Do MSNs work in hospitals like RNs ??

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 25, 2005

MSNs in hospitals can be administrators. Almost all of our top nursing administrators have Master's degree's, either in nursing or Health Care Administration. I worked in a large hospital that requried the floor managers to have a masters.

Many floor managers have BSNs as well.

Many educators in hospital also have master's degrees.

You don't see many bedside nurses with Master's degrees. Usually bedside nurses have BSNs or ADN's.

elkpark · Dec 25, 2005

Many MSN-prepared nurses work in hospitals, but not typically in a "regular" RN position. As Tweety noted, many nursing administration people have MSNs. I've been a psych CNS for >ten years, and have worked in direct patient care in hospitals most of that time, but In a CNS role/position. Many CNSs, in all the various specialties, work in hospitals. CRNAs and CNMs work in hospitals a lot, obviously, and some NPs do, too.

I've also known quite a few MSN-prepared nurses who had teaching positions but also worked prn or part-time in hospitals in a "regular" nurse position in order to keep their clinical skills and knowledge fresh and up to date.

There are many options and opportunities for Master's-prepared nurses besides teaching. I would venture to say (just a general impression -- I have nothing to back this up! :) ) that most nurses with Master's don't teach -- they're doing something clinical (whether in an inpatient or outpatient setting).

Trauma Columnist · Dec 25, 2005

I am an MSN-RN and I work in case management. However, I am finishing a CNS in May 06 and then plan to work in that role. I also work prn as a staff nurse in the ER. I love that role.

Nursing.is.an.ART · Dec 25, 2005

]Tweety , elkpark, traumaRUs ,,,

]

]Thank - you 4 the info.

]

]That sounds interesting.. it's such a broad profession, but at the same time u see nurses sometimes miserable about their jobs ! i mean why not view nursing in the other bright side,,

]

]** It has alot of branches !

]** Ur always satisfied when u help people! ( if ur doing ur job correctly and enjoying it)

]** plus most of all, u ( as a nurse and a person ) are one of the reasons that will matter, because ur helping others to have a better and more satisfactory life !!

]

]( lool i just felt like saying some good stuff about nursing, cz recently alot of the threads i'm reading .. ppl. are viewing nusing from the other side !! )

]

]There was one more que.

]here is the situation ... say a BSN -RN- after finishing her degree directly goes into school to finish her MSN, and then she wants to work in a hospital say as an educator or an administrator.. do they put her/him in that position directly or do u think they will have to hire her as a regular RN to see her skills ?!?!!?

]

]Thanks again for ur time!!

]take care ,,

]

]Sama

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 25, 2005

Sama, most of those positions require experience, either on the floor or in the actual position. I'm sure it's not unheard of to hire an MSN straight into those positions, but I haven't seen it.

Audreyfay · Dec 25, 2005

The MSN needs to go with experience. I don't believe there are too many who go right to the MSN after the BSN. I could see a BSN go on to become a CRNA or MBA or Masters in Human Resources? Perhaps even becoming a Nurse Practitioner?

I have my Masters in Nursing Administration. I also have 30 years of being an RN. I got my BSN 10 years after I got my RN Associate degree. MSN 10 years after the BSN. Right out of MSN I got a job as an Assistant Nurse Manager in a hospital in Los Angeles. Decided I hated management. Went back into staff nursing and diabetes education for many years. Here I am, 7 years after my MSN and back into management again. So, it is purely up to the individual what they want to do with their degree.

One of the MSN graduates I knew had worked a little as an RN when she got her Masters. You wouldn't believe where she's working? McDonald's! (I guess she really didn't cut it or perhaps really didn't like it?) Life is interesting.

:typing