Future OB/Gyn RN needs some advice from seasoned L & D nurses

[doularn]

Hello!

I hope it's okay for me to post this here as opposed to in the student section. I'd really love to get some advice from those of you who have been working in the field for a while.

I have been working as a birth doula for 10 years in the Los Angeles area and have attended over 100 hospital births and another 30 out-of-hospital births.

And now... I am headed to nursing school. I am so incredibly excited to be making this life-long dream finally come true.

I've been accepted into two schools so far. One program is an accelerated BSN and another is a direct entry-level MSN. The MSN program is 6 months longer but it's a better school with a more prestigious name. And, considering I am 42 years old, I like the idea of getting a masters degree. But I know that there is a bit of a stigma attached to getting a masters without any clinical experience.

Any insight, thoughts, advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I personally think a direct-entry MSN for a new nurse aiming to work in a regular staff position is a waste of time and money. A BSN is perfectly fine. I feel that a master's in nursing with no actual clinical experience in nursing makes no sense (no offense to anyone that has one, just my opinion). You can always get a master's down the road, in an actual area of specialty, not just the general MSN that the direct-entry programs offer.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Agree w/ Libra. An MSN with no RN experience is kind of a waste. My opinion and that of many managers I've asked the question of.

[MJC2118, APRN]

I guess it just depends on what your ultimate goal is? If you are wanting to be an L&D nurse, then obviously, all you need is a BSN. However, an MSN would be more for those who want to be a nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife. It really just depends on what your career goals are.