I received the MN degree in 1975 (almost 35 years ago!) from a University that has always been considered one of the top Nursing Schools in the nation. Believe me, there was a strong research component and a written thesis...the research had to actually be carried out and had to be publishable. The course work was rigorous and demanding. I went on to teach Nursing and fulfill many diverse roles within Nursing. As for the difference between the MN and MSN...Yes, it is an "older" degree but a well recognized one, and the difference in the course work varied slightly from institution to institution. Some Nursing leaders, at the time, considered the MN a "clinically based" degree, while the MSN was considered a "theoretically based" degree...as for me, I believe the difference lies within the individual and what they do to advance and improve the care our patients receive!