Which was harder?

Specialties NP

Published

Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

Hi all,

I am thinking about applying for my masters to become a FNP in 2011. I graduated in 2008 with my ADN. I found the 2 years of nursing school was incredibly time consuming. I plan to do my masters degree part time while continuing to work as a staff nurse. One of my instructors who holds a doctorate told me that the 2 years to get her RN was harder than getting her masters degree. What did you all think?

I have a BS in financial management and only have a couple of bridge classes to take before starting grad classes.

Thanks to all who respond

I found my masters to be "easier" because my BSN was such a huge learning curve: medical terminology, pharmacology, procedures, all of that was new. I remember being so nervous the first time I took a blood pressure or drew up a med for IV push.

At the advanced practice level it was more an extension of that base + work experience. Not to say it wasn't challenging in its own way, but with the foundation already there I was a lot more comfortable with the material. You forget how much you know sometimes!

Your plan should be fine. Good luck!

Specializes in ICU, Trauma, Anesthesia, Education, etc..

I found my MSN/FNP to be harder because of all of the papers and doing tons of research and writing for my Capstone project. :banghead:

I am much better with memorizing facts and clinical "hands-on" skills. Although, as VivaRN said, it is an extension of your knowledge base or a "continuum" so to speak. It is definitely do-able...Good Luck! ;)

Gosh, I think with all of the papers and research (and that will be dependent on where you would complete your FNP), I think the MSN/FNP to be significantly "more work". I don't think you'll find it "hard" given your achievements already, but the school I went to was very intense in assignments (lots of papers requiring intensive research and citations) as well as a major graduate project. I went to school full time for 2 years (including 2 summers) plus worked about .5 as an RN until the final semester (I just worked casual the final semester to complete all my clinical hours).

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

The MSN and succeeding post-MSN's that I've done were infinitely harder because of the tremendous amount of responsibility that is placed on you.

I am not a nurse now, but from what I have heard there is just a big learning curve for non nurses while getting their bsn. Once you have this, the Masters would be less of a learning curve.

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