Would like to obtain MSN. How to get there?

[nurse jane doe]

I am a RN in Ohio and have finished my first year as an RN. Prior to obtaining my RN license, I was an LPN for 4 years. My dream job is a wound care nurse practitioner, but I don't know how to get to that point. I would like to either have my own practice or work in an established practice under the direction of a wound care physician. What type of education should I look into to accomplish this? Do I need to go the family nurse practitioner route and specialize in wound care? Or do I go the educator route and specialize? Just not sure how to get there. Is it better to to get a BSN (since I only have the ADN at this point) and then move on to the MSN? Or straight from RN to MSN? I have checked with an RN to MSN program and would likely be admitted because I have met all of the prerequisites. Again, not sure if a BSN is needed in this situation. Can anyone provide any direction?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

The educator route will not provide you with any kind of practitioner degree. I recently finished my MSN in nursing education. I am in no way eligible to sit for NP boards or function as an advanced partitioner role in that sense. If you want to be a nurse practitioner, you need to take a nurse practitioner track.

[HappyWife77, BSN, RN]

Definately go ADN to MSN if possible. You really don't need BSN if you want MSN. Focus on nurse practitioner tract.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Wound care is a specialty certification. BSN is the requirement, you enroll in a program (Emory has one online) and then take a certification exam. (My daughter is a WOCN)

You do NOT need to be an NP to be a wound care nurse.

[enuf_already]

I do not believe the Ohio Nurse Practice Act currently allows APNs to work independently (as in open their own practice). They are required to work with a consulting physician (I may have the exact language wrong as I am not an APN).