RN-MSN? (no BSN)--bad move?!

[health care analyst]

Hello nurses,

I am doing an ADN program to become a nurse. This is a career change for me. I have a Bachelor's in Bio and a Masters in Health Systems Mnmgt (Health Care Admin). I am trying to decide if I should do a RN-BSN or RN-MSN program when I complete the ADN program. I'm thinking that with RN experience and a MS in Health Systems Management, I would already be qualified for Head Nurse or Nurse Manager positions. Is this right or would I need a Masters or Bachelors in Nursing? (The CNO of a local hospital was in my MS program). I've looked up hospitals in my area to review job requirements but am still unsure. I saw that a "Clinical Supervisor" (not sure what this equates to) requires RN license and MS in Nursing OR Health Care Admin so I would be qualified for this position.

It's kind of hard for me to say exactly what I want to do beyond bedside nursing, but I think Head Nurse/Nurse Director may be as far as I want to go. I don't see myself wanting to be a CNO or other admin type positions (that's why I'm leaving my current health-admin like field b/c I want to be hands on with patients). I guess I could see myself attracted to the NP role (which would require MSN) as this is still clinical care and not administrative but then again, Head Nurse may be good enough for me.

I just want to make sure not having the "BSN" won't haunt me if I go for a RN-MSN program.

[nursegreen]

I would advise you to contact the CON that you are interested in attending and ask them about their RN to BSN and RN to MSN program so you can compare them. Many universities who offer the RN to MSN will grant you the BSN when you graduate from the masters program if you have met university and state requirements. Ex: Florida has a foreign language requirement for a bachelors degree, and as long as you have met that, they will give you the BSN when you complete the RN to MSN at USF. Basically, it cuts some of the cost by preventing you from taking certain courses at the bachelors level and then having to take them again at the graduate level. Good luck!!!!

[summer03]

Thanks, I am lucky enough to have 3 state universities convenient to me that offer the MSN/Nurse Practitioner and my hospital will pick up about half my education costs if I go the state school route. What I am wrestling with is whether to get my BSN first or go straight for the MSN? The schools I mentioned all offer the RN/MSN track, but they also say that they will make the decision about which track they will admit you to after they see how you do with the core courses. I assume that means they feel the RN/MSN track is more challenging than RN/BSN. Does that seem right to everyone?