MSN route

[Nursemomx2]

Hey there! 
 

so I’m currently struggling to decide which MSN route to take. I could see myself doing education, leadership, and possibly NP. I can’t decide which is the best route. The only reason I’d choose NP is to retain patient care- but I’m not sure that I’d actually want to be a practitioner. 
 

any suggestions? Thanks! 

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

Did somebody tell you that you couldn't "retain patient care" (whatever that means) after graduate school that isn't NP? Wrong-o. Besides being able to keep your hand in, with nursing leadership and education creds you will be in a position to influence patient care far beyond what you can do as a staff nurse-- and, for that matter, as an NP. You could find this very satisfying.

When I got my MN (taking  leadership, research, and education classes as well as the required physiology content and other such, nominally a CV physiological nursing degree) I was in a city with a lot of MNs working bedside. I think that was one reason the quality of care was so high in many of the hospitals there. Many of us were biding our time waiting for the right other opportunities to come along (and they did), but you never really lose what you want to retain. Good luck!

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

I seem to have a problem c the "editing" feature here. Sorry for the repetition.

Did somebody tell you that you couldn't "retain patient care" (whatever that means) after graduate school that isn't NP? Wrong-o. Besides being able to keep your hand in, with nursing leadership and education creds you will be in a position to influence patient care far beyond what you can do as a staff nurse-- and, for that matter, as an NP. You could find this very satisfying.

When I got my MN (taking several electives in leadership, law and medicine, and education as well as the copious required physiology and research content and other such, nominally a CV physiological nursing degree) I was in a city with a lot of MNs working bedside. I think that was one reason the quality of care was so high in many of the hospitals there. Many of us were biding our time waiting for the right other opportunities to come along (and they did), but you never really lose what you want to retain. You can use your elective slots to good advantage so you won't feel like you're losing out on anything. Good luck!

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

You need to research jobs, salaries, benefits in all areas and locations, how wealthy are you? While a unit might have 20  nurses, they do not hire 20 NPs.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

If you seriously don't know which track interests you- WAIT until you do. Not everyone needs an MSN. Having said that- the MSN closest to clinical practice is likely Education as you can be a unit-based educator or a clinical instructor in a nursing program. 

But don't spend the time, effort, and money on an MSN until you KNOW what you want to do.