BSN vs. MSN

[AJS04]

I am currently a nursing student and will be graduating this December :). I am planning on getting my bachelor's degree, but am now contemplating just going for my master's. Can someone explain to me the difference between the 2? What would be the benefit of getting my master's versus just sticking with my bachelor's?

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

You really need to have an objective in mind for your graduate degree. There are several tracks offered and you have to decide when you enroll how you intend to proceed. Right now you do not have enough life or nursing experience to do that. Do you want to teach? Well, you need experipence. Do you want to be a Nurse Practititioner? Experience will certainly be of benefit, if not actually required. I recommend you work as a BSN first, then make learn on your own how an advanced degree will help. It WILL NOT help you get a job as a floor nurse.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

Think of it like this: A Bachelors is basically more General Ed, so you'll be learning more general nursing stuff. Masters programs basically take a Bachelors-prepared student and turns them into a specialist in some area and a Doctorate does this even more so.

I would say that unless you are already Bachelors-prepared, greatly consider getting your BSN as it'll improve your general education (yes, there will be some fluff... happens in all fields) but the main thing you'll get out of that is the ability to know how to further your education beyond where you are now. Floor nursing needs generalists. In my own particular case, I will be pursuing a BSN for the additional career opportunities that will open up to me and that should also make it easier to transition to an MSN program later, should I choose.