Anatomy & Biochem classes

Soup, it looks like Rebel and Delta have got you some great ideas. I may have missed it but I'm not sure if you're trying to get the fastest route to a NP or PA or an online route or what. There are a lot of great NP and PA programs, some of which take students with other Bachelor's degrees but who have not completed an RN or BSN program - these are called Direct Entry MSN/NP programs. I have a spreadsheet that outlines direct-entry MSN programs across the country if you want me to send it.

A great program that I've found (maybe not for you but for others interested in a distance RN option) is UWisconsin Osk Kosh Accelerated Online Bachelor's to BSN — College of Nursing This program requires the student to have a prior Bachelors (in anything), a CNA license and the normal pre-reqs like A&P, microbio etc. It does require that the student not be employed during the one-year RN/BSN program. Precepts supervise the student in their home community. There are three trips to campus but they are short. This option would be good for a student who lives in the middle of no-where, has a BA/BS, wants an RN degree without having spouse, kids etc move to an urban location in order to be an RN. Or someone who needs to care for family members and needs a flexible schedule, setting up clinical rotations as they wish without being held to a school's schedule. This looks to be a unique program.

 

More important than GPA is your science course work! Have you taken Chemistry,Physics and Biology coursework and if so, what is that GPA?

Also, avoid the DL EMT stuff! The class lectures, exercises are awesome and DL does not do justice for learning the EMT! For example, I got to practice delivery of a baby on a manikin simulator or apply a traction splint or c-collar and spine board, assemble the O2 equipment, etc. you can't appropriately learn this online!

 

I agree with this COMPLETELY!

 

Everything you guys have posted so far has been great advice. After reading a bit more, what are your thoughts on CNA vs EMT for PA school? I literally have a CNA program a 2 miles from my house.

Delta, The only prereqs I have completed currently is Biology. The challenge is going to be to complete this via DL as quickly as possible, but also maintaining the grades. I would like to start now with taking the courses, but we're in the middle of a semester. The University of New England has courses that can be started at any time, but they are pretty expensive. I guess you pay for the convenience.

 

You have to check PA program specifics in regards to pre-reqs. The CNA is needed for nursing program admittance but compared to the EMT course, it's not as fun!

 

Baaaah! Well guys, it appears as though I've really opened up a can of worms. I have a friend with an MSW and around 10 years or so of clinical direct patient work in addictions and mental health counseling looking for the PA or NP route. She is much more advanced than I am considering a few schools I've called will readily accept her clinical counseling toward any HCE hours.

So here's the type of advice she's looking for. Are there any direct entry MSN (with an NP track if possible) via DL? I see a few like Vanderbilt offer hybrids (which she's not opposed to). She's in the same boat as me for prereqs as well, but these nursing programs appear to require some that she has already obtained.

Do you suggest alternate paths like ADN/ASN or second degree BSN then apply to an MSN? I ask all of these questions because I am so unfamiliar with this section of DL and really have no idea where to direct her (much less myself). I appreciate all of the help so far as I am still considering my own options as well.

In searching it looks like Northeastern has a program like she's looking for --> Northeastern University Online Direct Entry Nursing Program

 

I didn't see this post but YES! I would love for you to send me that spreadsheet. That is what my friend is looking for. Do you have them broken down with ones available via DL as well? This would be great. I will PM you my email address. And thanks!

 

Soupbone, I will send the spreadsheet. I don't know of any Direct entry RN/MSN programs that are DL. To my knowledge, the direct entry programs take students who have already received a BS and allow them to go directly to the RN (clinical) portion and the MSN portion overlaps the RN portion, thus shortening the time to complete these two areas. (My 20yo daughter finished her BA early and is now considering direct entry RN/BSN but they are very competitive, even though she is a CNA plus almost a 4.0 in pre-req classes.)

But there is no where that has the RN portion of the direct entry MSN on-line, as the clinical portion is by definition hands-on, in-person. (The only online RN that I know of is the UWisc Osh Kosh program that I posted earlier.) There are a few programs, however, that require the 1-year RN condensed clinical portion in person and then finish the MSN online after. Those are on my spreadsheet.

 

mba, take a look at these if you have a free moment and let me know your opinion. It looks like they offer hybrid MSN direct entry programs.

Direct Entry Admission Requirements | NortheasternNortheastern

Vanderbilt has what's called "distributed course delivery". Looks like a hybrid program --> Distributed Course Delivery and Flexible Formats | Master of Science in Nursing | Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

 

The reality is, becoming a healthcare professional via "DL" is nearly impossible especially, if you are not already in the health care professions ie: LPN, Paramedic, Respiratory therapist, etc. Ultimately, if you want to become a Nurse Practitioner you are going to have to buckle down and get accepted into a Brick and Mortar school and go for the RN! There are programs that are "accelerated BSN". These programs allow those with a bachelors degree and pre-reqs to attend a one year very full time program and receive a BSN with eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN. Most graduate schools will then require at least 1 year of practical experience as an RN to apply.

