HELP please. Will I be disadvantaged if I do RN to MSN without a BSN?

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Help please! Sooooo, I am an ADN prepared RN and I enrolled at Capella University for the RN to MSN program and am really loving it already but now I've had a recruiter call from another school and tell me that I ought to be concerned that I will not be getting a BSN as part of the process. Now I'm worried...

My goal is an MSN, but will I be somehow penalized if I don't get a BSN first? or will my MSN trump a BSN requirement for future jobs?

Any input appreciated!

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Specializes in ICU.

I've heard that yes, there is a disadvantage. But if you already have RN experience as an ADN I'm not sure.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

IMO, Capella will be much more of a disadvantage than the lack of a BSN. Their MSNs don't require any type of actual residency/experience or practicum. Theoretical knowledge is OK, but not much value when you're looking for a way into a new area. OTOH, if you are just looking to advance in your current area, it'll probably be OK.

Caution - 100% online graduate degrees are not taken very seriously in terms of qualification for nursing faculty because they do not provide any sort of exposure to a 'scholarly environment'... it would be like trying to get a job driving a truck if you have only used a driver training simulator. If you envision yourself teaching at some point in the future, you may want to go for a traditional MSN program.... most of them have a lot of online classes these days.

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