RN to MSN vs RN to BSN? Advice?

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I am still a student, graduating in May with my ADN. I am conflicted as to whether to apply to RN to MSN or RN to BSN programs. I do want to continue straight through, rather than taking a break and working for a year or so, because I am a bit older than the traditional student (late 30s.) Just as background, I do have a previous BA and AS, so prereqs should be minimal, though I know I will have a few. I have had several instructors tell me vehemently to go straight for the MSN because it will save time and money, and (in their experience) the first year of RN-MSN courses are what I would be doing in a BSN anyway. Makes perfect sense, right?

Here is my concern....I have no confidence that I will have the experience to know, in the next few months, in which area I would want to specialize. And I DO want to specialize. I do not want to just get a general MSN just to have the piece of paper. THAT is a waste of time and money. I have a few areas in which I am interested - such as forensics, law consultant and I am really, really gifted in education, a natural

teacher - spent years in the field.... Do you see my conundrum?

I feel like the typical 20 year old kiddo, all wriggly and enthusiastic, but with no real clear compass. I'm NOT a kiddo, and I have enough life experience to know that when I plan, my higher power throws balloon hats at me...and laughs, and laughs...

What do y'all with Master's degrees think? Can I pick a school with several different specialties offered and wait to specialize until my 2nd/3rd year? (A suggestion I have gotten more times than I can count,) or take the (at LEAST 1 to 2 year) extra time and money, more student loans, work (remember, I am old :-)) figuring it out while I get the BSN? I don't like this option, it seems slow and counter intuitive, but if I had all the answers, I wouldn't be reaching out for advice....

I really want to start applying this fall, applications are due Jan/Feb for next fall for most of the programs I have been looking into (VA and NC.) I really appreciate all of your feedback.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

You are a smartie!! I'm a long-time nurse educator (since the Earth's crust was cooling) . . and I completely agree with your instructors. Jump right on in to that MSN. Since you have a background in education, (and I am a bit biased) I encourage you to go with the MSN-Education. A graduate degree is 'necessary but not sufficient' for nurse educators. It is generally required for anything above a unit-based educator job, but you'll also have to have demonstrated clinical competence and proven teaching experience. Since you already have teaching experience, you're halfway there!

Nurse educators have a lot of career mobility. Our jobs put us in the forefront of a lot of important activities in any organization. As a result, we are in a unique place to gain an enormous amount of strategic-level knowledge as well as high visibility to the C-Suite.... so when it comes time for promotions, they frequently look to the education gang that have already demonstrated their ability to 'get 'er done'.

If you're interested in Forensic nursing, you'll need to focus on Emergency Department specialization; get enough experience to qualify for SANE certification & go from there because, once again - a graduate degree is necessary, but not sufficient. Legal nursing??? Unless you want to go the the "dark side" (plaintiff's attorney), your best bet would be to move into Risk Management - my organization has a bunch of MSN/JDs who work in that area.

Keep us posted on your progress -- I am looking forward to hearing some great things from you in the future

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Thank you so much for your reply!

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Specializes in ER.

Research it since it may not save you time or money to go straight for a MSN. For my programs, the best chances of me getting in involve having a year experience at most programs. By getting a BSN, it opens up more programs since a lot of the programs are not RN to MSN that I wanted to do. The few that are RN to MSN add on about 10,000 additional on top of the MSN classes whereas my BSN was about 5,000. Through careful planning, my BSN classes only have taken about 9 months assuming I pass everything my final semester.

Most of the MSN programs I looked at for FNP or CNMs want at least one year experience but not all of them. They do want several MSN FNP or CNMs references and through working, I'll be able to get the references necessary.

So in theory, a RN to MSN program may save you time and money but it may not actually plan out like that. In my experience, when I sat down and researched the costs a BSN and then a MSN is the cheaper route.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

I'm going straight for an MSN. Financially and time wise, it just makes sense. It doesn't decrease the amount of experience I'll have before I'm finished or the quality of my education, so why not?

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.
Research it since it may not save you time or money to go straight for a MSN. For my programs, the best chances of me getting in involve having a year experience at most programs. By getting a BSN, it opens up more programs since a lot of the programs are not RN to MSN that I wanted to do. The few that are RN to MSN add on about 10,000 additional on top of the MSN classes whereas my BSN was about 5,000. Through careful planning, my BSN classes only have taken about 9 months assuming I pass everything my final semester.

Y'all are name twins!

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Y'all are name twins!

I had to look twice!

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Thank you all so much for your insights! And I have been seeing my name twin for quite a while - Hi AxO!

Another question for those of you in the know: Do I have to have my GREs completed when I apply or I can I be accepted without them? This may be a program specific question, but how in the world could I get my GRE prep, exam, etc completed (by January!) while still in a full time program on top of honors classes, projects, volunteer work, tutoring... OMG I'm freaking myself out... do most/all/some Master's nursing programs require this prior to consideration for admission? I have looked at the requirements for admission for several schools and have only seen prereqs and GPA. Is the GRE just something that is so obvious that I would be silly for even asking? Or am I somehow overlooking it?

Thanks so much for your help, all. You guys counteract the "nurses eat their young" stereotype that we students unfortunately encounter all too often. I appreciate every single one of you who take time to share your knowledge and experience.

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