MSN or DNP? Thinking about next step.

[NurseMike911]

So... I have my BSN and I am trying to decide on my next educational step. Looking to get some opinions. I have the option of Pershing my MSN in nursing education, or going into a BSN to DNP program (no MSN) awarded. The DNP has a focus on leadership and Healthcare administration, which I am fine with. Just wondering, if I a,m jot doing an NP degree, do I really need the MSN, or do I just go for the DNP? Thoughts?

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

So, you're asking about three different specializations and two different degrees. You have the option to pursue various specializations in nursing by attending graduate school.

Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership/Healthcare Administration, and Nurse Practitioner are three fields independent of each other. You pick one or the other and that becomes your specialty. You can not be a Nurse Practitioner by completing a graduate program in Nursing Education and the same can be said of the Leadership and Administration specialty. You, however, can finish a degree in one field and attend another later if you want to specialize in more than one field.

MS/MSN and DNP are degrees. There are MS/MSN and DNP degrees that lead to either Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education, or Leadership/Administration. At this point, the choice of attending a DNP vs MS/MSN is up to you - currently, there is no requirement that you must have one over the other. Think of it as similar to the associate's vs bachelor's nursing degree both leading to RN licensure.