Please Help! RN to BSN or RN to MSN?

[Coffeelover, BSN]

I have been an RN working bedside for 5 years and now I have a new job working as a case manager. I love my new job, I realized I love using my nursing knowledge without the hands on work. I want to go back to school ASAP. My goal is to stay away from the bedside. I'm wondering if I should get my BSN or go for the MSN. I have also considered an MBA, because I want to stay away from bedside. Is it better to just get a BSN first, and then later go for an MBA or MSN when I am sure? Or is it more cost/time effective to go straight for the masters. I also don't want to waste my money if I don't want to be in upper management right now. I don't want to be a manager but I wonder if one day I would want to be. I also would like to know good schools to go to, 100% online. Any advice is appreciated! 

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

WGU ( www.wgu.edu ) is 100% online and offers both RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN (awarding the BSN along the way) in Education,. Leadership and Management and Informatics. It is accredited and affordable, and you can begin any month of the year! (I'm a grad and work for them)

My personal take would be do the RN-to-BSN as you adjust to the new job and determine which MSN you are more interested in. You never know how the insight and experience of the new job might influence that decision. 

[Phoenix94]

If you want to go the cost effective route, go RN-to-MSN if you can. You'll save a lot of money and you usually get a BSN along the way. Researching for 100% online schools will be a good place to start. Haven't heard of any, personally but to be fair, I wanted a hybrid school. I'm sure, given our current times, that those online schools are popping up much more than before. 

However, to give yourself more time to reflect on what master's degree you want, go for the RN-to-BSN. 

Good luck!