advanced practice nursing program with the MSN. Some employers today prefer to hire nurses with a baccalaureate and do not see a direct entry program with RN training as sufficient. There are some federal and military agencies that require their nurses to have a bachelor’s degree with an MSN.
Direct Entry MSN with Advanced Nursing Training
The advanced practice nursing careers that are traditionally associated with an MSN have fragmented. One of them is Clinical Nurse Leader, a category that was created in 2004 by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in order to put a title to one of the developing careers. Some schools are embedding training for this program so that once a direct entry MSN graduate has passed the NCLEX, they can sit for the Clinical Nurse Leader exam. This is a great option for entering the advanced practice nursing tier after a relatively brief period of study.
Other schools treat the direct entry option as a two stage path to advanced practice nursing, with the first stage being completion of RN training and passage of the exam. The second state pertains to the advanced level specialization the student has chosen. Direct entry MSN degrees are available in a variety of formats, from strictly RN status to many of the advanced practice options.
