Masters Degree...Nursing vs. /Non Nursing

elkpark · Mar 22, 2011

Unless you are planning on using a Master's degree to get out of nursing, get an MSN. There is no other Master's degree (except possibly an MBA if you are in management, and, even then, an MSN/MBA combo degree would be your best bet) that will benefit you within nursing as much as an MSN will. (Of course, if you want to do some other graduate degree purely for the personal satisfaction, that's a different matter.)

I would encourage you to decide on what you want to do as the next step of your career, where you want your career to go, and that will tell you what degree/concentration will most benefit you professionally. Most graduate degrees in nursing lock you into a specific professional role and career track (v. different from generalist nursing), so it's important to choose carefully before you invest the time, effort, and $$$. It's well worth investing some time and effort "up front" to make the best choice you can, and invest in a degree that will get you where you want to go. :)

Best wishes for your journey!

elkpark · Mar 22, 2011

I would encourage you to decide on what you want to do as the next step of your career, where you want your career to go, and that will tell you what degree/concentration will most benefit you professionally.

(I should have said yesterday that that would also help you figure out whether a graduate degree or some kind of specialty certification or other training (that doesn't involve getting a graduate degree) would be more helpful ... :))

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 22, 2011

I totally agree with ellpark on this. Your choice of an educational program should depend on the type of work you want to do after you graduate. Answer that question and the educational choice will fall into place.

Too many people do it backwards -- and end up investing lots of time and money into degrees that don't lead them to jobs they enjoy. They end up disliking their job options -- and regret the investment they made in the education.

So ... what type of work do you want to do in the future?

Start there.

romie · Mar 23, 2011

You can always brows job site and look at the type of degrees that employers are looking for. Do you want to be a manager or nursing leader? Then masters degrees in Hospital or healthcare administration would be a good way to go. Do you want to be more of a generalist? Then a masters in Public Health is a way to go. Researchers will generally have a degree in their field of research. Some nursing schools are experimenting with a new advance practice role called the Clinical Leader, which is similar to the soon to be phased out Clinical Nurse Specialist. You don't have to be an NP if you want an advanced nursing degree. There is also the Nursing Infomatics masters degree, if you really like working with data and computers.

truffles111 · Mar 23, 2011

I don't want to be a manager....and don't feel that the CNL would be the right fit. I think the CNS makes more sense for me over the NP and CNL, but, as you mentioned, that is being phased out...?? I guess that is why I was thinking I should find a degree that is not a MSN, but just works well with nursing. (Although that doesn't sound like a great option either..??)

PS....I appreciate all the advice that I have received! :)

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2011

Why not psych NP? It kind of fits your other interests and it's less directly nurse-like in practice.

I'd say admin, but you don't want that.

UVA Grad Nursing · Mar 26, 2011

The CNS is not being phased out.

I have seen many employers (especially Magnet facilities) eager for more CNS nurses. My university graduates 10-15 Critical Care, Adult Health, and Psych CNS students each year, and we receive 50+ flyers each year from facilities eager to recruit these new CNS grads.

But I have also seen some employers let a CNS go and be replaced with a PA/NP who can bill (and thus produce revenue for the facility).

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 30, 2011

I agree with the PP, and want to reiterate... the CNS is not being "phased out". It is a different role than the CNL. CNS's function in an advanced role associated with a specific service line or type of patient population. The CNL is a new role that is intended to work in 'micro-leadership'. Example: The CNS works with a multidisciplinary team to identify changes in practice that will speed recovery & post discharge management of renal transplant patients... then the CNL works within his/her department to implement the changes; analyzing the impact on various work processes, developing a plan for implementation and managing the change.

Also - elkpark is absolutely correct. If you are looking to advance in nursing leadership, it takes an MSN. I know several CNO/CNE's with other types of graduate degrees who have had to go back in the last few years and get an MSN to keep their jobs. This is probably the result of the Magnet influence on US healthcare.

romie · Mar 31, 2011

I would like to retract my statement that claimed that the CNS role was being phased out. After reviewing white papers from several esteemed nursing organizations, it is clear that the CNS role is vibrant and is in no danger of being phased out. There is a lot of role confusion arising from the emerging CNL and Doctor of Nursing Practice, but these are growing pangs that any profession will undergo as a they improve and progress. Many of the best clinical educators I've had as a student and a professional BSN have been under the tutelage of Clinical Nurse Specialists. They are here to stay, for better or better. Thanks guys for letting me eat crow.