Applying to school CNS or NP?

I have been very certain that I want to go to CNS school. I want to leave direct patient care and work more in EBP, education, performance improvement, quality, etc. I have been doing a bit of research and looking at jobs, and there just does not seem to be a lot of CNS jobs out there, especially working in an actual CNS role. There are about 8 or 10 at the 350 bed hospital I work at which seems like a lot compared to other places....

Okay, so what about the NP route?

As I stated, I have been a procedure based RN for almost my entire career. Having said this, the only type of NP position that strikes my interest would be in an IR position. Having researched that, there does not tend to be too many of those jobs either.

In the state I live in and in the 2 or 3 other states I may some day decide to move to all use CNS's and allow prescriptive authority for them, and all have NP's working in their IR's.... Just not a lot of jobs.....

I could likely get a job that I am interested without a masters. Of course, like many, MSN is always preferred.

I am ready to apply to graduate school......

What do you think?