MSN and PhD from same school?

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

If my ultimate goal is to teach nursing, how bad is it if my MSN and PhD are from the same University? My BSN is from a different one. I know traditionally "they" want all your degrees from different universities (and I have heard even different states is preferred), but I was wondering with the instructor shortage if that is changing. Would I be marketable with the MSN and PhD from the same school (and all degrees earned in Texas), or should I suck it up and get my PhD from a different place?

The PhD is a very long range goal, (like 10+ years probably), but it pays to think ahead, right?

[llg, PhD, RN]

I doubt it would be a problem in today's world -- particularly since your BSN is from a different school. They'll be more interested in the quality of your work than the particular schools you graduate from -- assuming your graduate school is respectable, of course.

[Moogie]

I'm planning to do my PhD at the same university at which I am enrolled for my master's. I have found the faculty to be very helpful in planning my long-term educational goals.

If I do a post-doc I already have a school in mind, though....

[Annieb2]

I agree that it should not be a problem receiving your MSN and PhD from the same university. As long as the university is accredited. I will be applying to the same university for my PhD where I received my MSN in Nursing.

[caliotter3]

This is the first I've ever heard about getting the higher degrees from different schools. I had always thought it just worked out that way with most people. Just goes to show what one can learn from reading AN.

[llg, PhD, RN]

This is the first I've ever heard about getting the higher degrees from different schools. I had always thought it just worked out that way with most people. Just goes to show what one can learn from reading AN.

Yes, top schools usually prefer to have a faculty composed of people who are a "mixed bunch." They don't like to hire many of their own graduates and like many different theoretical and philosophical perspectives represented within their ranks. When all the faculty comes from the same few schools, then the breadth of their school's expertise is limited. Everyone has the same biases, strengths, weaknesses, etc.

The same is true for individuals. When you get all of your education at the same institution, you are not exposed to the wide variety of perspectives that make up our profession. Your knowledge and experience is limited to what was available at that one place -- from that one set of faculty members. Schools really are different from each other. I attended 3 very different schools in 3 different areas of the country. They represent 3 vastly different cultures -- and I learned valuable lessons from each one.

[caliotter3]

Yes, top schools usually prefer to have a faculty composed of people who are a "mixed bunch." They don't like to hire many of their own graduates and like many different theoretical and philosophical perspectives represented within their ranks. When all the faculty comes from the same few schools, then the breadth of their school's expertise is limited. Everyone has the same biases, strengths, weaknesses, etc.

The same is true for individuals. When you get all of your education at the same institution, you are not exposed to the wide variety of perspectives that make up our profession. Your knowledge and experience is limited to what was available at that one place -- from that one set of faculty members. Schools really are different from each other. I attended 3 very different schools in 3 different areas of the country. They represent 3 vastly different cultures -- and I learned valuable lessons from each one.

Most likely I would never have given this a thought.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Thanks, everyone, for the input. I think it will be ok, especially since nursing instructors are hard to come by. I am avoiding the school where I received my BSN, only because I want to teach there and I noticed that all of the current faculty have their graduate degrees from other schools.

[marachne]

I think things are changing -- thinking about my own institution, just off the top of my head, there is:

1. A faculty member who was made full professor and more recently FAAN, has several RO1s and both recieved her MS and PhD from this institution where she is now.
   
2. Another faculty member who recieved both MS and PhD from this institution, went and taught somewhere else for a while, returned, recieved tenure and is the director of a very well funded center.*
   

Is it ideal? I don't think so for several of the reasons cited. Is it done? Probably a lot more than you might expect. One of the things that is recognized is work/life balance. Just like people are doing distance post-docs and there is more difficulty filling mid-career vacancies, the reality is that there is a growing pool of people who are either not as able or as willing to relocate for their career.

*and yes, I realize this is not an adequate or necessarily representative sample, I am just pointing out that it can be done and one can not only be hired but successful.

[Moogie]

It's funny but I was having a conversation with one of my profs about this the other day. She works at the same institution at which she did all her education, from undergraduate through doctorate. It isn't the norm for most people but has worked nicely for her career. BTW, she's an awesome educator!