12 Month BSN or 15 Month MSN?

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Question: I'm trying to figure out if I should to to school for 12 months to get a BSN or for 15 months to get an MSN?

I already have a non-related BS so the BSN would be a post-baccalaureate degree, and the MSN would be a Masters Entry into the Profession of Nursing (MEPN).

Other info: The BSN would be at Arizona State University, and the MSN would be at University of Arizona. I don't have solid figures for costs for either program. Prerequisite classes are essentially the same for both, and I am finishing them up now.

As I nurse I am still not firm on what direction I'd like to go. I could most easliy see myself in ER, or ICU, or working with kids. I am motivated by making more money than less, a more meaningful job than less, and lower rather than higher stress, and flexibility of workload so I can spend time with my wife and two small children. If I go the BSN route, I will probably want to get a further degree later on, so that I can go into administration or make more money.

My prior healthcare experience is from working as a Spanish interpreter in the ER, hospital floor, and for a children's hospital.

(This is my first post so any advice is especially appreciated! Thanks in advance!)

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Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

I'm not sure, I think if it was me, and I was able to get my MSN only 3mo longer than the BSN I'd probably do that route. Is there any specialization with the MSN?

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Specializes in Psychiatric, Spinal Cord Injury.

I agree with Tasha, if the costs per credit hour are close I would get the MSN. Even if you decide to go the NP route or need more credentials you could obtain a post-master certificate.

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I looked at this a while back and it doesn't seem like this is a true masters degree. MSN is the masters of nursing and I'm not quite sure what - "Masters Entry into the Profession of Nursing (MEPN)" is?

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Thanks for the advice! No, no specialization to the MSN.

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That's a great point! I am trying to figure out for sure what the degree would be. A quick Google search suggests that MEPN programs produce NP's, and take 2-3 years. If this one does it in 15 months it's either really a great deal or there is some catch I have not figured out.

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Specializes in Emergency.

What are your future goals? I know you said you aren't sure, but do you have any particular interests? Do you think you would want to be a NP at some point in time? Administration? Education? There are several different paths that MSN's provide. The MSN program you are considering, does it have a specialty? Does that specialty interest you? Cost & effort, are they same/similar?

I would double check this, but typically going from one MSN to another is less work than going from a BSN to your first MSN, so all things being equal if that is the case with this MSN, and you ever wanted to get another MSN (in education, administration, NP, whatever) it would probably be to your advantage to put in the extra three months and get the MSN. If this degree does not help you towards that in the future, and it costs more in either funds or effort, then I would question what it's additional value would be.

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zmansc, I AM interested in advancing later on, to teaching, administration, NP (or PA?), so from your comment it sounds like it would make more sense for me to try for the MEPN rather than the BSN

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I don't get these MEPN and graduate entry programs. It seems they use ONE pathphysiology course, ONE pharmacology course, etc to fulfill the requirements for both an undergraduate and graduate nursing degree.

How can undergraduate courses fulfill graduate requirements?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Honestly, it depends on what you want to do. Do you want to provide daily bedside care, give medications and treatments and be there with your patients during the entire shift? It's a great opportunity for interpersonal connection and can pay very well for working 3-4 days per week. This would be your BSN route.

Alternatively, your MSN would allow you to be a Nurse Practitioner (NP) which means diagnosing patients, providing prescriptions and treatment plans, and directing care. If you work in a hospital it's likely going to be shift work (again, 3-4 shifts per week, 12 hours per shift like an RN). You could also work in primary care, working perhaps 8-6 every day during the week. There are so many options out there and each is good for a different type of person with different life/family/career goals.

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Specializes in Mental Health.
I don't get these MEPN and graduate entry programs. It seems they use ONE pathphysiology course, ONE pharmacology course, etc to fulfill the requirements for both an undergraduate and graduate nursing degree.

How can undergraduate courses fulfill graduate requirements?

This is not an NP degree. There are MSN programs out there that basically leave you at the same level as an RN but with a Masters. It's called a generalist degree, same as CNL Clinical Nurse Leader degrees. IMO it's no better than a BSN and if you can get into a cheaper/shorter BSN then do that.

That's a great point! I am trying to figure out for sure what the degree would be. A quick Google search suggests that MEPN programs produce NP's, and take 2-3 years. If this one does it in 15 months it's either really a great deal or there is some catch I have not figured out.

You need to do more research about this. The program you are talking about does not produce NPs. Read their website carefully. Nowhere is Nurse Practitioner even mentioned. You will end up working as an RN with this degree. These kinds of programs are just ways for schools to make cash from older students looking into nursing.

http://www.nursing.arizona.edu/MEPNApply.htm

So whether you choose this MEPN program or the BSN, you will come out working as an RN. So choose the cheapest/quickest route if that is your goal.

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The entry level masters programs are all the rage now. It is basically the accelerated bachelors but you get a generalist MSN. Johns Hopkins just announced that they are discontinuing their accelerated bachelors and it is all entry level MSN now. There are a lot of administrative positions that require an MSN so it seems the way to go if you want more options for your future. I would have done it if it was available when I was starting out.

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