ADN or MSN

[jhann16]

Hello!

I'm ready to make a change to nursing! I currently have a bachelors in management information systems and a Masters in Business. I'm been in the "business" workforce for 5 years now and I'm so burned out. I've looked at all the possible choices of nursing degrees and I have three options.

1) ADN degree from technical school or 4-year school.

2) BSN degree

3) MSN degree (non-nursing bachelor's option).

All three degrees prepares me for the RN licensing exam. The MSN degree is just that (I would not earn a BSN in the process). My question is which option should I choose? If I choose the MSN option, will I educate myself out of a job (because I will have no practical experience)? Thanks in advance for the help!

--Jessi

[Moogie]

Don't go for the ADN---not that the ADN is not a good program---but because you will have far more flexibility as a BSN graduate. Some institutions prefer BSN to AD graduates and there has been a movement to make the baccalaureate degree necessary for entry to practice. Of course, that movement started back in 1964---and while one state tried to make the BSN mandatory, it had to repeal the law a few years later because of a shortage of BSNs in that state.

Still, the biggest downside of an AD program is that, if you want job mobility, you will want to get a BSN eventually. If you want more mobility, you may want your MSN. Lots of hoops through which you must jump unless you are fortunate enough to be in a place that offers RN to MSN programs or even BSN to PhD if you decide you want to do research and teach. Since you don't sound like you are certain about what you want to do with your nursing career---and that's fine----you have plenty of time to discover yourself as a nurse before you go on for more education---I would suggest an accelerated BSN program, for someone like you who has a bachelor's in a different field.

HTH and good luck in your decision.

[Kalait]

the program you choose will depend on how soon you need to return to gainful employment, the adn will take 1 year, diploma will take in the area of 2-3 years and the degree will be atleast 4 years. many hospitals are going to the requirement of the bsn (4 year) while in my humble opinion the diploma is the best trained nurse if you can find a program.

[UVA Grad Nursing]

Time lengths will vary from program to program. Here in my state of Virginia, there is an ABSN program at a public university that is 12 months in duration. The Direct Entry MSN at my own University is 24 months long. The ADN programs at the community colleges are 1 year of prenursing (lifespan, A&P, micro), and then 24 months of nursing. The diploma programs are 2.5-3 years long.

Select the program that will position you for where you want to be in 5 years. Since you have 2 college degrees already, I would encourage you to aim high (ABSN or DE-MSN).