Advanced Degree Confusion

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I am literally itching to start a master's program, or other advanced degree. I'm a total nerd and love school (case in point, I am currently updating my undergraduate statistics course that I took in college about 10 years ago, not because it is a requirement for any of the programs I am thinking of applying to, but just because I want to update my knowledge.) My problem is that I am having a hard time deciding what type of program best suits my goals. I thought I would poll the wonderful minds of the School Nurse forum (and anyone else who wants to chime in!)

Here are my goals: I love school nursing and want to stay in this specialty. I have also always wanted to teach future Nurses. Ideally, I would like to work as a school nurse full time and teach on the side, either some online lecture classes, or evening/summer clinicals. There are tons of nursing schools in my area and many of them offer evening/weekend options, so I feel pretty certain I could work something schedule wise. Eventually I'd like to obtain my PhD and teach Nursing School full time. I feel like I could teach fundamentals, Pediatric, and/or Community Health Nursing with my background.

Here are my options:

1) All online MSN in nursing education. Pros: very cost effective and easy on my schedule! I can get a post-master's CNS later if I want. Con: no immediate applicability to School Nursing.

2) All online CNS is Pediatrics followed by a post-mater's certificate in Nursing Education. Pros: Immediately applicable to School Nursing and the NS that I long to work for someday really likes it's faculty to have a CNS. Con: Slightly more expenside than the MSN in education, but very reasonably priced. Have to find my own preceptor with little help/guidance from the school, and it must be a practicing CNS to precept.

3) Brick and Mortar CNS is Pediatrics. Pros: Less expensive than the online CNS, they offer some courses online or up to 50% online with the classes only meeting on campus once a week. Cons: scheduling around my job might be an issue. The school is about an hour and a half from my home, and maybe 45 minutes from my work, more with traffic.

4) BSN to PhD program (Brick and Mortar) Pros: cuts right to the chase and has the flexibility to tailor the program to my specific interests. Cons: most expensive option, although relatively reasonable cost, and eliminates the possibility of teaching with my master's and getting the school to assist with tuition reimbursement for the PhD. Scheduling might also be an issue, since most classes are on site. The school is about an hour from my home, about 30 minutes from work (more with traffic)

I initially thought about FNP/PNP programs but eliminated them due to the fact that I do not want to practice outside of the school setting, and NPs are not used in the schools in my area (other than school based clinics, which is basically primary care which I do not want). I also eliminated an MPH, which I thought would give me a broader public health education, but there were scheduling issues with my job and I wondered how much it would really apply to School Nursing. There are some programs specific to School Nursing, but I ruled those out because of my goal to teach Nursing School at some point: this specialty is not specificially taught but is generally lumped in with either Community Health or Pediatrics.

Sorry this is so long, I am just really ready to start getting my applications in and get this process started! I am taking the GRE this summer, and hope to make a final decision on which direction to take within the next few months. If anyone took the time to read all this and comment, HUGE thanks!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i'm in the process of thinking long and hard about getting a masters in nursing ed. I'm eyeing up western governor's university online school. I had a discussion with my boss and he said that if i were to get a masters simply for the increase in salary to do something quick and easy, like Marygrove - though this has NO applicability to school nursing. Beyond that the masters in nursing ed while not totally applicable would give me the other career options too.

There are a few masters in school nursing programs around here - Jersey city university and cambridge college both have them for example - but i don't see how that will be more beneficial than the msn nursing ed.

I also thought about np/fnp, but the biggest issue there is how to fit in all the clinical time and maintain my job and then maintain the np. (same thing really for CNS)

Well, let me know what you come up with. I haven't decided anything for certain yet.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I, too would like to get a Master's degree, but at my age, I would never recoup the expense through the small salary increase, so it would have to be something that would better me as a nurse and give me self satisfaction. I'm not an online learner and things like Master's in Nursing Admin. doesn't interest me, a general MSN doesn't interest me. Since my 1st child is going to college this fall and my 2nd in 2 years, I have some time to think ab out it, because I have to pay for their first degrees before I go for a second one.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Yes, it would take me forever to make up the tuition cost, since the difference between bachelor's and master's is under $1,000 per YEAR! I was shocked at that. The pay for a PhD is better, I think it is about $5k more per year. Still will take forever to make up.

I guess when I take that into consideration, the online nursing educator is the best because it is the least expensive and can be completed the quickest. Since I try to do a good amount of student/parent/faculty education, I think I can take what I learn and apply it to what I do. Maybe then onto the PhD where I can pretty much choose my focus.

The more I think about it, the CNS seems like a lot of work and $$ for something I will not end up using, although I would love to have the extra courses in assessment, patho and pharm. I feel like my assessment skills are great, but since I am not in the hospital I think my patho and pharm knowledge might have slipped since nursing school.

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""Eventually I'd like to obtain my PhD and teach Nursing School full time. I feel like I could teach fundamentals, Pediatric, and/or Community Health Nursing with my background. "

Good for you!!!

I would never ever advise going to grad school just to increase salary. Go because you want to add to your orificenal of knowledge and skills and because you want to invest in yourself.

I have a bias toward the Nursing degree for a couple of reasons

- in many states you must have a masters in nursing to teach in a nursing program

- we will never be accepted as an expert in education, so why get the masters outside of our domain of expertise

- in the recession where school nurse jobs are bing cut, the masters in nursing is more bankable for getting a health care position

Having said that, all advanced education brings enrichment and rewards, and for whatever reason you find the MEd or MA more attractive, go for it.

