BSN or MSN

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 9, 2015

I would say it depends on your career plans. What do you want to do in the future? Will it require an MSN? Or do you prefer to remain at the bedside?

I completed an MSN Ed course. My initial degree was a BSN, so I was not in the market for an RN-to-MSN program. However, I am not yet using that advanced degree- it was a planning for the future when I'm to the point of not being able to physically handle the demands of a bedside career but too late to consider taking on student loans plan.

Natasha, RN, BSN · Oct 9, 2015

If you could go straight to a master's program that is great, so long as what you end up with is aligned to your end goal :)

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 9, 2015

If you know for sure what your end goal is, I recommend going the RN-MSN route. It can save time and money. However, most new grads are not in a position to be 100% sure of their long-term career plans. Most people need to actually work as a nurse for at least a year or two before they are in a position to know which path will suit them best.

I have seen many people make the big investment for a MSN or DNP too early in their careers -- and choose a path that doesn't suit them well. They then have to go back for a 2nd graduate degree that pile the debt even bigger. They would have been better off taking their time and trying out a few nursing roles (teacher, manager, clinician, etc.) first, before investing in graduate school -- so that they were in a better position to make a good decision.

So, it depends on the details of your situation. Is the RN-MSN program you are looking at generalized enough to open the door to a variety of different jobs that interest you? Or would it narrow your choices down to only a few choices that you might not like once you get there? How much actual experience do you have within the career path that you are considering? How sure can you be that you are going to happy with that career path?

Remember: The BSN is a general degree that does not guide you too strongly down any one career path. It doesn't get you as far down a specific career path ... but it leaves a lot of options open. A graduate degree (MSN, DNP, etc.) is a specialist degree: it takes you further down a specific path -- getting you further down that path, but cutting off other paths.

Which option best suits where you are now in your career development?

PMFB-RN, RN · Oct 10, 2015

You won't miss anything by skipping the BSN. I don't even know why anyone does RN to BSN anymore.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2015

I don't even know why anyone does RN to BSN anymore.

I did the RN-to-BSN program because I graduated from an ASN program that lacked both regional accreditation as well as ACEN/NLN accreditation.

Therefore, my options for continuing my education were limited, and only a school with a mega online presence was willing to work with me in the context of enabling me to complete the BSN affordably in a year or less. Most other schools wanted me to start from scratch and complete a massive number of credits.

I enjoyed my time at the school with the mega online presence, and although I earned my BSN degree from them, I'd much rather earn my MSN from a land-based school with a minimal online presence. Hence, the MSN program in which I'm enrolled is a land-based state university. And even though the program is online, no one ever needs to know I completed it online.

VANurse2010 · Oct 10, 2015

RN-to-BSN programs are a lot of BS, no pun intended. Go for the MSN after you've worked for a bit and figure out what you want that MSN in.

VANurse2010 · Oct 10, 2015

You won't miss anything by skipping the BSN. I don't even know why anyone does RN to BSN anymore.

I did it mainly for cost reasons, and length-to-completion.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2015

You won't miss anything by skipping the BSN. I don't even know why anyone does RN to BSN anymore.

A lot of people don't want or need an MSN but they are in a job market that requires or prefers a BSN. They may already have a job with their ADN but if they ever want to move to another job or their hospital gets in a snit about magnet status they will need the BSN.

PMFB-RN, RN · Oct 18, 2015

A lot of people don't want or need an MSN but they are in a job market that requires or prefers a BSN. They may already have a job with their ADN but if they ever want to move to another job or their hospital gets in a snit about magnet status they will need the BSN.

I get you, but with the 44 credits it takes to go from ADN RN to MSN in about 2 years is very similar to many RN to BSN programs in credits required and length to completion.

I would say the RN to BSN needs to be something that can be done in one year or less to be competitive with RN to MSN.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2015

I would say the RN to BSN needs to be something that can be done in one year or less to be competitive with RN to MSN.

I totally concur. My RN-to-BSN program was self-paced, took me 10 months to complete, and was very affordable at less than $6,000 in tuition and fees.

I quizzically scratch my head when I see people willingly submit to paying in the $15k to $25k range to enroll in RN-to-BSN programs of poor repute when they could have completed an MSN degree for that price.

PMFB-RN, RN · Oct 18, 2015

I totally concur. My RN-to-BSN program was self-paced, took me 10 months to complete, and was very affordable at less than $6,000 in tuition and fees.
I quizzically scratch my head when I see people willingly submit to paying in the $15k to $25k range to enroll in RN-to-BSN programs of poor repute when they could have completed an MSN degree for that price.

This is fun to think about but as some of you know from my previous postings I only attended nursing school for two semesters. I challenged the LVN boards based on my military medic experience then did RN to ADN in only 2 semesters (and a bunch of CLEP tests).

The University of Arizona has and RN to MSN that is 44 semester credits and can be done in slightly less than 2 years. This program does not require specific pre-reqs except RN license, nursing experience, a 3.0 or better GPA and an associates degree from an accredited college.

The fun part to think about is were I to have done that program I would have a MSN after a total of two semesters of full time college, and another 2 years of part time online school with a total of 80 credits earned by taking college classes (more with CLEP and credit for army training). That would have to be some kind of record. A masters degree with 80 credits and 3 years of college!