I graduated with a BS in Neuroscience in 2016 and have been working in the biotech industry. My career is a bit boring and low-paying so I am considering working to get an Accelerated BSN and become an NP after a graduate program or getting my Master's In Healthcare Administration (MHA).
I have already applied to one accelerated BSN program. My question is, would it be advantageous to get my BSN if I want to get my MHA later on? Would having my BSN increase my earning potential if I became involved in healthcare administration?
I appreciate anyone sharing any information. I am thinking about becoming a Nurse Practitioner or a Healthcare administrator and am trying to decide.
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
I know here in SF Bay Area I make more than my primary care NP friends as a hospital RN. Our area is saturated, hard to get new grad jobs, pay is low unless you get a coveted specialist NP job. Many hospitals here don't utilize NPs so most jobs are outpatient. My friends who had other degrees and went straight to NP without any RN experience struggled.
One of my friends who works in a community health center for low income patients, many with complex medical/psychosocial needs, said she felt overwhelmed for the first 5 years. She felt she was expected to do the job of an MD with only 2 years of school/training compared to their 7+ years. This may not be everyone's experience though. I know there are areas where it's easy to get a job, and maybe the pay is better because demand is higher. But if you fear being burned out by patient contact, really think about that. For NPs the contact is often not over after you're done seeing patients. There are patient messages, forms to fill out, phone calls to be made, etc. Many patients have difficult situations that may stick with you long after the visit. I admire all you NPs out there, it looks like a hard job!
Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
On 9/26/2020 at 7:14 PM, HiddenShadow20 said:
My question is, would it be advantageous to get my BSN if I want to get my MHA later on? Would having my BSN increase my earning potential if I became involved in healthcare administration?
Personally, I would say no. There are two main types of MHA programs...the traditional MHA and the executive MHA. Traditional MHA's admit students with a variety of undergrad degrees who are interested in healthcare administration...it's typically full time study with an internship in a healthcare setting towards the end and maybe a slot as a fellow in a hospital or similar organization involved in healthcare. You are groomed to be an administrator over time and will end up getting a junior level administrator role. You must pick a good school for this.
The executive MHA's typically admit practicing healthcare professionals such as physicians and nurses who have been in the field for a while and who maybe already hold leadership positions but would like to add a business degree to solidify their role and allow them to advance higher in the ladder. If you pick this route, you'd have to go for the BSN, get some bedside experience including being a charge nurse or assume leadership nursing roles, before you can even be seriously considered. That's a long shot in my eyes.
I have never worked for any hospital or healthcare organization in which any administrator had a nursing background.
Certainly there are nurse executives, but they go the traditional nursing route of floor nursing, management and then up to the executive level. The ones I have known had MSNs.
LibraNurse27, BSN, RN
972 Posts
I know here in SF Bay Area I make more than my primary care NP friends as a hospital RN. Our area is saturated, hard to get new grad jobs, pay is low unless you get a coveted specialist NP job. Many hospitals here don't utilize NPs so most jobs are outpatient. My friends who had other degrees and went straight to NP without any RN experience struggled.
One of my friends who works in a community health center for low income patients, many with complex medical/psychosocial needs, said she felt overwhelmed for the first 5 years. She felt she was expected to do the job of an MD with only 2 years of school/training compared to their 7+ years. This may not be everyone's experience though. I know there are areas where it's easy to get a job, and maybe the pay is better because demand is higher. But if you fear being burned out by patient contact, really think about that. For NPs the contact is often not over after you're done seeing patients. There are patient messages, forms to fill out, phone calls to be made, etc. Many patients have difficult situations that may stick with you long after the visit. I admire all you NPs out there, it looks like a hard job!