Which route? NP or MSN in education?

Nurses Career Support

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Hi there! I would love some advice!

Just a little back ground, I graduate from an ADN nursing program in 2008 then this past june recieved my BSN from UTA, Texas online RN-BSN program. I worked in a Med/surg ICU for the past 4.5 years but go burnt out the last year. Constant OT, night shift, and other factors. I decided to do a job switch to get a new outlook.

I applied for the critical care nurse education position (that has been my goal), and we had not had a CC educator, but they then changed it to a MSN required. So as of right now, they STILL don't have an educator. So, I ended up doing a job switch and actually went to the corporate world. I work as the clincal educator in their critical care department (I work with sales) but my role is the education. I work with Surgeons, Anesthesia, and RNs to educate on advance hemodynamics, pathophys, stimulations, and do a lot of hands on with them. I work with them at the bedside in the OR/ICU but I do not physically touch the patient. I just assist in the critical thinking/how to work the machine part.

My dilemma.. I want to go back to school. But not sure NP (focus in CC or cardiac) or getting a Nurse education MSN is best. UTA has an online masters in education. I want to get the most bang for my buck and make sure that I have job opportunites for which degree I get. My goal is do education, but I want to be the hands on. I want to be able to touch the patients, you know what I mean. I would eventally like to go into teaching at a college but that's down the road. I know NP is more expensive, and I have to work as I go back to school.

Just need help as far as deciding which route to go, especially with all the health care changes I want to make sure I get the right degree that will allow me to find a job with no problem. I love the bedside, but I don't think I will be able to go back as a bedside nurse. My current job has taugh me a lot how to teach and I love it. Patients or nursing students!

thanks in advance for your advice! I feel lost. :(

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

OOOH OOOH OOOH --- Education for sure!! We desperately need more qualified educators. And -er, um our salaries are much more 'attractive' than our academic colleagues.

You seem to be tracking along in the same career trajectory that I experienced. I'm a non-academic nurse educator (MSN-Edu & CS-Critical Care, EdD- Allied Health Education Admin). I LOVE my job with a large health care system and am very adequately rewarded. I am responsible for developing & implementing the education programs needed to support corporate initiatives. Another huge part of my job is ongoing support for our facility & regional clinical educators -physician, nursing & allied health.

MSN definitely is entry-level for educators in most large organizations. Our jobs have changed dramatically. We are not the inservice & orientation drones any longer. We have a seat at the table - responsible for managing significant budgets & achieving outcomes. We have to be able to analyze training/education needs and use a variety of methods to achieve the most effective outcomes.... this includes all types of delivery, including online modules (that we develop). Instructional systems design is a very important area of practice.

BUT - I haven't seen any MSN program that can provide you with all the knowledge/skills you will need because they simply ignore anything that is not 'nursing' - LOL. Mine did not include any meaningful content on Program Evaluation, Psychometrics, Employment Law (crucial for our practice area), Evidence-based Instructional Design . . . etc. That's the primary reason that I chose a non-nursing terminal degree.

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Thank you for your reply and your advice!

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Thanks for your reply to the OP. I am facing the same decision myself. NP or MSN Ed?? I love teaching and am currently employed in a hospital-based education department. I do new hire orientation and other educational things for nurses and interns. Right now I am leaning the education route for a couple of reasons. 1. cost 2. length of study 3. my age. I am an older nurse and feel that I would not be able to justify the added cost and expense of the NP track. I have been accepted to the FNP program at UT Tyler. But, now I am thinking instead to take the Ed track at UT Arlington where I earned my RN-BSN through academic partnerships.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this.

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