"All online MSN in nursing education. Pros: very cost effective and easy on my schedule! I can get a post-master's CNS later if I want. Con: no immediate applicability to School Nursing."

I absolutely don't agree - you should be able to make the connection in almost every course to your position. And you will be teaching the others in the class that school nursing is not the piece of cake they think it is.

"All online CNS is Pediatrics followed by a post-master's certificate in Nursing Education. "

Don't worry about the focus on nursing education. Most universities hiring faculty are concerned with the clinical degree and the education courses don't give you any edge over another applicant.

"Brick and Mortar CNS is Pediatrics. Pros: Less expensive than the online CNS, they offer some courses online or up to 50% online with the classes only meeting on campus once a week. Cons: scheduling around my job might be an issue. The school is about an hour and a half from my home, and maybe 45 minutes from my work, more with traffic."

Ouch - could be spending that commuting time doing assignments or spending it with your family. The research shows that the quality of what is learned online is at least as good face to face. There are some people who, for a variety of reasons, don't learn well online. You have to be a good reader and have some keyboard skills. If you are a hunt and peck typist, the extra time you spend online offsets the driving to campus.

"BSN to PhD program (Brick and Mortar) Pros: cuts right to the chase and has the flexibility to tailor the program to my specific interests. Cons: most expensive option, although relatively reasonable cost, and eliminates the possibility of teaching with my master's and getting the school to assist with tuition reimbursement for the PhD. Scheduling might also be an issue, since most classes are on site. The school is about an hour from my home, about 30 minutes from work (more with traffic)"

There are online BSN to PhD programs. Is this one in nursing? I would investigate this more - some unversities gear their face to face programs with shift workers in mind or administrators who have vacation time. They don't seem to understand that school nurses cannot get off for "mandatory" day time meetings and classes.

" I also eliminated an MPH, which I thought would give me a broader public health education, but there were scheduling issues with my job and I wondered how much it would really apply to School Nursing."

The MPH is extremely pertinent and applicable to school nursing, but will not offer the ability to teach in a nursing school in some states. So you would need the MS/MPH or go right on for the DNP or PhD.

The DNP is an option you did not mention. It is a clinical degree, applying evidence to practice and developing evidence, whereas the PhD is a research degree. You did not mention research as a goal, so you might want to investigate the DNP. Many high quality online DNP programs available and is slightly shorter than a PhD program, but requires more clinical. Most of the programs are designed for the BSN - DNP.

NASN has a web page that lists the higher education programs they are aware of:

http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=618

Good luck! Enjoy the journey!!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Wow, Martha, as always you have given me lots to think about! Thank you for the thoughtful reply!

Most of the DNP programs I have found are geared towards NPs, which I am trying to avoid because of role confusion (i.e I am qualified to diagnose and prescribe but as a school nurse I cannot). I will have to research and look into other options with the degree.

I am leaning towards the MSN in Nursing education because it is the quickest (3 semesters), least expensive (around $6k) and easiest (all online) option. I figure the quicker I can start towards a doctoral degree where I can tailor it to my interests, the better! I also agree that it may be more applicable to school nursing than I initially thought, since it prepares you for patient (or in our case, student/family/staff) education endeavors as well.

Thanks for everyone for your input, it is much appreciated. I will keep you updated on my progress!

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I know there are DNP programs that are for public health nurses that do not require the NP.

You have done thorough research and have good rationale for your choices. I look forward to hearing your decision!!

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

I promise I'm not stealing your post...but you got me thinking and now I'm wondering what would be the best route for me. I love my job, and I would like to further my education at the same time. I'm an LPN, and I went to a 12 month program at a technology center type school. I have no pre-requisite courses or anything like that...what would be the next "best" step?

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I am leaning towards the MSN in Nursing education because it is the quickest (3 semesters), least expensive (around $6k) and easiest (all online) option.

Wow, PS, where are you looking that has the MSN ed like that? I thought i found the best bargain with WGU... but you've got that beat by a mile.

Jessica - without knowing the requirements of your state, if i were in your position i'd start working on becoming a RN with the intention of getting a BSN.

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Jessica

I am not as familiar with the LPN to RN fast tracks. I am hoping someone else can chime in.

When I typed LPN to BSN in Google, I was shocked at the number of opportunities, some online. Be sure to attend an accredited school.

The J & J Discover Nursing website is fantastic. If you type in LPN to BSN and then your state, the programs near you pop up.

http://www.discovernursing.com/nursing-the-basics2

Good luck!!

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Specializes in School Nursing.
Wow, PS, where are you looking that has the MSN ed like that? I thought i found the best bargain with WGU... but you've got that beat by a mile.

That must have been a typo, I meant $8k. It is a local school, Texas Woman's University. They have a 36 credit hour, all online Nurse Educator MSN and the in-state tuition is $213 per hour. So $7668 plus all those other random fees. It is $523 per hour for out of state, so $18,828. Here is the link if anyone is interested. They also have an online PhD, RN-BSN, and MSN in nursing administration.

https://www.twu.edu/nursing/online-programs.asp

Just an update on my internal debate...I am now back to considering an FNP, LOL. I ruled it out at first because I really want to stay in the school setting, but I have been hearing about budget cuts and I really want something that I can apply to multiple settings *just in case* school nurses get the ax in my area. I could always try to get hired on at the School Based clinics, which would be nice.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Jessica, I agree that looking into LPN to RN programs in your area might be your best bet. You can bridge to the RN, then do another bridge to a BSN. You can go as far as you want with nursing, and you should be able to find lots of programs either close to you or online that would suit your needs. Good luck!

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