BSN or MSN

I think you would be doing yourself a disservice by taking the MSN route if you don't have any nursing experience at all. There is nothing compared to hands on experience and it doesn't matter how much didactic you learn. I really don't understand why programs are pushing this, personally.

Why wouldn't you want as much education as possible? I would def go for the MSN. I am assuming you'll be working full time during this program so you will get some experience that way.

That is what I was thinking. I do plan on working in the clinical setting for a number of years. But I would like to move up the ladder as the opportunity presents its self. I would like to finish with school and focus on a career without having to go back to school.

I think you misunderstood what I was saying, trust me I am all about education. Bridge programs, if I understand them correctly, don't pause for you to work and get experience...it's continual school. Thus, as I said, going straight into nursing with a MSN may not work in your favor because you won't have real experience under your belt.

I just assumed it would include work. My bridge program requires employment as a condition for admission. I agree it would be a waste to do the program with zero experience.

Without experience, how could you possibly know what specialty you want to pursue for your master's? When I started undergrad, I thought I would end up in psych. but after 10 years experience in general nursing decided on CRNA. I have met a few CRNA's who are absolutely miserable in their specialty but now that they've spent all this time and money in school, can't allow themselves to pursue something different. I think this is one reason CRNA's have such a high incidence of drug abuse - that's one way to get out of the specialty for sure:( when you can't leave the job on your own.