BSN Nurse supervising MSN nurses

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Specializes in Case Manager/Administrator.

Just putting this out there. I have a great BSN Nurse who would make a great supervisor however I have 3 MSN nurses who refuse to be supervised by a BSN nurse. They do not want to step up , nor do I really want them to anyway. Has any BSN supervised MSN or above or have any MSN been supervised by a BSN and how did this work?

I worked at a facility where the night shift house supervisor was an LVN instead of the one or two RNs assigned each night. If I had the authority and this was because somebody refused to accept the responsibility, I would see that they received a pay decrease or invitation to work elsewhere. This is assuming there is no glaring reason for the unconventional situation.

Specializes in ER, Med Surg, Ob/Gyn, Clinical teaching.
Just putting this out there. I have a great BSN Nurse who would make a great supervisor however I have 3 MSN nurses who refuse to be supervised by a BSN nurse. They do not want to step up , nor do I really want them to anyway. Has any BSN supervised MSN or above or have any MSN been supervised by a BSN and how did this work?

I got my MSN before my unit supervisor even got her BSN.. For me personally, it didnt change my attitude towards her.. nor did it make my head swell out of pride.. I have seen a fellow nurse who got her NP and oh my! she started giving us the 'high-and-mighty-attitude' , I have colleagues who have completed medical school and they still communicate with me as old colleagues.

For me, I went to get my MSN for career development and better opportunities.. What I am trying to say in effect is that, some people feel that because of their advanced degree then all others should bow to them.. I dont personally care if my supervisor is BSN or not.. some positions are giving based on experience with leadership etc..

I had no issues with my director, and I still dont..my plan is once I get the career opportunity I am looking for, I go for it.. meanwhile, I remain in my humble position and do my job the best I can...

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Are the MSN nurses working in the role of an RN license? If so, then there's absolutely no reason they should be acting the way they are. Are the MSN nurses advanced practice? If so, they can be managed in any non-clinical fashion by anyone regardless of degree, but if it's clinical supervision, the supervisor should at least be on the same licensure level.

Specializes in Nursing Faculty, ER Nurse.

My nurse manager has her BSN and we have tons of nurses with MSNs. However, our manager has the experience.

Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Supervision is about hired role and licensure, not level of education. The MSN prepared nurses cannot "refuse to be supervised"- it's simply not their call. The nurse manager should have a frank conversation with his/her staff about this issue.

Exactly - A MSN does not result in an expanded scope. Even if it did, it would be a clinical issues, not a management one. I am currently managed by two individuals, and neither hold a health care title of any kind.

Specializes in PICU.

If the MSN nurses are working in the role as an RN then there is no issue. A conversation might be needed with those employees.

Specializes in kids.

They need to get over themselves.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I have a PhD in Nursing. I am the only nurse in my hospital with a PhD. No, I am not the President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors. My department's director has an MSN ...and the Vice President for Nursing has an MSN. We are all sophisticated enough to work with that even though we all know I have some knowledge and experience they don't have. It's no big deal. It's about people and fairness -- not about academic degrees.

However ... as others have pointed out ... if those MSN nurses are practicing in an expanded role (i.e. NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA) then it would be wrong for a person without that level of licensure to be trying to supervise their advanced clinical practice. For example, a person who has no education/license as a Nurse Midwife could not judge the appropriateness of the clinical work of a CNM. The same is true for the NP, CNS, and CRNA.

Just putting this out there. I have a great BSN Nurse who would make a great supervisor however I have 3 MSN nurses who refuse to be supervised by a BSN nurse. They do not want to step up , nor do I really want them to anyway. Has any BSN supervised MSN or above or have any MSN been supervised by a BSN and how did this work?

Your 3 MSN nurses are in for a rude awakening at some point in their miserable lives. My director is a ADN and I have nothing but love for her.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.
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