MSN Nursing Education - Worth it?

[HOPEforRNs]

Hi! I have been a RN for almost 2 years and I recently got an amazing job opportunity. My previous BSN instructor recommended me for a departmental opening - a faculty position in the skills and simulation lab at a ranked BSN program. So far I love the job. I love teaching. It is the first time I have ever had fun at work. I am still floored that I got this position with only my BSN. I have recently been accepted to a MSN in Nursing Education program at Walden University. What I'm trying to figure out - is it worth it? I know I need a masters degree to teach my own classroom based class (a long term goal) but is that the best route to go? I would eventually like to get my DNP as teaching + direct patient care / clinical based research is something that interests me. Am I making the best decision going this route? Or am I better off waiting to do a NP Program to then get the DNP to teach at the masters level? Any thoughts on my best route would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[coucoubie]

Hello, am a first year masters student in Nursing Education. i have a research topic in mind, con some one help edit the topic for me?

Topic: - Nursing students experiences of the clinical environment.

- community's perception about leprosy and its cure

[V.Jones BSN RN]

I am on this thread because I want to become a PMHNP. However, my VA is only paying for leadership and education MSNs. I figured I can do the MSN in Edu and go back and pay ou of pocket (or get a loan) for my post master's certificate to become a PMHNP. I had already chose Frontier University as my PMHNP school... Now I'm looking for a short program (1 year or less) for the MSN in Edu. I will say I am interested in teaching and precepting is my thing. So I'm not just jumping on this bandwagon without my heart in it. I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing. With this covid mess we need more nursing instructors. We also need me tal health providers. I'm sure I can do both. With all that said I also, by 50, hope to attain my DNP.

[HOPEforRNs, ADN, BSN, MSN]

5 hours ago, V.Jones BSN RN said:

I am on this thread because I want to become a PMHNP. However, my VA is only paying for leadership and education MSNs. I figured I can do the MSN in Edu and go back and pay ou of pocket (or get a loan) for my post master's certificate to become a PMHNP. I had already chose Frontier University as my PMHNP school... Now I'm looking for a short program (1 year or less) for the MSN in Edu. I will say I am interested in teaching and precepting is my thing. So I'm not just jumping on this bandwagon without my heart in it. I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing. With this covid mess we need more nursing instructors. We also need me tal health providers. I'm sure I can do both. With all that said I also, by 50, hope to attain my DNP.

I am not sure any quality program will award you a MSN in only 1 year. Most programs are 1.5 - 2 years long. Also, to do a post master's program at Frontier University, your master's degree has to be in a field that makes you an APRN so a master's in nursing education or nursing leadership will not qualify. You may be able to get some transfer credit but would have to do the traditional MSN route at Frontier still. Also, post master's programs do not qualify for federal financial aid since they do not lead to a degree. I would recommend looking at the University of Cincinnati as I believe you can do a post master's PMHNP with a MSN in nursing education.

And yes - you are right. The entire nursing shortage is because there is a massive nursing faculty shortage that is about to get a lot worse! 

[londonflo]

On 5/3/2015 at 4:44 PM, tjsmsn said:

I don't think it is worth getting an MSN in nursing education, me and my friend graduated last year and still are working on the floor as med surg nurses. The colleges only want to hire you if you have a PhD.

Let's just start off with.. Your friend and you  (or rather as you put it 'me and my friend')  are eligible for employment teaching nursing at a community college.

 

10 hours ago, V.Jones BSN RN said:

However, my VA is only paying for leadership and education MSNs. I figured I can do the MSN in Edu and go back and pay ou of pocket (or get a loan) for my post master's certificate to become a PMHNP.

Maybe leadership and education MSNs are what your employer needs (the one paying the tuition, remember them?)

10 hours ago, V.Jones BSN RN said:

Now I'm looking for a short program (1 year or less) for the MSN in Edu. I will say I am interested in teaching and precepting is my thing.

