MSN as Minimum Requirement for RN's

#1rnstudent · Jul 26, 2004

You have got to be kidding! A freakin' Master's degree to become an entry-level RN? That is insane, time-wise and money-wise! It's bad enough in Canada, where most provinces want honours degrees for entry-level RNs nowadays. I would have been much happier getting my RN in 3 yrs at college prices instead of 4 yrs at university prices.

fergus51 · Jul 26, 2004

It's just a BSN minimum in some Canadian provinces. That was work enough, the idea of MSN as entry to practice is just nuts.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2004

Right now we have a shortage. With that kind of a requirement, bedside nurses would be virtually non-existent.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 26, 2004

I"ve been a nurse for awhile and don't see even the BSN in the US being the minimum level for a long time. The shortage is just too acute.

healinghand · Jul 27, 2004

Some Nursing MSN programs require that RN should have a Bachelors in any other field.This program offers a 15-20 credit bridge program and then RNs can directly enrol for MSN

Cool Huh!

You will feel little better if you got your Bachelors in some other field.

NJ has UMDNJ,Seton Hall and Kean University,New Jersey Colege of Nursing etc offering MSN under the same guidelines. :wink2:

Good luck

meandragonbrett · Jul 27, 2004

if an MSN were made the minimum to be an entry level postion, you would have to change the requirements of APRNs. The push has been for the BSN to be the minimum degree required. I seriously doubt it will ever take place in my days. Doing so, would cause hundreds of nursing programs (Community College and hospital based) to shut down. This would make the shortage a larger issue than it already is. Just my thoughts.

All_Smiles_RN · Jul 27, 2004

Hi there,
I am a current nursing student in an accelerated 2nd degree program in NYC and am looking for information and/or opinions about a discussion that has been going on for MANY years -- The minimum requirement for RN's to be a master's level education.
Thanks for your help.

Are you sure it wasn't about the minimum being a BSN?

...Jennifer...

LRoberts · Jul 28, 2004

Bsn as minimum was discussed in the 60's (and still is) by the ANA, in the 80's they began discussing Msn as minimun -- my mother was on one of the boards of nursing that was doing the discussing.

Are you sure it wasn't about the minimum being a BSN?
...Jennifer...

LRoberts · Jul 28, 2004

I am one of those who has a BA in another field (sociology/anthropology) and am about to complete my first semester of the accelerated degree program, which I mentioned in my post) at Columbia University in NYC. We get a BSN in 15 months (no breaks) as well as 700 hours of clinical experience. Next fall (2005) we'll go directly into the MSN portion, my NP specialty will be "Family".

Some Nursing MSN programs require that RN should have a Bachelors in any other field.This program offers a 15-20 credit bridge program and then RNs can directly enrol for MSN
Cool Huh!
You will feel little better if you got your Bachelors in some other field.
NJ has UMDNJ,Seton Hall and Kean University,New Jersey Colege of Nursing etc offering MSN under the same guidelines. :wink2:
Good luck

Altra, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2004

Hi LRoberts,

A couple of questions came to mind as I read your posts ... do you think that the question of whether or not an MSN should be the entry-level for RNs can be meaningfully discussed when currently, in all 50 states, not even a BSN is required? I understand the BSN discussion has been going on since at least the 60s; however, discussions and position papers from the ANA don't necessarily have anything to do with the current state of, or future trends in, the healthcare industry.

Also -- I've been curious about Accelerated BSN/MSN programs for those who already hold a degree in another field. Your post was the first time I've seen a reference to the amount of clinical time that gets squeezed in to these accelerated programs. Before enrolling, did you consider another route, and if so, how did the reduced # of clinical hours (700 hours in your program vs. > 1900 at my school, just for one example) factor into your decision?