Since we've already done NP vs. DNP, PA vs. NP, etc., I figured I'd add one more.
No, seriously, I was wondering what people here would do (or did) if they were confronted with this choice.
You can do a lot with an MSN: work at the bedside, teach, do administration or research. And you find them everywhere. However, many RNs experience burnout and limited autonomy. And at least at the bedside I'm not sure how much of your clinical training you get to apply.
NPs have much more autonomy and in addition can diagnose and write prescriptions. And in most, but not all cases, they make more money than MSNs. However, I've heard many say that finding a job can depend heavily on where you live, and I've heard NPs say the MDs dump a lot of work on them.
I'm honestly not sure which route I'd like the best. I'm looking for something with wide geographic flexibility and the opportunity for teaching, but I'd also like to get lots of use out of my assessment/clinical skills.
There are many MSN concentrations available "out there" -- the four advanced practice roles (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA), nursing administration, nursing education, healthcare policy, informatics, and lots of others, I'm sure, that I'm not aware of or just can't think of at the moment. "Generalist" or "NP" are certainly not the only choices. Which one is the best choice for any particular individual depends on that person's specific interests and career goals.
I faced that decision earlier in my career -- when there were fewer options to choose from. The bottom line for me was that I did not want to be an NP. That type of work just didn't appeal to me.
I chose an MSN in Perinatal Nursing and have had a successful career -- mostly in CNS and Nursing Staff Development roles. I have also done a little teaching. (I did all of that with just my MSN, but I also went back and got my PhD eventually.) A lot of people don't think of CNS and/or Nursing Staff Development when they look ahead at possible career paths, but they are very nice roles -- generally nice hours, well paid, part of the leadership team but not the manager responsible for staffing, the opportunity to have a great influence on improving practice without having to worry much about "whose working Saturday night and Christmas."
Hi llg-
I'm a 2nd degree bachelor seeker (BSN program) and am really wishing I would have chosen the accelerated route to obtain my MSN. Oh well, I'll get there eventually.
I am really interested in becoming a CNS but am somewhat concerned about it's reputation. I often hear that it's the lowest paying of all the APNs and that it is also not recognized by certain states.
From your post I know that you have now obtained a PhD, but could you tell me more about your position as a CNS (i.e. what it entailed on a daily basis, hours you worked, how your role was accepted by your coworkers).
Did you find it satisfying and ,in general, is the difference in pay for a CNS vs. other APNs (excluding CRNAs) that drastic?
I'm a 2nd degree bachelor seeker (BSN program) and am really wishing I would have chosen the accelerated route to obtain my MSN. Oh well, I'll get there eventually.
I am really interested in becoming a CNS but am somewhat concerned about it's reputation. I often hear that it's the lowest paying of all the APNs and that it is also not recognized by certain states.
From your post I know that you have now obtained a PhD, but could you tell me more about your position as a CNS (i.e. what it entailed on a daily basis, hours you worked, how your role was accepted by your coworkers).
Did you find it satisfying and ,in general, is the difference in pay for a CNS vs. other APNs (excluding CRNAs) that drastic?
Thanks for your help!
The CNS role varies greatly from state to state and from hospital to hospital to hospital within the same state. In some places, CNS's have prescriptive authority and function must like an NP. I never had nor wanted that type of role.
In some places, the CNS role does not require special licensure or certification. It is simply a job role established by a hospital. Those are the types of CNS jobs I have had (and technically, have now). Our role is to develop and support the nursing practice within the hospital. We often lead committees and task forces that do the evidence-based practice projects ... develop new policies and procedures ... evaluate and upgrade the nursing practice on the patient care units ... serve as resources and mentors for the staff nurses ... help the staff work through their more challenging cases ... develop educational programs for the staff ... etc. I have always liked the variety of tasks that fell within my role. I was free to do whatever needed to be done to help the staff provide the best care possible. If that meant rolling up my sleave and being a role model by providing some direct care, that's what I did. If it meant teaching a class, then I developed a class. If it meant developing a new policy or a new form, or a new procedure, then that's what I did.
My current employer has combined a CNS role with a Staff Development role. So, most of my colleagues do more staff develoment than the average CNS -- but staff development was always a part of the CNS role anyway.
If you do a search of this site, you will find several threads discussing the CNS role that can give you more information. There is also a CNS journal that you should look at to see the types of things that CNS's do. Just keep in mind that not every CNS has (or wants) prescriptive authority and/or to function in a role similar to a NP. That's just in a couple of states, not nationwide.
elkpark
14,633 Posts
There are many MSN concentrations available "out there" -- the four advanced practice roles (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA), nursing administration, nursing education, healthcare policy, informatics, and lots of others, I'm sure, that I'm not aware of or just can't think of at the moment. "Generalist" or "NP" are certainly not the only choices. Which one is the best choice for any particular individual depends on that person's specific interests and career goals.