BSN vs. PhD

[2xchampion]

Hello all!

This is my first post to allnurses.com. I've read the advice many of you offer among the various threads and am continually impressed at the depth and introspect of your responses. Therefore, I'm seeking advice from more seasoned nurses with my "dilemma" (hope this is posted in the corrrect thread :)

I am an ADN student graduating in May, 2011, and wish to continue my education. I have two Masters degrees (MBA & MA in Human Resources Development) and eventually would like to puruse a career that involves nursing leadership, management, and perhaps research and academia. I'm being courted by two coworkers to pursue a PhD with them and bypass the BSN completion. My question is: How much value will the BSN have for someone with my credentials? Is it necessary as I already have a B.S. and graduate education?

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Mission]

I would check with the admissions department at the school you are planning to apply to for the PhD. I know my school requires a BSN and current RN license for admission in the PhD program. This, as far as I know, is standard for most PhD Nursing programs.

[llg, PhD, RN]

What types of jobs are you going to be seeking after you graduate? That might make a big difference, too, in the particular educational path you choose.

If you are going to be "climbing the nursing career ladder" and seeking mid-level positions, then the BSN may be needed. Skipping that step will make it more difficult for you to get the "middle level" jobs that you might need before getting a higher level job at the PhD level. But it might not matter if you are just going to do laboratory research or something like that.