New BSN graduate to immediately try and get an MSN in Leadership?

[learningnsgstudent]

So, basically, I'm in my last semester of nursing school for my BSN. My school offers a scholarship and waives the masters fee application if we apply for graduate school within a certain amount of time.

Graduate school is definitely something I've always wanted to do and with all this happening, I'm definitely considering taking advantage of this. I was thinking, I would work part-time as a new nurse (ideally) on a MS floor, as well as go to school part time to continue to get my MSN.

So, my question is, do you think this is a good idea? I don't really have any experience in the health care field, but I definitely don't want to stop furthering my education. I definitely feel like I could handle all this, if I do it part-time. But I don't really know much, so lots of advice and guidance would be nice!

Thank you!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Leaders need to have experience. Elsewise, who would want to followthem? And while the lure of a scholarship is powerful, you would probably be better served by spending a couple of years learning to be a nurse and THEN - if you see leadership as an area you'd like to pursue, then go after that MSN.

Congrats on the BSN!

[tljames]

I say go for it! The scholarship is too good to pass up. The experience will come. You can work while you're in school to get some experience. You can also work as a RN until you're ready to move into a leadership role.

There are lots of people that graduate and go directly into leadership roles. Nursing isn't any different.

[woofyrn]

There are near-legendary arguments on these boards about the wisdom of going back to school for your graduate degree without getting experience as an RN.

Basically, what you're wanting to do is nothing that hundreds of others applying for the Masters Entry Programs at several well-respected schools aren't doing (Google it). The only difference is that you'll have your BSN, and others will have a Bachelor's degree in another field and an RN license -- then continue straight away into the two-year Masters portion.

Since many of these programs are eye-poppingly expensive in that first hectic year where those students are taking ALL their clinicals that you've tucked under your belt already (at UC-San Francisco, that first year is around $55,000!), it probably would be financially beneficial to you to continue (assuming that's your goal, and you're already in a "studying for school" frame of mind). Especially since they're providing some sort of scholarship.

The only red flag I could see is to be certain that you'd be able to attend classes/study and work all at the same time. It's difficult enough being a student, but it's a WHOLE other creature to be a new staff nurse and trying to not kill your patients while learning about advanced nursing theories, etc, etc. in grad school.

Would you be able to devote enough time to work and school without short-changing either one?

Only you can answer those questions about yourself.