And do you have no qualms for the 'bait and switch'?  What about your classmates who will be learning WITH you and have projects WITH you?

4 hours ago, HOPEforRNs said:

The entire nursing shortage is because there is a massive nursing faculty shortage that is about to get a lot worse! 

So true!

 

On 12/1/2014 at 1:58 AM, passionflower said:

There are many topics we are not experienced in as nurses or NPs: curriculum development, testing and assessment, systemic evaluation, accreditation, etc. Those are topics that you will not be educated on in an NP Program, but you will need to understand in order to be a successful faculty member.

I have worked with NPs who cannot find an NP job and turned to education. Most did not get tenure because they did not understand the underpinings of nursing education and were NO HELP when accreditation time came.

 

[V.Jones BSN RN]

Londonflo,

I'm  sure your comments were only meant as educational and uplifting to nurses who are trying not only to further their education, but educate the next wave of nurses amid this covid mess. 

Thank you.

[tjsmsn, MSN]

I would never go back for nursing education. I completed my MSN  in nursing education7 years ago and the colleges only want to hire doctorate prepared nurses for full time nursing positions. I currently work in an ambulatory surgical unit and as a clinical instructor that I love. I just wish the college I went to would have been more up front about the job opportunities. I have applied at several colleges but no one wants an MSN in nursing education unless you want to work as a clinical teacher but there are no full time clinical nursing teaching positions you would have to work at several different colleges to make full time hours and then there are no benefits. I should have gone for NP because you can work as an NP and still teach. 

[londonflo]

1 hour ago, tjsmsn said:

I currently work in an ambulatory surgical unit and as a clinical instructor that I love.

Sounds like you have found your niche.

1 hour ago, tjsmsn said:

I have applied at several colleges but no one wants an MSN in nursing education unless you want to work as a clinical teacher but there are no full time clinical nursing teaching positions

This is totally dependent on the area of the country and if you will work at community college versus university, and even then, many universities hire MSN-prepared faculty. 

At the last place I taught we always got applications where the MSN prepared nurse wanted to teach theory on-line. The applicant did not want to move. That is not an easy position to get as each college/university has their own learning management system and does not hire freelancers. Prehaps this is different in other disciplines but not at the colleges I am familiar with. I have suggested here before that MSN-prepared nurses can get their foot in the door teaching Health or Medical Terminology courses but be aware that colleges do not pay for preparation time.

[kfynn589]

Congrats on the new job! I would say whether or not the education specialty is "worth it" is very individual.

I was deciding between NP vs ED. I tried out teaching adjunct and new that is where my passion is. I pursued my MSN in education and am so glad I did! I will say I know way more about "the art of teaching" than my peers who did not do this route (including my course coordinator who has been doing this for 15 years). If teaching is what you want to do then go the education route!! There is way more to teaching than people realize until they actually study it. Learning theories, exam analysis, creating exams, teaching to many types of learnings, teaching strategies, Blooms, etc. Also, many schools will require instructors who do not have their MSN in ED to then get a certificate in teaching anyways. It also makes the candidate stronger. I know if it were me and I had someone who was a NP vs Education focus apply for a job I would choose the ED focus (and have seen this decision made first hand).

Now... if you think teaching is great but not your forever thing then many you shouldn't specialize in education. Like I said - it is very personal! I know that I want to teach (in some way) for the remainder of my career. I will pursue an EdD going forward!

On a side note - not all programs are created equal! I do not know much about Walden's. I do know I did mine online at Rivier University and the program was OUTSTANDING! Just a thought..

 

[HOPEforRNs, ADN, BSN, MSN]

1 minute ago, kfynn589 said:

Congrats on the new job! I would say whether or not the education specialty is "worth it" is very individual.

