Non NP MSN types

Specialties Advanced

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I was hoping you guys could help me decide about which MSN to get.

I want to do leadership/administration. I got into a college that is not in my state (MY GPA is 2.66 ) The tuition is going to be 25k total.

SOO I started looking in my state and found a couple colleges that have tuition 7-10k totals.

Problem is they don't have leadership. They have CNS, or education as their tracts.

So does it really matter what you specialize in with you MSN, just as long as you have one? Like I could just use the education one for my an administrative position? I read the description of CNS/CNL and it seems to be a bedside one with some research on best practices.

I am so confused on all of it.

I thought I had it all figured out, until I paid attention to tuition price and it was outrageous... sooo trying to look into other things but my GPA isn't that strong so I'm wondering if I should just stick to what I have since I got in.

Thanks for all your help. I searched the boards many times but couldn't find this type of question.

Once you fulfill basic requirements, most leadership positions are not offered on merit. They are offered due to networking, mentorship, experience and likeability. They are also the most fickle and hard to hang on to. If you cannot meet the baseline monetary goals, or quality measures, you are out in a flash.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

I have a MSN/CNL. I have had decades of experience as a RN.

In my experience, the CNL is very versatile. I was able to articulate my CNL degree into a full time nursing faculty position at a college for RN students, and the ink had barely dried on my graduation certificate.

Others in my graduation cohort have gone on to fill many varied positions. The CNL is a clinical-based advanced nursing degree, and does not pigeon-hole you into any certain area. A CNS is an advanced practice nurse - a specialist - and is very, very good at the area that is chosen as a specialty focus.

If you want to have options, I would recommend the CNL.

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Specializes in Float Pool - A Little Bit of Everything.

Take a look at the AACN Nine Essentials and that will help you with this decision. AACN accredited programs follow these essentials. Some of the nine essentials apply more to different tracks, but they all have skills that all MSN tracks pull from. I think it is important to focus on a track that is applicable to your future, as it prepares you the best. But I do know some MSN nurses who did education and work as administrators.

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I am somewhat conflicted and not sure where to go next either. I finished my dual degree MSN/MBA,but now it seems that it would help me if I had my NP, but I really wanted to move more to executive leadership. I am not headed in more of a leadership direction, but not clinically and I have heard that it is important to get experience in operational leadership, like nurse manager...UGH! I thought I had it all figured out, but I am not sure that I do and sometimes feel like I wasted my time doing what I thought was the best thing. :-(

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