Don't know who to talk to

These positions seem to pay a little more than regular RN positions and have the mix of business mixed into it which I feel like I would truly enjoy (as long as its not 5 days a week, 12 hours a day working in a cubicle like a rat).

There's a reason they call it "The Rat Race." You wanna join the dark side? Start getting used to cheese.

Questions:

1) If I were to work as an RN (maybe some charge nursing too) for 5-10 years and get my MSN, could I use that experience and degree to be a manager?

Yes.

Or should I forget nursing completely and get a MBA and Health administration degree?

See: Rat Race.

* I feel like experience in nursing, especially charge nursing, would be valued because you have experience in nursing itself and know the ropes, not be another idiot from corporate who just understand charts and graphs of profits.

You would be another idiot from corporate who has experience in nursing itself.

2) If I were to only get an MSN, would my salary go up as a RN?

In some cases, yes.

If so, how much?

Under my contract a 5-year Staff RN with an MSN make $38.26/hr. BSN:$37.02, ADN:$35.76

What nursing "specialties", if any, could I advance to with just that degree alone?

I don't know.

3) I'm confused because I say 'nursing manager' but I feel like there are 30+ different types of managerial positions that I could be referring to. What are some other nursing positions that pay 80-100k?

Depends on too many factors.

4) Do nursing managers like their jobs

Yes.

have family time?

Yes.

or are they stressed out all the time,

Some are I'm sure.

ALWAYS working.

No.

in an office all day,

Sometimes.

and not well liked?

Often.

One day at a time Pilot.

By the time you graduate , the nursing field and your goals will have changed many times over.

"I want to make it clear that I'm not doing anything for the money". That will most assuredly change as..

unless you are independently wealthy... we ALL work for the money.

If you don't at least have THAT straight ...you need more counsel than this venue can provide.

Well I'm a new grad myself so I dont know a ton about this stuff yet but what I do know is my nurse manager started with his BSN and worked for a few years before getting his masters and becoming a manager. Everyone on my unit absolutely loves him, he is an amazing manager. I think in part because he worked his way up and knows what its like to be in our shoes. I personally would have a hard time listening to a manager that never actually worked as a nurse because I wouldnt think they had an credibility. My manager works 40 hours a week, he works 10 hour shifts Mon-Thurs. Altho I will say he does stay after sometimes or answer calls on his days off if we need him. (altho I think if he wasnt such a great manager, he might not do that). I dont know what he makes but I work for the VA system and our pay scale is very straightforward, and as we gain experience/education and show leadership we move up the pay scale. It would be very do-able to be in the 80-100k range within the VA system. (depending on where you live)

I will use my husband as an example. He works in hospice. He has his ADN and is currently working on his BSN. With 6 years of nursing experience, he is the clinical nurse manager of a smallish hospice company. With his BSN, he will be eligible for promotion to manager of the branch, which will probably earn him around $80K, plus entry into their bonus structure (the branch is owned by a large national company, so their bonus structure is nice). Once he finishes his BSN, he's planning on getting his MBA in healthcare administration, and that, along with an RN and several years of nursing experience, will probably land him in 6-figure management.

He does work 5 days a week, and he's pretty much on call all the time. His phone is always on, and I've learned to accept that as part of his job as a manager. But he does have some level of job flexibility. He generally works pretty sane hours (8-5:30), with the occasional need to put out fires. And he loves what he does, both the area of nursing, as well as being a manager (he has a great group, so that helps tremendously).

I guess it's all a matter of what you're looking for. Me, I would HATE being a manager. I would not be a good manager. I'm not particularly organized, especially when it comes to stuff like paperwork and things that managers would need to be organized about. And I wouldn't be good at stuff like disciplining staff.

In spite of your words to the contrary, you do seem to be a bit hung up on the money and role, and seem to be focused less on the nursing aspect of things. I don't know that I've ever met anyone who actually sought out nursing so they could go into administration. Usually people just sort of fall into it. But as long as there are nurses, I guess we have to have nurse managers, so if that's what you really want to do, more power to you, I guess!

I am a RN. I also have a BBA in Healthcare Admin and a MBA in Healthcare Mgt. Best choice I ever made and many nurses are doing it. These degrees do not replace clinical experience, but by the time you are ready to move up to administration, they will be invaluable. The only thing I cannot do without a MSN is teach in a RN program, which I have no desire to do. Go for it - it is the way of the future....

A couple of comments.

First of all, there is no "minor" for a BSN. Nursing is a "program" rather than a traditional major. The education is all-encompassing, as you will discover. You will need to focus your energies on doing very well in your required curriculum rather than taking extraneous electives. You'll need that high GPA to get into grad school.

If you intent to aim for nursing leadership positions, you need an MSN. Larger healthcare organizations are seeking PhDs for Chief Nurse jobs. MBAs are not really valued in healthcare unless they are focused on healthcare finance - it's a different sort of animal than the rest of the financial world.

MBAs are required for all management positions (nursing, medicine, all auxiliary departments, etc) in my neck of the woods. Very valuable indeed. That said, I'd kill myself before doing that. I was in Administration for about 4 years, many years back. Nothing but constant headaches and BS from the whiny P*I*T*A employees. They were the minority: 98% of the people I worked with were outstanding in every way. However, that 2% was bad enough to make life a living he// for me, my family, and their peers. Never again.

careful what you wish for

Depending where you are from, making 80-100k in unheard of. Although i do know of SOME cities where nurses are making this, but cost of living is much much more.

just take 1 day at a time, you are planing WAY far in advance. i just graduated and i was dead set on becoming an ICU nurse or ER nurse. I work in med/surg right now and i don't even want to be a nurse anymore. Plans change, people change. Not saying your going to hate nursing...but you may find out you like something else.

your first priority is to get your license and degree. Then learn to become the best nurse you can. During that time the rest will begin to make sense as you learn "the ropes". You cannot plan your whole life right now - that does not allow for changing your mind.