Continue with my Masters????

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Specializes in Peds.

As school nurses here in NC we are required to have only a BSN. Has anyone continued on with their Masters? My plan is to stay a school nurse until I retire, but not sure if I should go ahead and complete my Masters as a "just in case". What are your thoughts as fellow school nurses?

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Specializes in kids.

I did mine in Health Care Administration...just to keep other options open down the road, I am probably looking at another 10 until retirement. Not a requirements but really for my own personal goals. Next up in sitting for the national certification exam

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In my district/state, semester units post-bs add to salary increase.

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Specializes in Peds.

NutmeggeRN, I just passed my NCSN and it was well worth it professionally and personally. You got this! I am in the same boat as you. I have many years until retirement and that is why I am thinking of getting my Masters. Was contemplating Nursing Education.

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Specializes in kids.

Yeah...I just need to get my act together and register...

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In my district/state, semester units post-bs add to salary increase.

I have many years until retirement and that is why I am thinking of getting my Masters. Was contemplating Nursing Education.

Same for me on both of these!

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Specializes in education, school nursing, med-surg, urgent care.

Will your district pay some of the cost of the Master's degree? If so, then go for it! I have mine and I work as an adjunct at a local college. You can focus on nursing ed if you're interested in teaching or look at other programs. Some colleges (not many) have MSN in school nursing--look in NJ/PA for some of those. New Jersey City University has an online Master's in Health Science with a school health focus. Some colleges put school nursing under the MEd. programs so check their education schools. Health administration, public health, community nursing are some other emphases you might look into. A lot of NP programs are online if you're interested in diagnosing, prescribing, etc. and many still haven't transitioned to the DNP so you can squeak in before they all change over...

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I got my Masters in Elementary Education and Special Education. I chose that over Nursing because it suited my role here in school better. I teach Health as well as being the School Nurse. Doing may masters in Education really helped me to better understand the educators side of the school environment and helps me to relate the Nursing side to the educational side.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i just started last month, but i decided to pursue a masters in emergency management. I figure that I am getting somewhat close-ish to retirement- 15 years if i go as soon as i can - and for me to get mine in nursing would be almost a moot point. I have no plan of teaching afterward, and besides, most colleges want to to have a doctorate anymore for that. If i were to pursue msn in informatics or administration I could go and work in a hospital system again, but after working as an ADN for 4 years (without a masters, mind you) i am not sure that i want to do that again.

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