Will I be at a disadvantage if I pursue a masters-level entry into nursing program instead of getting a BSN first?

Hi Mary,

Thanks for the question and congrats on getting accepted into Harvard! I was stationed in Boston for a couple of years and loved walking around the Cambridge area.

Your decision to pursue nursing or PA is really a personal choice. My sister, for example, is a nurse and only wants to be a nurse. She has no interest in becoming a PA, but it sounds as if becoming a PA on your radar. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects extraordinary growth for both PA and nursing careers over the next several years so you'll be in good shape regardless of which option you choose.

So, to answer your question, "Would it work?" the answer is yes. Many schools offer accelerated MSN programs for students who hold bachelor degrees and have no previous experience. You can find a list here:

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/leading-initiatives/research-data/GENMAS.pdf (Johns Hopkins is on this list)

This list is specifically for schools that award MSN degrees to graduates who enter the program with a non-nursing bachelor's degree. If you ultimately decide to pursue nursing I would strongly encourage you to pursue this option and go directly into an MSN program like this. It will help in terms of salary and will provide a faster entryway into a Nurse Practitioner route should you choose to go that route some day.

I hope this helps and please respond if you have any more questions. If I don't know the answer, I'll just give my sister a call! =)