MSN Education is it worth it? or this concentration is more about your passion?

[eliezar]

So a little background about myself, I am 23 years old graduated with my BSN from other country and currently working as an RN on med-surg floor for almost a year now. I got accepted in the University for this coming fall semester. Initially, I applied for FNP degree but they denied my application due to my lack of experience and that FNP is very new to their offered degrees. So in short, they are selective of what kind of students they are accepting. But they did offer me any concentration except FNP. So i took MSN education because teaching has always been my passion. But as most of you would say I am crazy for even thinking this degree, some would say it does not pay a whole lot and that not a lot of people respect this kind of profession. I like teaching. So it is august and I'm having a cold feet with the decision I made. Please share me your thoughts, I would gladly read them and reply if i have to. This may help my anxiety. Hehe :-) Love you all fellow nurses.

[lepew]

I did my MSN with a specialization in education. I teach in an ADN program and I love it. Yes pay is less but I get two weeks off at Christmas, one week for spring break and one week at thanksgiving. Plus holidays too. Also leave about 4 or 4:30 most days and work no nights holidays or weekends- so I would say the pay is fine! I get insurance and retirement too. I have no complaints.

So I guess I love teaching. It's so cool when your students get it.

[OCRN3]

I am a FNP and the jobs are few and far between, or the pay isn't very good for what they want me to do (like being on call 24 hrs) i recently got a job teaching VNs at a vocational private school and I got a 5 dollar raise from my floor nursing job that I do per diem. I do make more as a FNP but the work is a bit harder plus I pay for all kinds of Liability Insurance. So I would say teaching is a bit better on the wallet and less stressful. Go for the MSNed, I think it's work it.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

[Entravel]

I agree with the other posts and want to add that; I first do not think you are crazy for wanting to pursue this degree and second, I strongly disagree that people do not respect this profession. I find quite the opposite. There are a lot of various job opportunities for nurse educators, not just in academia.

I am currently getting my MSNed and am so glad I stuck with my passion, I truly enjoy going to work each and everyday!

[SGroRN87]

I have a MSN in education... for me it was a no brainer! I love teaching - that's why I went back to school. Just landed a FT tenure track position at the local community college... no summers!!! Pay is OK... I still have to work home health PRN for some spending cash.

[nicsRN]

I just got accepted into MSNedu program starting Jan 2014!!!! I am so excited. It took me quite some time to actually decide on a program. During the time I was exploring I kept paying attention to what led me to feeling like my day was satisfying. It always seemed to be around sharing information, teaching, mentoring, and helping. It became very obvious that I am passionate about teaching :) Wish me luck. Any tips from past MSNedu students or ones currently in the field are greatly appreciated.

[jacquiejj]

May I ask which program you chose? I'm doing my research now, and would love to start in Jan 2015.

[CFrancine, BSN, RN]

Look into Western Governors University. I am in the RN to BSN but after my first semester, I am changing to the RN to MSN Ed. The price is right and it's 100% online and at your own pace. Fully accredited and the school recently got recognition from the president for the competency based learning.

[poopylala, BSN, RN]

I'm just starting out with getting my BSN but my eventual goal is to get my MSNed :) good luck to you and I know money shouldn't be a major deciding factor for work but I see it as you are being compensated for hours of your life. What's the best way you could spend those hours work-wise that you'll never get back?

[DarkKnightNurse]

Theres more to having your MSNed than just teaching nursing students. you can become a nurse educator at a hospital, nurse manager, administration or director or nursing at smaller community hospitals. Many nurse managers only have their BSN so having your MSN in anything sets you ahead of the curve. You have your MSN firstly, you just concentrated it in a certain area. That doesn't mean that educating nursing students is the only thing you can do with it. I work at Kaiser Permanente in CA which is a huge chain of hospitals here. We're magnet status but still have a lot of ADNs who work the floor and mostly all the managers have their BSN. Ill be starting the MSNed program next week at Grand Canyon University online. I heard its a great program. The beautiful thing about nursing is you have a million options.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

It's possible you can take courses that would apply to both the MSN in Education as well as the FNP, in the beginning, at least. When I got my MSN, there were quite a few core courses that everyone, no matter what major they picked, had to take. Then, toward the end, we branched out into our specialties.

Check it out!

[HOPEforRNs, ADN, BSN, MSN]

I work as a nurse educator / faculty and I am about halfway through my MSN in Nursing Education. In my opinion, there is a severe lack of educators who know how to educate. Way back in the day, all nurse educators had nursing education advanced degrees. It has been a more recent trend that all faculty are APRNs for the most part. I think it is hurting our educational system. If teaching is your passion, get the degree. It matters. It helps. It is important. If you want to teach and be a APRN, take 3-4 elective courses in nursing education... enough that you qualify to sit for the CNE exam on the basis of coursework, not experience.