Is MSN worth the $$$

[drsrn]

I've been an ADN dialysis nurse since 1995. I love nephrology and really don't want to work in any other field of nursing. I will finish an online RN-BSN program this Dec at the age of 58. I'm debating on whether pursuing a MSN is worth it. It will take me 5 semesters which includes over 400 clinical hours. This will cost over $20,000 and I do not want to take out any loans. I am not financially prepared to retire any time soon and hopefully I can work on up into my 70's. Just trying to figure out if the MSN will be beneficial or if I should just forget that, be happy with my BSN, and invest the money I would spend on tuition. In Georgia citizens age 62 and over get free tuition, but I'm not sure if that applies to graduate school. Any thoughts?

[Sour Lemon]

It's not something I would do ...especially without a clear goal in mind. There are nurses in their 70s working, but I don't see too many of them.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

You said you're happy in your field. What would the MSN "do" for you?

It's not always all or nothing, as well. There are various graduate certificates that can buff up your resume without the same time commitment and expense...

[llg, PhD, RN]

My first thought was similar to that of the previous posters: what would you do with an MSN? Are there particular jobs that you want that require an MSN? Is there a career path that interests you for which an MSN would be helpful?

If you have no goals for which an MSN would be helpful, then there is no reason to spend the money, time and energy on it. But if you do have a realistic goal that requires an MSN, then it might be worth it.