MHA vs MSN

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I'm looking to go back to grad school next fall and am stuck between the MSN/healthcare administration and leadership OR just doing my MHA. More schools offer the MSN at a more affordable rate, but the MHA seems like it would open up more doors. At this time, I would like to get into being either a manager or director of a unit, but I have no idea what'll happen in the future! I've just really been looking into this recently so ANY advice would help! (And I do see a similar thread below, but since I may want to get OUT of the hospital setting at some point, I'm also wondering what I'd be able to do with an MHA outside of a hospital.)

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Many facilities, especially those which are Magnet, will prefer their managers/directors to have a Master's in Nursing.

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Specializes in CICU,.

Hi tech1000,

I have had similar ambitions and equally thought about the MHA VS MSN Leadership programs. I did a lot of research and talked to some of my managers and other leaders in the field that i know. I will break it down as follows:

If your goal is stay within the hospital setting or be leader among your peers (nurses) then MSN leadership is your route, if would like to be a CNO, you will definetly have to add the DNP Leadership degree. MSN will help you get a management position on a floor/unit. With experience over time you could become a director but that is as far is it goes.

If you would like to be the administrator or president of a hospital/clinic, then the MHA is for you, it will take you a long time to get there as you may need experience and might have to start out in a rural hospital to etch out a name for yourself. You will also need to network really well and go to a school with good name recognition, and get a good intenship.

Hope this helps and good luck to you. I am currently going MSN Management and Leadership with a year left to go.

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I chose the MSN route. If management gets too stressful and I want out, I can get a much less stressful teaching job. My goal isn't to be a president of a hospital though. I still want to have a life outside of my career. A typical senior management position is 60+ hours a week. Some directors work that much. I'm a manager and I try to limit myself to 40-45 hours a week. It's not easy though.

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I have an MSN and it has opened up many doors. I would suggest going that route. However, I agree with others...if your end game is outside nursing leadership and more into hospital administration you may look into a dual MSN/MBA.

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I know people who have gotten jobs as directors right out of school with their MSN. I don't even know necessarily that my goal would be as a CNO in the future. My friend's dad has an MHA working for McKesson and he travels all over the world teaching hospitals about the product (not a sales type job). So I think maybe the MSN would close doors on that? Not sure! Good info though! Thank you!

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It all depends on where you want to take your degree. For instance, if you want to become a DON, unit manager, Assisted Living administrator then MSN in leadership and management is perfect. Walden university has a wonderful MSN Leadership and Management program. If you want to become an Administrator of a LTC, CNO, or CEO of possibly a hospital or a big medical corporation then MHA is better for you. You will have more opportunity with a MHA but it all depends on where you want to take your degree and do with your profession.

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I am actually almost finished with my MSN degree in leadership and management. I was wondering, will this degree assist me in becoming a nurse consultant? I chose this route instead of an MHA because I wanted to still work in the nursing field and maybe teach one day. Should I choose another degree along with my MSN or will it suffice for a nurse consultant position?

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