RN-BSN or RN-MSN?

[c27_AEMT, BSN, EMT-I]

Hello all:

I am trying to decide what route to take regarding further education. I am a new grad in the university hospital setting and we have been told we need to get our BSN within a 5 years.

I have no problem doing this and am all for it, but I have a previous Bachelor's degree and was considering an MSN program to sort of cut out the middleman since basically all my requirements outside of nursing transfer.

I don't want to become a nurse practitioner right now but it's a possibility for the future. I did see that some schools like UMKC in Kansas City, Missouri have a post-graduate program that lets you add a specialty to a previously completed nurse practitioner MSN or to get a first specialty for a non nurse practitioner MSN. Has anyone else ever been in this position? Any thoughts? Advice? Money isn't really an issue (to some extent) because where I am, we get tuition through the school and I also have the GI bill.

I could be done with my BSN December 2018 because the program at University of Alabama in Birmingham has an accelerated portion that is covered with my previous degree. Essentially, I would just need the extra nursing classes. Any help would be great.

Thanks in advance!!!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Do the BSN first. You never know what life will throw your way. You REALLY don't save much by enrolling in RN-to-MSN (and I say that as someone whose school offers such a program)

[c27_AEMT, BSN, EMT-I]

Thanks! That's what I have been leaning toward, especially since I have no real desire to begin a MSN program right away. I just didn't want to pick the wrong degree to continue my nursing education.