Masters Concentration Conundrum

[Devinthebrave]

Hello all!

I am a 16 year nurse with a majority of my career being spent in the pediatric intensive care unit.  A year ago, I transitioned into the clinical educator position for my unit and began working on the completion of my BSN.  I have now finished my BSN and am considering going on to obtain my master's degree (MSN-ED). 

I am super excited to advance my education and career opportunities but I am also a little cautious.  This is for multiple reasons.  I love my job and could see myself doing this until my retirement.  I am very interested in improving my abilities to be an effective educator in any way.  However, I'm not sure there is much room for improving my rate of pay in my current role, even if I do get my MSN.  Becoming a clinical nurse specialist would be something I am also interested in but, at the moment, there are no opportunities for this type of role at my hospital.  I have never seen myself in academia before but, then again, I never expected to love being a clinical nurse educator so much either.  I don't see myself as an NP at this juncture.  I do not wish to work with adults and the NP field is fairly flooded around my area due to an abundance of nursing schools.  I would say that the percentage of people I know with an NP in my area who are either employed as a bedside RN or who took a job they weren't necessarily interested in after obtaining their NP is around 35%.  

 

Anyway, here's my question.  If I commit to an MSN-ED and find that I can't recoup my investment, or want to move on into a different role, how difficult would it be for me to do this?  Anyone have experience with obtaining an MSN-ED and then transitioning to a CNS role or NP role?  Would I have to obtain a post-masters certificate?  Just really looking to hear other people's experiences.

 

[sleepwalker, MSN, NP]

19 hours ago, Devinthebrave said:

Anyone have experience with obtaining an MSN-ED and then transitioning to a CNS role or NP role?  Would I have to obtain a post-masters certificate?

Yep. That's exactly what you would have to do.

[goalgetter MSN RN, MSN, RN]

I totally get where you are coming from, but personally, I think you are looking at this too narrowly.  There is more than just hospitals and academia out there.  SO many places hire masters prepared nurses.  Think of all the companies out there...places that create content for nurses and even for patients.  If you like to teach it doesn't have to be in a hospital or college/university.  You can work with a company to be a content expert in your area of specialty.  Think about your employer's LMS.  Who do you think puts that education together?  If the education is purchased from that company (I.e. Healthstream) I guarantee a nurse was involved.  What apps do you use as a resource?  Again....a nurse was involved.  Another thing to think about is medical companies that have products and services that hospitals/clinics or even patients use.  Many of them hire nurses to provide education and training.  And then there is the possibility that you have a thought to someday start your own business, educating nurses or patients/parents.

Again, I totally get it and had the same thoughts myself when trying to decide which route to go.  I did my MSN with an education focus and then a job I never dreamt would exist suddenly was created and it was like the job description was written for me.  The world is changing, the possibilities of what you can do are endless.  Maybe that job that will tell you the MSN was worth it doesn't exist....yet, but it will.  

Be careful not to focus just on the next 2 years in front of you or working in a hospital, clinical, or college.  There is a whole world out there full of endless possibilities.   

[Golden_RN, MSN]

On 12/1/2020 at 7:53 AM, goalgetter MSN RN said:

I totally get where you are coming from, but personally, I think you are looking at this too narrowly.  There is more than just hospitals and academia out there.  SO many places hire masters prepared nurses.  Think of all the companies out there...places that create content for nurses and even for patients.  If you like to teach it doesn't have to be in a hospital or college/university.  You can work with a company to be a content expert in your area of specialty.  Think about your employer's LMS.  Who do you think puts that education together?  If the education is purchased from that company (I.e. Healthstream) I guarantee a nurse was involved.  What apps do you use as a resource?  Again....a nurse was involved.  Another thing to think about is medical companies that have products and services that hospitals/clinics or even patients use.  Many of them hire nurses to provide education and training.  And then there is the possibility that you have a thought to someday start your own business, educating nurses or patients/parents.

 

Additionally, there are a lot of management, public health & government jobs that require MSN and they really don't care what concentration you chose.  I have an MSN with a concentration in education and I don't think my last few bosses even cared about the concentration that I chose.

[phillsa]

Golden or Gogetter.... Thank you so much for your insight. I have been struggling with returning to school for quite sometime. I have searched soo many sites and researched for some non- traditional nursing roles to help me decide what avenue to take. 

My take away was that perhaps the role I seek Does Not yet exist!

This spoke volumes to me. Thank you again. You have no idea of the impact of your words have had for me......Now I am looking forward.  I hope to be the the ground breaker for something Big!

21 year BSN, RN

( ER, SANE, Radiology)