Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Knowing What Is In Nurse Practitioner Programs

Hard work must run through the veins of an individual who wants to pursue an advanced nursing degree and he must also keep in mind the expenses that he would eventually encounter. So, it is just right to have various options before going into a degree program. There are various nurse programs that are in the Internet and in schools and they are all different.

A master’s degree in nursing can be taken by those with a bachelor’s degree already and this is a way that they can become nurse practitioners. This would run for 24 months. Passing or not the nurse practitioner licensing examination would still get you to attain a degree.

Nurse managers, educators and registered nurses can take the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) which is an entry level degree for the first two and an advanced level graduate degree for the latter one. If you’re planning to take a doctorate nursing education you must first take an MSN degree. MSN would have one study a certain nursing sphere such as geriatrics, OB-GYNE, neonatal and pediatrics, just to name a few.

If one has no bachelor’s diploma in nursing and still wants to become a nurse practitioner then one needs to look up RN to MSN programs. This is a great option for those currently working as a CNA or LPN or those who have yet to proceed into the nursing field. A master’s degree is possible with the RN to MSN only if you will get it from the institution you had your undergraduate degree.

Simply put, you will take the two programs that run together and by doing so, the school can get rid of some overlapping work that nurses usually do when transitioning from a BSN to MSN program. A year will be saved once you undergo this program. The RN to MSN nurse practitioner programs often take about three years to complete.

For those with an associate’s degree or a registered nurse diploma, the program allows you to skip getting a bachelor’s degree and continue directly to the desired MSN degree. When one completes the program they will be given a BS and an MSN degree by the nursing school while various programs would only promise an MSN degree. The program won’t take you so long to have your degree and that’s what makes it good.

In changing what you want you should take a direct entry MSN program that can help you be a nurse practitioner. Something like this is only applicable for individuals with a bachelor’s degree and not nursing. Pupils taking liberal arts are usually in this program and it will take those two years if they decide to attain a master’s degree.

Taking the direct entry MSN program is a commitment three to four years long. You won’t be studying several elective courses such as math or communications, since you already had these with your past degree. However, you need to return and take up the nursing fundamentals to qualify for the RN certification.

An Accelerated BSN program is what the arrangement is like. In this degree you will be able to find recognition for the classes you took and then you will start on a stern program of theory and clinical procedures. The basic classes you will have will depend on the degree you already have.

In organizing nurse practitioner programs, there are a lot of things that we must take note of. You can get an online nurse practitioner program these days, instead of having only the campus one as a choice. By scanning through all the programs, you may be able to find the one that fits you best.

When you are looking for relevant information about nurse practitioner schools and also about online nurse practitioner programs, do fail to hit the links and you shall be helped.