I have an ADN and I have been working labor and delivery for the past 5 months and am completing cross training in the OR next week. I've had prior experience in family practice, which I absolutely loved, unfortunately the money in a family practice clinic doesn't compare to what I earn in surgery and labor and delivery.

I'm currently evaluating my educational and career plans and need some advice/input. I've wanted to get my MSN and become a family nurse practitioner and return to my first love, but I'm concerned with earning potential and what I'm beginning to perceive as an oversaturation (at least in my area) of NPs. It just seems like you can't swing a cat without hitting some kind of NP or NP owned clinic.

I've been looking into alternatives....I'm pretty sure I'm going to get my BSN (though I've considered other degrees such as public health).

I guess where I'm waffling is on the higher level degree. I'd love to work with public health policy/education - one of my favorite aspects of family practice and L&D is health promotion and education. I've also considered clinical education in a hospital or working as an instructor at a nursing school.

It's been advised to me so far that I should continue with my original plan and become a NP since I could work in clinical practice, teach, or work in public health. I guess the idea is that a MSN with a family practice specialization provides the most flexible career options.

What are your experiences and education levels? I'm curious about other nurses' takes on higher education and advancement in the profession. I appreciate any thoughts.

I have a BSN and I've debated on going back for the NP, but I really want to do the BSN-DNP with the focus on midwifery. Not only that, but if I was to finish a masters program, then they decide to change it to doctorate only. Not to mention getting a job....and paying on student loans.

Would you want to get your MSN and teach for a bit, then go back?

If you want to move into education, you will need to make sure you have appropriate educational preparation. Despite the prevailing myth in healthcare (anyone can teach), education is a whole different discipline, with its own body of knowledge & practices.

Those of us in workplace education jobs generally have higher salaries than our academic colleagues. Entry-level for (non-academic) clinical education is BSN, but in order to move into a leadership role, you will need an MSN. It's not unusual for the Clinical Education Director to have a doctorate. The most appropriate degree is an MSN-Education, but a CNS education provides some education curriculum also. In order to get your foot in the door, you will also need experience as an educator... most begin at the department level (inservice coordinator, preceptor, etc) and have instructor certifications in standardized courses (BLS, ACLS, NRP. etc.) so that is also a good place to start.