MSN vs MBA

Specialties Management

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Hello everyone,

I am currently an assistant nurse manager of an inpatient hospital unit. I have my BSN, and am ready to pursue a master's degree. An MBA in healthcare seems like a much more interesting curriculum than taking more nursing courses in an MSN program.

Is there any downside to obtaining an MBA? Will not having an MSN slow my career progression?

Thanks for your help!

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I have my BSN and am in currently in low-level management. I am currently obtaining my MBA as I felt I needed more of the business side of things in order to keep moving up in management. We have the nursing knowledge, right? When you're in management, I feel you get more of the nursing business side of things with regards to where you work, you adopt their mission, right? So, basically knowing the ins and outs of business was the way to go for me.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Road2CNO said:
We have the nursing knowledge, right? .

No, you don't. You just have entry-level nursing knowledge. I believe if you are going to try to be a nurse leader at a high level -- which includes management/administration/leadership of people in advanced roles and with graduate level nursing education -- you need to have more than just the entry-level nursing education. You should have a graduate education in nursing. My experience with "nurse" leaders with only entry level nursing education is that they are often clueless about nursing as it is taught and practiced at the higher levels.

My favorite leaders have been those with both -- some graduate level nursing education AND ALSO some education outside of nursing in field such as Healthcare Administration, Personnel Management or Business.

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llg said:
No, you don't. You just have entry-level nursing knowledge.

Well, that is an opinion, just like my post is MY opinion. The OP is asking for everyone's opinion and input. I'm NOT a brand new grad and I went back to nursing school as an adult, first earning my ADN, working the floor for several years, then going back to get my BSN which was a lot of ethics and such with regards to nursing. As I stated, you adopt the values of your current employer, so knowing how to LEAD people is the most important aspect of leadership. I am working on my 4th degree so I do not believe I have "entry-level education" nor am I clueless about nursing.

People don't come on allnurses to read people's comments that bash others, they come here for guidance and support!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Road2CNO said:
Well, that is an opinion, just like my post is MY opinion. The OP is asking for everyone's opinion and input. I'm NOT a brand new grad and I went back to nursing school as an adult, first earning my ADN, working the floor for several years, then going back to get my BSN which was a lot of ethics and such with regards to nursing. As I stated, you adopt the values of your current employer, so knowing how to LEAD people is the most important aspect of leadership. I am working on my 4th degree so I do not believe I have "entry-level education" nor am I clueless about nursing.

People don't come on allnurses to read people's comments that bash others, they come here for guidance and support!

Guidance is here in spades, but support not so much. Despite popular belief this is not a support group. It's a good place to get your questions answered and to solicit opinions, though.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
cablefree said:
Hello everyone,

I am currently an assistant nurse manager of an inpatient hospital unit. I have my BSN, and am ready to pursue a master's degree. An MBA in healthcare seems like a much more interesting curriculum than taking more nursing courses in an MSN program.

Is there any downside to obtaining an MBA? Will not having an MSN slow my career progression?

Thanks for your help!

I have an MBA, and it was fascinating. However my hospital requires an MSN for promotion into management positions. Good thing I got over that idea!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

My opinion is that a combined MSN/MBA is the way to go. When I did my MSN (2005), I was enrolled in a dual program: MSN/MBA. I dropped the MBA part because I thought it was "boring." Well, fast forward to now and I so wish I had completed the MBA too.

Nurses don't know the business aspect of healthcare. Its crucial that we pick up this knowledge so that we know our worth.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

I work at two large organizations (known nation-wide) and they allow for promotion to senior and executive leadership with ANY Master's degree and your RN license. So, my MBA is not a hindrance to my career. In fact, I have reviewed course work for an MSN and I think I would enjoy that too had I done it years ago. At this time in my career it is better for me to earn a terminal degree, rather than an MSN and the schools of interest to me do not require an MSN for a terminal degree in nursing. On the other hand, if you work for an organization such as one poster pointed out, that will not allow for promotions without an MSN, then either earn an MBA/MSN combination or only earn an MSN. GL!

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Specializes in Quality, Cardiac Stepdown, MICU.

I think it depends on the leadership track you are interested in.

If it is mostly nursing (unit director, with the eventual goal being a CNO) I would get an MSN in leadership.

I am looking for leadership positions away from the bedside, for example in quality. So I am considering a healthcare MBA.

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Is there an option for an MPH focused on leadership studies or a masters of Healthcare Administration? I am about to finish my MHA which was really interesting as it was not just nurses but allied health, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, optometrist etc who are all on the leadership track. It was eye opening to see the difference in attitudes among the craft groups. Medicine was very much "I was taught this way, I know what I am doing" allied health wanted a pathway set out for everything, very risk adverse, nursing was mostly I have a good idea what is supposed to happen, let me get started and I will use my resources and network which medicine was often lacking as they often don't know about the people such as BI, risk, QUM pharmacist even existed.

The real estate agent and lawyer who blew smoke up admissions to get into the course both tapped out early as they realised that you do actually need a health background for this masters.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, CCT-RN, Educator/Peds Clinical.

My MSHA was able prepare me & continue my DNP in Leadership and Education. Hence, preparing me into higher management and teaching role PT in both Health Care Administration and Nursing.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

OP: What did you choose to do? As you have seen in all of the above post, the degree you choose will weigh a lot on your circumstances and your career within a particular organization(s). In fact, I am updating my above post because my circumstance has changed...: 1.) My employer is throwing a lot of money at middle nursing managers and senor level nursing managers to return to school for an MSN and/or DNP. 2.) My employer is seeking magnet status within the next 2-5 years.

Thus, I am reading between the lines and taking advantage of the financial help I will receive by going back to school to earn an MSN, which means I will eventually have the MSN/MBA combo.... :) Later I will go back to school to earn an DNP or PhD, once I have decided on the type of nurse expert I wish to be in nursing leadership (I am currently a middle manager on the direct patient care side of acute care with career aspirations of senior and executive leadership of inpatient acute care departments and facilities).

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