OK, one more time...Masters in Education???

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Considering a Masters in Nursing Education. But a very well-educated colleague suggested CNS instead since ultimately I just want to stay in a clinical environment and not be too far from the bedside. I want to go whichever route will give me the most options and is the least limiting. What are some of the ways I can use a MSN-E? Should I be considering something else??? What do you use yours for??

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No, get a clinical masters or administrative masters, that way you have more extensive nursing knowledge to share. The education masters focuses on teaching, which leaves you with undergraduate-level nursing content knowledge. You can add on a certificate in nursing education if you want, or just self-study curriculum building, outcome evaluation, adult learning theory, etc. This also leaves the door open to more career paths down the road. (And it's not a knock on nurse educators. I've worked in education for years in both staff development and academia.)

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Specializes in Cardiology.

Id go CNS or administrative route. Education leads you to either teaching in a school or "teaching" in a hospital and TBH the nurses in the education department at my hospital are so far removed from reality its comical.

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I'd read through the CNS forums. There are several very experienced CNSs on this site (including some AllNurses guides/admins) who highly, vocally recommend not getting a CNS for several reasons which they describe in great detail on the CNS discussion boards.

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Agree with the above comments. I have the MSN-Education and I worked in Nsg Education in acute & LTC, and taught at a community college. I have been able to bring teaching to the bedside, especially with things like special equipment (chest tubes, trach care, etc) but I am not responsible for patient care, except for supervising students during clinicals.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I use mine for teaching. The utility of any MSN is going to vary by area or region.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I have my MSN in education. I work in acute care. 6 figure salary. Specialize inpatient education and population health for the underserved with a focus on literacy. I am pretty fulfilled.

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