Once you decide to embark on this journey, there will be huge sacrifices including time away from your family, getting into debt, etc. From my experience, I had to drop my employment to half time to juggle the workload and balance time with the family.

Reality check. Not to be discouraging but I seriously doubt Northeastern University is going to accept someone with no healthcare background into a a neonatal nurse practitioner "direct entry" program. With sensitivity to the issues, we are talking about babies that fit into the palm of your hand and are literally on the edge of life. They may accept someone into the administration track???? but that is a different story all together.

 

Maybe I should put a disclaimer on my signature that explains I only mean the didactic portion of these programs. :chairshot:

I know that the clinical portion of these programs are through some sort of B&M setting (as they should). Some of these programs allow you to have a preceptor in your local community. I think my friend would also prefer to attend B&M locally as well (we're not discussing me at the moment :slaphappy.

I appreciate all of the responses so far. This has been a very interesting discussion (even if I don't make it past the research phase of this adventure). Thanks ladies/gents!

 

I saw this and was trying to understand what you meant. I was referring to the MSN from Northeastern, not the online Neonatal NP. Sorry, I should have specified. My fault.

"The curriculum combines online and hands-on curriculum to prepare you for the field of nursing. Core and foundational courses are combined with specific graduate courses in nurse administration and a solid exposure to specific topics such as cultural diversity, nursing informatics, and public health nursing to prepare you for today’s healthcare environment. The online blended model uses custom-designed learning activities that are integrated into the online learning environment to support nursing competency. The format is accelerated so students may learn online with knowledgeable faculty, practice skills in the lab under guidance of nursing education experts, and demonstrate understanding in the clinical environment with clinical instructors.
Sixteen months (4 semesters) of undergraduate nursing specific courses prepare students to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). After passing the NCLEX-RN and working as a registered nurse, the Direct Entry Nursing program allows students to advance to the MS Administration program at Northeastern which is 12 months (3 semesters). The MS Administration portion may be completed on a full or part-time basis thus the fastest track through the entire direct entry program is a minimum of 2.5 years. Students also have the option of pursuing the MS Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program in lieu of the MS Administration program if requirements are met."


http://www.northeasternnursing.com/accelerated-nursing-programs-in-massachusetts/direct-entry-nursing-program-massachusetts/direct-entry-overview/
This is an odd program because you don't actually receive your BSN, you just complete enough work to sit for the NCLEX then finish with an MSN in Nursing Administration. I wonder if it would just be better to find an accelerated BSN, then find a masters with whatever NP specialization she's interested in. Seems like some of the direct entry programs are set up similar to this Northeastern program. :beerchug:

 

Delta, Rebel, and Mbaonline,

I've been thinking hard about this all week and I have a few more questions. If, instead of trying to finish really quickly, I instead wanted to slow things down, would going with a part time ADN/ASN still allow me to transition to NP/PA school without first getting the BSN? I already hold an associates degree, bachelors degree, and masters degree, so wouldn't this allow me to bypass the BSN?

I want to be careful about this and not go full speed without considering all options. The accelerated BSN program I'm looking at now is 20 months, but is very intense and would mean no working. I'm a little concerned about that. However, this program is a little more lenient as it applies to prereqs since you take most of them in the program. What I mean by that is that what most nursing schools consider prereqs, this particular program allows you to take them while enrolled because they prefer you to take them through them (A&P I and II). It's an accelerated program designed for people that hold a bachelors in a non-nursing major, but who want to complete the BSN.

So would going with a part time ADN/ASN still allow me to transition to NP/PA school without first getting the BSN?

 

Like I said, I recommend one attempts an EMT and/or CNA to see if one enjoys healthcare. I speak in the third person because you have to make your own well thought out choices. Decisions, decisions!

In regards to RN to NP with a non nursing Bachelors degree, it is possible but there are very few schools that offer it and they still require some kind of bridge program. A "bridge program" fills in some coursework that gets you up to a BSN level.

Also, many health related programs require a lab component to the science courses so check out their reqs!