I was deciding between NP vs ED. I tried out teaching adjunct and new that is where my passion is. I pursued my MSN in education and am so glad I did! I will say I know way more about "the art of teaching" than my peers who did not do this route (including my course coordinator who has been doing this for 15 years). If teaching is what you want to do then go the education route!! There is way more to teaching than people realize until they actually study it. Learning theories, exam analysis, creating exams, teaching to many types of learnings, teaching strategies, Blooms, etc. Also, many schools will require instructors who do not have their MSN in ED to then get a certificate in teaching anyways. It also makes the candidate stronger. I know if it were me and I had someone who was a NP vs Education focus apply for a job I would choose the ED focus (and have seen this decision made first hand).

Now... if you think teaching is great but not your forever thing then many you shouldn't specialize in education. Like I said - it is very personal! I know that I want to teach (in some way) for the remainder of my career. I will pursue an EdD going forward!

On a side note - not all programs are created equal! I do not know much about Walden's. I do know I did mine online at Rivier University and the program was OUTSTANDING! Just a thought..

 

Great advice in this post. You can always add an educator certificate to an APRN master's degree if you want both. I knew I had no desire to be a NP. 

I am getting my EdD currently - I love it. Great choice!

And I agree not all programs are created equal. The for profit schools are diploma mills out to make a profit. I would avoid them. Go to a reputable school.

[kirtland]

On 11/21/2014 at 10:51 PM, JBudd said:

 

As for faculty, there are huge areas that I wasn't really aware of before taking the curriculum, policy and procedures, clinical ED courses. If you want to be in classroom, you will also be expected to help with accreditation, meeting criteria for developing curriculum, etc. with the rest of the faculty. Shoot, just learning to write good test questions, and how to present concepts, setting academic goals and fitting it into the overall curriculum/nursing program are classes by themselves; and in my opinion quite worth it.

 

Hi JBudd - may I ask where you completed your MSN-ED?  Thank you.

On 2/26/2021 at 8:17 PM, kfynn589 said:

 

I was deciding between NP vs ED. I tried out teaching adjunct and new that is where my passion is. I pursued my MSN in education and am so glad I did! I will say I know way more about "the art of teaching" than my peers who did not do this route (including my course coordinator who has been doing this for 15 years). If teaching is what you want to do then go the education route!! There is way more to teaching than people realize until they actually study it. Learning theories, exam analysis, creating exams, teaching to many types of learnings, teaching strategies, Blooms, etc. Also, many schools will require instructors who do not have their MSN in ED to then get a certificate in teaching anyways. It also makes the candidate stronger. I know if it were me and I had someone who was a NP vs Education focus apply for a job I would choose the ED focus (and have seen this decision made first hand).

 

 

Hi kfynn.  Did you find that finding an MSN-ED teaching job was challenging?  I'm nervous to pursue this degree if there aren't jobs. 

[HOPEforRNs, ADN, BSN, MSN]

22 minutes ago, kirtland said:

Hi JBudd - may I ask where you completed your MSN-ED?  Thank you.

Hi kfynn.  Did you find that finding an MSN-ED teaching job was challenging?  I'm nervous to pursue this degree if there aren't jobs. 

There is a huge nursing faculty shortage. This is directly correlated with the nursing shortage. So many qualified applicants are turned away every year. However, keep in mind that if you teach in a BSN program or above you will need a doctorate. But a MSN is the first step. Most our hires are in a BSN-DNP program and work as TAs and get hired on after they graduate. 

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

On 1/3/2021 at 4:25 PM, tjsmsn said:

I would never go back for nursing education. I completed my MSN  in nursing education7 years ago and the colleges only want to hire doctorate prepared nurses for full time nursing positions. I currently work in an ambulatory surgical unit and as a clinical instructor that I love. I just wish the college I went to would have been more up front about the job opportunities. I have applied at several colleges but no one wants an MSN in nursing education unless you want to work as a clinical teacher but there are no full time clinical nursing teaching positions you would have to work at several different colleges to make full time hours and then there are no benefits. I should have gone for NP because you can work as an NP and still teach. 

There are plenty of job opportunities in nursing education that are not in academia.  I considered an MSN decades ago to teach, but even back then I knew that I would never get a professorship without the doctorate.