Is CNS masters program a bad idea for regular RN on hospital floor?

[Natalie513]

I come from a non nursing background and i just want to become an RN in a hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area as soon as possible. The cheapest option in my area may be an Clinical Nurse Specialist MSN degree at SF State. But will this degree actually prevent me from getting a regular RN job, say in L&D? They offer a women's health specialty.

I am also planning to apply to an ABSN program and a CNL masters program. I just want to be a nurse and want to do it as quickly and cost efficiently as possible. The CNL MSN at USF takes LESS time than completing a BSN as a transfer student (2 years instead of 3 years), and the SF State CNS MSN costs less than the Samuel Merritt ABSN, and you get both a BSN and an MSN.

I don't want to be an advanced practitioner at this time, I just want to be a regular RN on the hospital floor. Given that, is a CNS Masters program a bad idea? Will i not be able to get a regular RN job with this degree?? any insight is welcome. Thanks!

[SanDiFrangles, RN, NP, CNS]

I'm a past ICU RN at UC San Diego so I can give you some more information and I've precepted and mentored new graduates in the ICU - so feel free to reach out.

[JD2RN]

pennccrn said:

I'm a past ICU RN at UC San Diego so I can give you some more information and I've precepted and mentored new graduates in the ICU - so feel free to reach out.

Wow! Thank you! That is very kind of you. I am currently a volunteer in the Thornton ED, which I love. I have a passion for mental health issues, which is why I am considering the psych NP route. But, I really want to keep my options open, and take the time to explore different areas of nursing via clinicals (and hopefully, a residency program). One of my husband's clients is a cardio-thoracic surgeon, and the head of the lung transplant program at Sulpizio. He was kind enough to let me observe a valve replacement/bypass last week, which was amazing! I loved the people in the OR. ?

You can see that I am all over the place with things that I am enjoying, which is also why I really don't want to opt for a direct entry NP Program. Not a comment on anyone else's choices, but I know that I have much to see and learn.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

JD2RN said:

Sorry, I meant to also ask why you think marketing the CNL might be dicey?

CNL is still a fairly new degree. I live in central IL and our two big hospital systems don't use them at all. In fact I know of no one in my area (and I am active in my state-wide APRN organization) that has a CNL.

Have you talked to current CNLs?

[JD2RN]

traumaRUs said:

CNL is still a fairly new degree. I live in central IL and our two big hospital systems don't use them at all. In fact I know of no one in my area (and I am active in my state-wide APRN organization) that has a CNL.

Have you talked to current CNLs?

No, I have not. I've thus far been focused on knocking out prerequisites and volunteering. I didn't want to get too far ahead of myself in case I washed out or didn't find nursing to be a good fit. I am now at the point of applying to nursing programs, and assumed that I would just go the BSN route (or RN to BSN route, if I couldn't get into the Cal State BSN programs in my area, which are highly impacted. I honestly have a better chance of getting into a top-tier nursing school that uses holistic admissions vs. the hugely competitive points system that we have here with our Cal State BSN programs.) But, after speaking to the Dean of Grad Nursing at SDSU, she explained how I could complete the MSN-CNL in the same amount of time as the RN to BSN. This seemed like a great deal, but I wanted to learn more about the marketability of CNLs in CA.

Thus far, I have mostly talked to NPs where I have been volunteering, but wouldn't really know how to spot a CNL on the floor. NPs are pretty obvious in the ED and OR. ? I suppose that I could seek out SDSU CNL alumni to see how their careers have progressed, but I appreciate any advice you have.