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Discussion

Do I need a BSN or will a MSN do?

I need your opinions! I am in my last semester of an AD program in Massachusetts. I am 46 years old with a bachelor's in psychology.! Here in Massachusetts there are many hospitals that will only hire a new grad if they have their BSN and after you have experience many would still prefer that you have one. I want to have a game plan after I graduate to continue right away with my education while I still have my student mojo! It seems ridiculous to me to get another Bachelor's degree as it will not mean a higher salary and I plan on a Master's anyway with a goal of teaching and nursing informatics. It also seems to me that the courses required by me to get another bachelor's are crazy. It should be only a couple of nursing courses, but each college seems to add like eight or so I need to take( I have all the gen eds already done). At my age it makes sense to me to just continue with a master's and be done with it. My question is will I be looked at differently by hospitals that prefer BSN's if I have only have an MSN? Logic would suggest that would be crazy, but the fact that a bachelor's in another field means nothing in nursing is crazy to me when you compare the number of credit hours of nursing classes I have had as an ADN vs the number of nursing credits in a BSN. It shouldn't be that long to convert to a BSN! And don't get me started on the fact that we take the same test for licensing ! I know I am digressing! I just need to know if I really have to get another Bachelor's to make myself marketable. I need to know what programs to look at as I am not getting any younger!

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    Well, in the RN-MSN programs that I have seen, you do actually get a BSN in the process. You earn A BSN while taking Master's level courses and then move on to taking MSN courses. So you'd have a BSN and MSN from the same program, you know? If you called a recruiter from the school you were looking at I am sure they could tell you for sure how their program operated.

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    • Author

    Really? Most of the programs that I have seen you only get your master's. There are many programs that seemed to be designed for people without a bachelor's to MSN and some of them offer both. I do see some master's programs that require a BSN, but many do not, they either accept you directly or you must do a bridge of about three courses. Will I be penalized if I just get the MSN.

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    I'm an experienced nurse and am going to do what you are discussing. I have a B.S. in a non-nursing major and an A.D.N. and I'm not interested in spending either the time or money to get a B.S.N. There are several programs out there for people like us. I don't think you will miss the BSN.

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    • Author

    Thanks for the reply! It just doesn't seem to make sense to have to get a BSN when you have a BA and want your MSN. I think I will save my money and go straight for the MSN! Thank you!

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    I thought in order to get the MSN, you need the BSN first, regardless of having a bachelor's in another field.

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    I thought in order to get the MSN, you need the BSN first, regardless of having a bachelor's in another field.

    *** Not at all. You don't need any sort of bachelors degree to get an MSN. You can go from non-nursing bachelors degree to MSN, or from ADN to MSN without ever having or earning a BSN or any other bachelors degree. Depends on the school.

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    hm, learned something new lol. I thought I had heard you could do it without the BSN..but then someone kept telling me you can't. I'm kind of glad I just got the BSN first time around, a lot of places around here won't hire ADN nurses anymore.

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    hm, learned something new lol. I thought I had heard you could do it without the BSN..but then someone kept telling me you can't. I'm kind of glad I just got the BSN first time around, a lot of places around here won't hire ADN nurses anymore.

    *** The hospital where I work has a 7 month nurse residency program for new grads going into SICU, MICU, PACU, PICU, NICU & ER. They do not hire new grad BSNs into the residency for the SICU. ADNs only.

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    *** The hospital where I work has a 7 month nurse residency program for new grads going into SICU, MICU, PACU, PICU, NICU & ER. They do not hire new grad BSNs into the residency for the SICU. ADNs only.

    Wow that's so nice to hear! Where do you live if you don't mind me asking? I applied for a Spring ADN program and will find out in about 1-2 months if I got in. However, I'm always thinking ahead and it worries me that so many hospitals highly favor the BSN in my area. I live in MD within the DC metro area.

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    I am questioning the post saying that you do not need a BSN to get a MSN. I would be very interested in getting information regarding the program that offers a MSN without a BSN and doesn't inlcude the BSN in the program. If you have another degree, or ADN, they usually do a bridge BSN-MSN.

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    I just graduated in May from a Master's Entry Program (I have a BA in Spanish), and I do not have a BSN. I did not have any problems getting hired- I just explained our program and how it works.

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    I am questioning the post saying that you do not need a BSN to get a MSN. I would be very interested in getting information regarding the program that offers a MSN without a BSN and doesn't inlcude the BSN in the program. If you have another degree, or ADN, they usually do a bridge BSN-MSN.

    Both Gonzaga and Excelsior offer a MSN with no BSN, but one must have a BA or BS in another major. Gonzaga is about 2x the cost of Excelsior, but is a real B&M school based in Spokane, WA. The shortest bridge I have found is UOP (3 courses), but you exit with a MSN and no BSN.

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