Confusing with NP and MSN

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Specializes in Emergency and trauma.

I'm graduated recently and been working in Emergency room for 1 and 1/2 years as RN. I'm looking forward for my further studies, but I'm confusing about the different between NP and MSN. Does NP equivalent to MSN? Thank you.

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MSN is a degree and NP is a professional licensure/certification. You can think of it the same as BSN (or ADN) and RN. The BSN/ADN is the academic degree that qualifies you for the licensure (RN). You prepare for NP licensure/certification by completing an MSN (or, now, DNP) degree (with a concentration in the NP specialty that you want). So, all NPs are MSNs (or, more recently, DNPs), but not all MSNs are NPs -- there are other MSN programs besides just NP programs; administration/management, nursing informatics, CNS, CNM, CRNA, CNL, nursing education, and probably others I'm not thinking of at the moment.

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Specializes in Emergency and trauma.
MSN is a degree and NP is a professional licensure/certification. You can think of it the same as BSN (or ADN) and RN. The BSN/ADN is the academic degree that qualifies you for the licensure (RN). You prepare for NP licensure/certification by completing an MSN (or now, DNP) degree (with a concentration in the NP specialty that you want). So, all NPs are MSNs (or, more recently, DNPs), but not all MSNs are NPs -- there are other MSN programs besides just NP programs; administration/management, nursing informatics, CNS, CNM, CRNA, CNL, nursing education, and probably others I'm not thinking of at the moment.[/quote']

Ok, understood. Thank you for the kind explanation.

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