BSN to Masters or Entry Level Masters?

[mrisajne]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could give me insight about the differences between getting a traditional BSN and go on to a specialty MSN program vs. going into an Entry Level MSN? I hear mixed reviews. On one side I hear that having a Master's over a BSN is beneficial but then also that it isn't because you have to pay someone with a Master's more and they have no clinical experience. Any advice?

I already know that I want to specialize, so MSN is a must (with PhD in mind for future). However, the BSN programs are usually a lot cheaper than the Master's programs. With that being said, I'm also wondering about this from a financial point of view. Hopkins MESN is $54K a year and then I'd have to pay the same amount to specialize, rather then getting a BSN for less and biting the bullet on costs for the specialty programs.

I've looked at so many schools, have already applied to some and plan to apply on a few others and I'm going crazy!

[ED Nurse, RN]

How can you get an MSN without a BSN, unless a bridge/combined program? Also, I'm not sure what you mean by entry level MSN. I've also noticed the only schools you mentioned in all your posts are top tier, prestigious schools?

[mrisajne]

Yes exactly, the bridged program being the Master's Entry Level program for those that have a Bachelor's outside of a BSN. You complete the lower divison pre reqs prior to enrollment and then spend the last 2+ years working on courses to get your license. UCLA has a Master's Entry Level program, which I have also applied to but have little chance of getting into (current UCLA student) because it is so competitive. There is quite a lot of schools that do this actually - Yale, UPenn, UCSF, Vanderbilt, John Hopkins, Columbia, University of Washington, University of California Davis, University of San Fransisco and then several at some lesser known Universities in CA such as Azusa, Cal Baptist..

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

You do whatever program is required for the specialty you want to work in. You say you already know you want to specialize, but what in? If you want to be a critical care APRN then you have no choice but to get a Master's. If you want to work in the cath lab as an RN then you'll probably only need a BSN. You have to tailor your schooling around your ambition.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I am more biased toward attaining the traditional BSN before earning the MSN degree.

DEMSN (direct entry master of science in nursing) degree holders, a.k.a. ELMSNs, have a certain reputation among management circles at multiple hospital systems across the country, and it isn't terribly positive.

Some unit educators, staff development professionals, nurse managers, recruiters, HR directors, and other persons in the profession have insisted that DEMSNs struggle to grasp the concept of the 'worker bee.' I've heard nursing instructors stereotype DEMSNs as nurses whose first careers failed to launch.

I will reiterate that many great DEMSNs exist. Regrettably, several organizations give hiring preference to traditional BSN degree holders due to stereotypes combined with prior negative experiences with DEMSNs.