Guidance needed

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Specializes in Critical care.

I am interested in getting into nurse management/leadership.  What advice would you give and what route of college education would you recommend?  I tend to favor a master's degree in nurse leadership, but I wonder if I need to focus more on a master's degree in business with a healthcare focus.  I'm interested to see what your thoughts are, as well as your experiences in the world of nursing management.  My end goal is nurse executive or CNO. 

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I would recommend an MSN in leadership. You can always go back and get an MBA or MHA later.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.
klone said:

I would recommend an MSN in leadership. You can always go back and get an MBA or MHA later.

I agree with klone.

It's my opinion to prefer a master's in nursing administration over an MBA.

I feel MBAs were popular for a while, but left nursing out of the equation. My master's in nursing administration prepared me well.

From there, I would join AONL   (which used to be AONE) and pursue your certification (CENP or CNML).

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

My only wish is that MSN programs would teach more finance and business. Everything I learned about budget and finance was all on the job.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

OP:  I have both, but I had my MBA first and then received a scholarship from my employer to cover the majority of my MSN.  I agree with the others, MSN is the valuable sought degree in nursing leadership.  However, if you can seek a dual degree track and earn an MSN and MBA at the same time, that may be ideal.  

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Specializes in Dialysis.

I have my MSN in Management/Leadership. For CNO type roles, they will look at that moreso than an MBA

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I am currently getting my MSN in Leadership and I am having a hard hard time finding a mentor to help me complete my capstone project. 

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