Advice on BSN/MSN track

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I am currently in my 3rd year of a BSN program. My school also offers a BSN/MSN track where we can go for 5 years and get our MSN with a choice of clinical focus (Not NP or CNS, just a general MSN). I'm trying to decide if I should switch tracks and go the extra year to complete my MSN for undergraduate pay. I want to work at the bedside however I feel that having my MSN might help me down the road if I'm tired of working as a staff nurse. Do you think this is a good option? Will employers still hire me as a staff nurse with an MSN and no RN experience? I realize that I will be getting paid the same as all staff nurses, I just thought when I'm older I might be glad I have my MSN. Any thoughts?? Thank you! :)

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Personally, I would wait till after you have experience. For one thing, you will better understand the MSN program and be able to see how your education fits in with your career. Another thing, you might change your mind about the focus you want from that degree once you have experience. I do not think having the degree will make you more eligible for hire or less eligible. I believe you will just be viewed as a nurse with no experience. Good luck!

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Since it is a general MSN, I would jump all over it in a heartbeat. If you decide you want to focus and be a CNS or NP down the road, you can enter a post-maters program to specialize. It probably won't help you much getting a new grad job, but I think it will ultimately help you out a lot down the road.

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.
Personally, I would wait till after you have experience. For one thing, you will better understand the MSN program and be able to see how your education fits in with your career. Another thing, you might change your mind about the focus you want from that degree once you have experience. I do not think having the degree will make you more eligible for hire or less eligible. I believe you will just be viewed as a nurse with no experience. Good luck!

I totally agree :nurse:

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I just graduated with an MSN and was recently hired at a hospital with no RN experience. My MSN was a second career, I have a BA in a completely different field. So yes, hospitals will hire you without the RN experience--I guess it depends on where you live. Nearly 80% of my classmates have found jobs and none of them have previous RN experience.

On the other hand, my school at one time offered the BSN to MSN track but stopped it a few years ago due to students quitting the program once they had their BSN and sat for the NCLEX! :lol2: This group wanted to get to work ASAP, I guess and the school realized that it was losing $$ on this program. I don't have any additional advice to offer you only that there are hospitals out there that will look at your resume (past job experiences, clinical rotations) and interviewing prowess and could decide to hire you. I was hired into a New Grad RN program, so I'm certain that made a difference too.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

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I would do the MSN. Later on, you'll be glad you did!:)

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

As someone who is currently in my MSN work, after an ADN bridge program, I would say go for it! The additional education you get from a Master's can greatly help your understanding of how your facility works, why certain decisions are made, and how your patients integrate into that scenario.

I feel, that while experience will help you better understand your coursework as you complete it, getting the knowledge know will spurn increased learning as you practice. You may not know how it all applies at this moment, but it will show up in your career.

I think it is a wonderful opportunity and since you are currently in student mode the transition should not be incredibly difficult. Also in the next two years potentially the job market may be better. If the economy can recover at some point hopefully retirement age RN's will feel it is safe to leave the bedside, thus opening up more jobs. Also I firmly believe that increased education, especially in nursing and nursing specific disciplines, can only help you get a job.

The future is coming and it isn't a rumor anymore. Nursing needs to require higher education and revamp it's thinking on nurse education to continue to be a viable part of the medical community and grow into its professional nature. A role vital to patient safety.

Theorist Patricia Benner recently co-authored a book entitled Educating Nursing: A Call for Radical Reformation which discusses the need for continued and higher level education at the bedside level. I am currently reading it (for fun none-the-less) and would recommend it to any nurse.

Best of luck!

Tait

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Since its a generalist MSN degree - I too would jump on it. You will have time to later decide what specialty you might want to do and then can get a post-MSN certificate.

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Thank you all for your advice! I really appreciate hearing from those of you working in the field. I feel that getting more education is something I will eventually accomplish and that since this MSN is offered for undergraduate tuition I will probably end up switching tracks. My only concern is about the post-masters certificate... If NP/CNS switches to a Doctorate level I don't think this MSN would help me in terms of easing school for the future. Again, thank you!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I recommend going for the MSN in this case. Usually, I recommend waiting a year or two before starting grad school, but this case seems like an exception.

1. The program is set up to handle students who don't have professional experience

2. You don't have to decide on a specialty -- You can get that later in a post-master's program

3. The current job market is terrible in most places

Under those conditions, I would go for it.

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