Get my BSN or Direct-Entry MSN?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I am 25 years old and just graduated last year with a BS in Biology, which took me 6 years to finish because I changed majors numerous times. I am now interested in going back to school to become a nurse, but need some advice! I can't decide whether to go back to get my BSN (either through an accelerated program or 4 year program-ugh!) or go into a direct-entry MSN program. I can't stand the thought of going back to school for 4 more years, so that is why the direct-entry programs and accelerated BSN are tempting, but I'm not sure which is the better choice. A Nurse Practitioner I know advised me to become an RN first rather than going straight to direct-entry to become an NP, because I wouldn't gain enough experience.

Any advice would be helpful! Also, the thought of taking out more student loans makes me cringe...It is worth it, right?

Is that really true about the loans for BSN programs? How do people pay for school if they go back fro a second degree? It's seems hard to believe that prospective students would have $50,000 laying around to pay for school! I know I don't! I'm trying to save as best I can, but I'm still going for the BSN instead of the MSN. :)

I should've clarified in that I was referring to federal loans. You can still get federal loans for a second degree BSN programs but the limits are less.

For a BSN, your yearly limit is $12.5k, but it fits under the $57k lifetime limit for BS/BA degrees. I borrowed $10k for my first BS so this wouldn't be an issue as I should still qualify for up to $47k in stafford loans.

For a MSN, your yearly limit is $20.5k and the lifetime limit is $224k.

If you have a $50k tuition, then private loans are the way to cover the difference. Even if you had a $50k tuition, the MSN limit still wouldn't meet the tuition costs so private loans would still be required

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
A lot of the direct entry MSN programs are for MSN-Clinical Nurse Leader.

*** Clinical nurse leader is a title looking for a job. First, while there may be hospitals that hire people for the position of clinical nurse leader, I have never seen it. I have worked at a number of hospitals in 4 states and never heard of, or seen a clinical nurse leader, or an open job posting for one.

Even if such a position exsists nobody is going to hire a new grad with no experience into it. I think many people see the irony of a brand new grad being called a "clinical nurse leader".

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How was your experience? I'm facing the same issue now. The option I'm looking at now is either ABSN or MSN - however the man dies not give you NP.

I'd like to eventually teach so I was debating if I should do the ABSN and move directly to a DNP after gaining the experience.

Are you happy with your desicion after becoming a nurse?

Thanks.

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