 

Ok, so after some discussions with a program I'm interested in, here's what I'm lacking and need to have completed by January (yeah this is going to be very difficult). I need to find courses (correspondence style that can be started at anytime and have no structured calendar) in Microbiology, Statistics, Psychology, the lab portion of a Biology course (no idea if it's even possible), and a few humanities and fine arts courses (6 hours and 3 hours respectively). These cannot be tested out of so no CLEP or DSSTs are options. Do any of you have any recommendations at all? I'm really beginning to think it's almost too difficult to even consider and waiting until the fall of 2014 would be a major patience tester. I'm willing to try if anyone has any serious suggestions, and it's not like I haven't been tested like this before. I managed over a years worth of credits in a single month via testing out, but this would be really expensive in comparison.

 

University of Idaho has the Micro, really cheap too at $300 http://www.uidaho.edu/~/media/Files/orgs/Academic%20Affairs/Independent%20Study/Course%20Syllabi/MMBB154.ashx No lab...is that a requirement? They have the Stats and Psych too http://www.uidaho.edu/~/media/Files/orgs/Academic%20Affairs/Independent%20Study/Course%20Syllabi/Math1153.ashx http://www.uidaho.edu/~/media/Files/orgs/Academic%20Affairs/Independent%20Study/Course%20Syllabi/Psyc101.ashx

Try BYU for Humanities (scroll to "Interdisciplinary Humanities")University Online Course Catalog - BYU Independent Study I'm sure they have fine arts as well.

Does Music count for fine arts? U of Idaho again Music History-Independent Study in Idaho-University of Idaho


The Biology I don't know. Since you have a rapport with someone at the school how about downloading the syllabus and info for Straighterline, make the case that since you already took Biology this is just a review and a way for you to get the lab done...explain that it's ACE approved and list the schools that are accepting it...might work! Failing that, perhaps if you got the rest done they would let you do the Bio concurrently with provisional admission?

I think this is more than doable...be kinda fun really, but you need to get signed up....like TODAY!

 

You might take a look at CSU-Pueblo for Humanities and Fine Arts. I took several courses there and found 5 out of 6 courses to be stellar, the 6th was OK but the instructor was really slow to respond.

You can run through the quick course guide, I always tried to minimize proctored exams (didn't take any classes that required exams). That helps speed the process along. http://coned.colostate-pueblo.edu/IndependentStudy/ScheduleOfCourses/Documents/FastFacts_120222.pdf

Colorado State University-Pueblo > Art

 

Thanks for these ideas! I was aware of the university of Idaho's courses and they are probably the least expensive option. The only negative I can find is that instructors have 3 weeks to grade exams and if they don't get my grades back in a timely manner, I would miss the deadline. The CSU Pueblo courses look great, especially the ones that only require papers and no proctor. I've mastered paper writing skills in my master's program. Any other suggestions for courses like those?

Waiting for my unofficial evaluation is killing me because I can't really move forward without knowing where I'll receive credit. I'm excited about the possibility though, but also trying to be cautious. I really hope I'm not moving too quickly.

 

The University of Arkansas has self paced inexpensive courses but you will likely find similar problems with your time as the University of Idaho. http://globalcampus.uark.edu/Distance_Education/Correspondence_Courses.asp

Sometimes a case can be made for allowing you into a program even though you haven't finished every course...if I'm the director of admissions for this program and I see you bust out 4 or 5 courses and your enrolled and doing well in the last 2 or 3 I'm gonna look favorably on that if I can...let them know where your at and enlist them as co-conspirators!

 

I know this is a tad old, but this was exactly what I was considering. By already holding a BA in social science from TESC, I planned to complete the ADN/ASN via my local community college (I had to do my science pre-reqs, which I did online after my BA). I then planned to enroll directly into a nurse practitioner program. BSN isn't a requirement, in fact, I believe this path is cheaper and potentially faster. Before someone jumps in on how necessary it is to do your time, the LICENSE to be a nurse is earned at the ADN/ASN level, the BSN is when you get your gen eds. So, if you come in from the back with your gen eds finished (quickly and cheaply from one of the big 3) you in effect do the sequence in reverse. At that point, you fast forward into grad school.

In addition, there are NUMEROUS "accelerated" programs for bachelor degree holders. I was accepted into one that was 15 months and ended in a BSN. It required all prereqs ahead of time plus a BA in a non-nursing field.

If someone started from scratch, they could do their sciences (which take no fewer than 4 semesters) while CLEPping and completing their BA and then go back into an accelerated program. You'd end up with 2 bachelor's degrees in about 2 years and be ready for grad school.

I'd contacted no fewer than 7 grad schools that offered the nurse practitioner program I wanted (nurse midwifery) including Vanderbilt, and every single one said my plan/path was completely acceptable, and they looked at my GPA and EXPERIENCE above all else. All wanted 1 year of med-surg before applying to grad school.