nursing student seeking career advice...BSN?

[nursestudent11]

Hello -

I am currently a nursing student who wants to someday get into nurse management/administration. I am enrolled in a 2 yr RN right now and have already gotten 2 business degrees - A bachelors in Business and a Masters in Bus. Administration. My question is, being that I want to get into nurse mngmt....is it necessary that I get a BSN even though I already have the bachelors and masters in business? my bosses have said that the business degrees would be enough to help me advance...but i'm not so sure...just looking for additional input. thank you much! :)

[llg, PhD, RN]

You can probably get some nursing management jobs, but not others without a BSN. Without a BSN, your advancement opportunities will be limited, but you will have some opportunities.

The bottom line is that as you try to go up the NURSING career ladder, your expertise and education in NURSING is relevant. Nurses that value NURSING expertise will question your credentials to be a NURSING leader -- even those employers looking primarily for MANAGEMENT expertise will not care so much about your nursing foundation.

Hospitals going for Magnet status will be much more interested in you if you have at least a Bachelor's Degree in nursing. In fact, one of the requirement for Magnet status is the the Chief Nursing Officer has at least a BSN. They also prefer that all upper level managers have at least a BSN -- with other degrees being OK as additional education.

Bottom line: You will find some opportunities for advancement without a BSN -- but more opportunities with a BSN. You will find people who have succeeded in rising to high level positions without a BSN, but the trend is to require at least a BSN. So, if you choose not to get a nursing education beyond the basic entry-level, be prepared to face some limitations.

[JStyles1]

i think for a hospital to receive magnet status managerial positions must hold a bsn