Do I have to get my masters?

JadedCPN, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2017

Your post is slightly confusing to me - who is forcing you to get your Masters degree? If you want to work bedside and it sounds like you don't want the degree at all, then I'm not sure why you are pursuing it?

caliotter3 · Jun 9, 2017

Don't buy into the "up or else" attitude toward higher education. Pursue a Masters degree when you see the benefit and need for one. Right now you should just concentrate on what is in front of you. The Masters degree dilemma can wait a few days!

PrincessAlexis · Jun 9, 2017

Hi jaded, thank you fro replying. All of the nurses in my life and doctors and sonographers make it sound like the only way ill be happy in nursing is if i go higher up in education. like idk if they are just trying to be supportive or what but it's really hard for me because they make me feel like what I am doing isn't enough.

Boomer MS, RN · Jun 9, 2017

It seems like everyone is getting their masters in nursing but I would still like to work bedside. I also am not fully excited or even want to get my masters because I am fine and happy with my bachelors and if it were up to me i wouldnt get my masters ever. What masters degree in nursing would allow me to still work bedside?

Not everyone is getting a master's in nursing. And yes, you can work at the bedside with a master's or a doctorate for that matter. It seems, from this site anyway, that so many don't want to stay at the bedside. Bedside nurses will always be needed. There are numerous specialties in nursing but searching those out does not sound like what you want to do. I got a master's in nursing later in my career because it was always something I wanted to do. It is up to you; you don't ever have to get a master's! Don't let others push you into something they want for themselves.

allnurses Guide · Jun 9, 2017

Heck, I don't even have a bachelors in nursing, nor do I have any desire to

get one at this point. I'm quite happy. I plan on staying at the bedside

as well. I'm one of those people who is just not cut out for any type

of management position.

I would advise you, or anyone, to go ahead and get that bachelors if

you CAN, because some places prefer it, even for bedside/floor

nurses. But a masters? You don't need it, unless you plan on

going into upper management, teaching, or advanced nursing

practice, like nurse practitioner or midwife.

PrincessAlexis · Jun 9, 2017

Thank you so much for making me feel much better about the whole situation

jaderook01, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2017

Death and taxes, darling. Unless you're being held captive in a university somewhere and being forced to pay tuition and turn in assignments for food, then no, you don't have to get a masters.

allnurses Guide · Jun 9, 2017

I got my masters in NursingEd around 20 years after my BSN, solely because I wanted to. No interest whatsoever in admin. I am still at the bedside because I want to be there. I teach as adjunct for the fun of it (I make less per hour teaching with the MSN than I do at bedside with the BSN).

It is a lot of work, and time and money, for something you have no interest in now. Sounds like you are surrounded by ambitious folks who want you to enjoy what they do. If you happy where you are, be there! I've been bedside one way or another for 36 years.

nutella, MSN, RN · Jun 9, 2017

It seems like everyone is getting their masters in nursing but I would still like to work bedside. I also am not fully excited or even want to get my masters because I am fine and happy with my bachelors and if it were up to me i wouldnt get my masters ever. What masters degree in nursing would allow me to still work bedside?

There is some glorification of the nurse practitioner role, which is perceived by many as a highly desired role. However, when this comes from nurses, they are usually dissatisfied and disenchanted about nursing - they thought it would be "different" and do not want to work bedside after a short period of time. When it comes from the public - they often think that the money and the prestige of carrying around the prescription pad is what "everybody wants" - they just do not know better.

If you are happy and satisfied where you are at there is not need to go back to school if you do not want to. There are many options for bedside nurses besides med-surg. I worked as a bedside nurse for many years but eventually got tired of being used as a task list pusher instead of a nurse and left bedside to work in acute dialysis (which I liked a lot) and after a while switched to something totally different and became a palliative and hospice nurse - in the community and now in a hospital. I am not a traditional bedside nurse but I am a nurse. And I went back to get a masters degree because I wanted to, I like to learn and I did not have any debt. There are nurses who work bedside with a masters degree in nursing - they typically go for the general MSN. But because it usually does not give you more money and return on investment is somewhat "poor" depending on where you work, it is not very popular.

If you are happy where you are and do not desire going back to school my recommendation for you would be to look into a specialty certification once you have settled and become specialty certified. I became specialty certified to show that I have the knowledge - independently verified - and I am proud of it. If you can do so, put some money away every month into a savings account in case you want to go back to school in some years. If you save money and do not go back to school, you have some money for something else for example travel...

Other ways to add to your bedside nursing career is to join a professional organization, go to national conferences, precept or mentor on the floor....

Wuzzie · Jun 9, 2017

Alexis...you do you! That's what will ultimately make you happy.

JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN · Jun 9, 2017

No you do not.