Should I get my RN or BSN? What if I already have a Bachelor's degree?

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I graduated college 2 years ago with a BA in Political Science. I decided to go back to school for nursing. I am taking prerequisites courses and applying to several ABSN programs. I was wondering would it be quicker, easier, cheaper, and more convenient for me to just get my RN? What if later on I wanted to get my Master's degree? Would it make a difference that I don't have a BSN? I plan on going into Navy Nursing after I have my nursing license, so I don't know if that would make a difference either.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks!

I graduated college 2 years ago with a BA in Political Science. I decided to go back to school for nursing. I am taking prerequisites courses and applying to several ABSN programs. I was wondering would it be quicker, easier, cheaper, and more convenient for me to just get my RN? What if later on I wanted to get my Master's degree? Would it make a difference that I don't have a BSN? I plan on going into Navy Nursing after I have my nursing license, so I don't know if that would make a difference either.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks!

If you want to join the navy you need the BSN.

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I have never heard of any MSN program that would let you apply without being a licensed RN. ASN or BSN.

The AACN lists 65 Direct Entry MSN programs. Scroll to page 4: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/APLIST.PDF

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The AACN lists 65 Direct Entry MSN programs. Scroll to page 4: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/APLIST.PDF

To be honest I find that kinda scary.

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To be honest I find that kinda scary.

It doesn't strike me as that much different than going from an ABSN program directly in to the Master's program without taking time off to work, which is an option a lot of ABSN schools offer. But I was just correcting the assumption that no such programs exist. U of R is on the Direct Entry MSN list (Accelerated Master's Program for Non-Nurses (AMPNN) - University of Rochester School of Nursing).

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MentalhealthRN-why is it scary? Most of these programs (probably ALL of them) are just fast track programs. You go from RN to BSN to MSN, or BS to BSN to MSN. You still must take all your nursing courses with clinicals and pass the boards. We all know to take the nclex you have to pass an RN program, its just different ways of getting to the MSN. Like me, I already have my BS with all of my prereqs and am in a RN program. After I pass my boards I will go on to a MSN program while working. The only thing I will be missing out on are the administrative classes.

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Im in a similar situation, doing prereqs for ABSN programs. You have to have a BSN to go get an MSN, you will not be able to jump from ADN to MSN. Alot of hospitals are preferring that nurses have the BSN now, I found that in my research through talking with people, staff at hospitals, etc. I feel its worth it to go get the BSN at this point.

Congrats on making the decision! I have a BA in Spanish and an MPH and decided to go for it just a few months ago. I am very exited!

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

You don't need a BSN to get your MSN. I'm in such a program now. I have a Bachelor of Music, and ASN, and will graduate with my MSN in June.

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This may be a stupid question but if you get your MSN are you considered a nurse practicioner?

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not necessarily--only if your MSN program is a NP program. There are other MSN programs-- CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist), Nursing Admin, Nursing Education, etc.

Also--I know U of R does direct admit. I graduated from there. My point was more in the research I found when looking at jobs. I was saying that the positions here were requiring not just the degree and licence but experience as an RN. One of the reasons I chose not to do that trac.....though I was accepted for the ABSN to MSN/NP. That was my only point. It may be different in other places......thats all.

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not necessarily--only if your MSN program is a NP program. There are other MSN programs-- CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist), Nursing Admin, Nursing Education, etc.

Also--I know U of R does direct admit. I graduated from there. My point was more in the research I found when looking at jobs. I was saying that the positions here were requiring not just the degree and licence but experience as an RN. One of the reasons I chose not to do that trac.....though I was accepted for the ABSN to MSN/NP. That was my only point. It may be different in other places......thats all.

And that's a fair point to make- even if you CAN, does it set you up to be successful in your Job Search? It's definitely something to consider when picking programs, just as it is important to consider whether your local hospitals have a hiring preference for BSNs or whether a certain program has a better local reputation than another.

But you also did say "I have never heard of any MSN program that would let you apply without being a licensed RN. " Since you have heard of direct entry MSN programs, I guess we can assume this was simply a mis-type.

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Why not just go back for your MBA? I'm a nurse, but this field is so saturated right now and it doesn't seem it will be getting any better.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
I have never heard of any MSN program that would let you apply without being a licensed RN. ASN or BSN. If the the ASN you would just have more coursework to get the BSN then MSN as part of the program. If a BSN then just less coursework to get the MSN. But either way you have to hold an RN license to even apply-- this is in Rochester NY.

I did an accelerated BSN and it was 12 months. That was also taking into account I had no pre-reqs to take because my first BS was in Health Science so I had them all.......for many of my classmates it took longer if you counted the pre-reqs. So the pre-reqs are the kicker as far as having it take longer. I could have gone right into the MSN program as soon as I finished the BSN portion of the program......without stopping to work as a nurse--however the thing is if you looked at any of the job posts for the hosptial where the program is, the NP positions require an MSN and NP AND at least 5 years of experience as a practicing RN!

There are a number of "direct entry" MSN programs out there for students with a previous Bachelor's degree. Typically the program is a minimum of 3 years and you pick up your RN approx half way through school

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