Staff Nurse with a MS Nursing degree?

[NICU<3RN]

I am wondering if nurses with MSN degrees are hired into staff nurse positions. I am a current RN from a graduate entry (GEP) program (direct entry -- I had a previous Bachelors degree). I have had a very hard time finding a job in a hospital or in a unit I am interested in due to the fact that I do not have a bachelors IN nursing, even though my classes were taken at the Master's degree level. I do not have a Master's degree yet, but will in 2 years as a Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Currently I am working as a psychiatric nurse in a non-hospital setting but have ALWAYS dreamed of being a NICU nurse. I will be graduating with my neonatal CNS in 2 years. However, I do not want to start working as a CNS immediately because it truly is my dream to be a NICU nurse for at least 5-10 years (or more!). Do you think a hospital would consider hiring me into a staff RN position with a Masters degree?

I truly wish I had chosen to do the bachelors degree program instead of the masters degree program.. because then I would be able to get a NICU job now and not have to worry about this.. I thought that it would look "better" to have this higher level education in order to get a job.. but hospital policies have become very stringent in the past year (where I live) and now ONLY take BSN students..

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

I am a staff nurse with a MSN. I too went the direct entry route. I had no problem getting hired (after I had my son of course. New grad + pregnancy did not make me a favorable candidate). All my classmates have been hired as well and all are working the floor currently. I made no point to downplay my lack of experience when interviewing and how my main objective is to gain that necessary bedside experience. I think if you do the same, then there really shouldn't be a problem. IMO the whole person should be considered, and not necessarily what is on paper. On paper, my degree makes me seem overqualified, but my experience does not. The latter should be considered more heavily IMO.

I had a very similar experience to the above (minus the baby-having part; I'm out of that business these days.). Unlike OP, though, I am not an advanced practice nurse. I graduated with an MSN but in clinical nursing (CNL). I had no problem finding a job as a new grad, nor did the majority of my class. I work as a staff nurse right now and am still deciding how I want to utilize my MSN.

I have a CNL degree too. I will use my degree later, after the appropriate experience under my belt. I actually like QI and leadership, but I think at some point, after I am done having kids and they are all in school, I may go back for my NP.

[NICU<3RN]

Thank you for your replies everyone.. I am glad to hear that there ARE staff RN's with MSN degree's regardless of whether is sucks because of the malpractice stuff.

To those that asked NCNS does NOT require any experience before beginning (or graduating) the program. The amount of clinical experience in the program is considered sufficient (according to the school). I unfortunately could not do a NNP program and the school does not offer it as a direct entry specialty. The reason I have chosen this route is not because I am stupid, unresearched, or whatever.. it is because that is how the program is. Two years ago I applied to this program and when applying to the RN portion I had to choose a specialty from the list they offer, in which I chose NCNS. How that I have completed the RN portion (with no BSN degree awarded) I must begin on the NCNS portion this fall.

It is quite unfortunate that the school will not award us a BSN degree. Because our classes are at a master's level there is also no way to "transfer down" the credits to another program because you can't transfer MS level classes to BS level. When I went to this program all hospitals in my area hired any kind of nurses and it has only been after I had been in the program that the push to BSN only has begun (mostly in Magnet or Magnet seeking hospitals). It is highly unfortunate, especially when my area is highly saturated with new nurses to begin with... and I DO have a Bachelor's degree.. just not IN nursing. Though equivalent, hospital rigid policy prevents the hiring of me or my classmates. Had I known about that change I would have attended a BSN program instead.. but, I was told by school admin that this was better, would get me a job faster, etc..

I am absolutely not implying that I want to work as a NCNS immediately after graduating from school in 2 years.. I do, in fact, want to work as a NICU RN first for quite a period of time. I just wanted to know if anyone would ever hire me into a NICU position with a MS degree. I did voice my concerns about not being able to get a NICU job to the administrators at my school and they are very un-concerned. Perhaps this is now a new issue because of the not hiring our program thing. I don't know. But they said you don't need to have work experience in NICU to graduate.. I do not agree with it.. and I WANT to work in NICU now. I have applied to EVERY NICU in the STATE (seriously).. and have not gotten a call back from any. I can not leave the state because of school and my husband's job (his work license is only valid in IL as there is no national license for his job) A classmate did get an interview in a NICU and was turned down because of our non-BSN.. is is incredibly frustrating.

Unfortunately, my school screwed me (and my classmates) royally. Now I can only hope for the best..

hopefully I answered everyone's questions..

[Old.Timer]

I don't know this as fact, perhaps someone else does. I recall reading somewhere that the direct entry to MSN was all about funding/grants to the schools/students. Funds were available if providing/receiving a higher degree than student currently held but not for another same level degree, i.e. another bachelor degree, even if defferent subject area.

If so, I believe it is indeed schools scamming students. Programs were created with a priority of meeting funding criteria to increase profits, not with educational needs in mind. Seriously, who can market a program offering NCNS to someone without any prior nursing education or experience, let alone NICU, with a straight face. They are laughing all the way to the bank.

As others have said to OP, I am sorry for your experience and I don't mean to be harsh but I would agree that I would likely find other candidates with different credentials much more attractive.

[babyNP., APRN]

Like I said before, I feel really bad for your situation. That really stinks. I hope you can get a job in NICU...

[Jules A, MSN]

Just out of curiosity....How did you get into a NICU CSN program, without NICU experience??

Duh, the $$$$$$.

[NICU<3RN]

I would agree that I would likely find other candidates with different credentials much more attractive.

I guess I have a hard time figuring that out. How is a BSN grad more qualified than I am? I have a Bachelor's degree.. but IN biological sciences and not nursing. A BSN is the nursing classes + the liberal arts classes. I HAVE all the liberal arts classes AND all the nursing classes, just being used toward different degrees. This means I have MORE education than a BSN grad.. I have a BS + RN classes.. that is 2 more years of education than a BSN grad. Also, my RN classes were at graduate rather than undergraduate level. My school has both this program BS --> MSN and BSN.. however because I already had a BS they would only admit me into the BS --> MSN program since I already have a Bachelors and their BSN is for first time Bachelor's students only.

Additionally, I have 1.6x more clinical hours than a BSN grad from my school.. 765 hours for BSN and 1,215 for my program.

I feel that this should show that I am MORE qualified than a BSN grad, not less. My education is no different and I have more clinical time.

Also, I did my leadership rotation of 300 clinical hours in a level III NICU.. I took care of my own patients.. I have some experience so I know I love it, and I know I can be good at it..

It blows my mind, truly.

Also, OldTimer.. I do truly feel scammed. Unfortunately, it is a state and therefore state-funded school and there is nothing I can do about it.. Too bad my state is notorious for being corrupt and money hungry..

I thought I was doing myself a favor for seeking the more "prestigious" education..

hindsight is 20/20.

Thanks everyone for your well wishes. I will just keep praying that God has a plan for me and I must just wait it out.. psych isn't so bad for now.. but I truly feel my calling is in NICU.. :redbeathe

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Some places only hire BSNs, whether it's logical or not. Some also have to maintain a percentage of BSNs.

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

I guess I have a hard time figuring that out. How is a BSN grad more qualified than I am? I have a Bachelor's degree.. but IN biological sciences and not nursing. A BSN is the nursing classes + the liberal arts classes. I HAVE all the liberal arts classes AND all the nursing classes, just being used toward different degrees. This means I have MORE education than a BSN grad.. I have a BS + RN classes.. that is 2 more years of education than a BSN grad. Also, my RN classes were at graduate rather than undergraduate level. My school has both this program BS --> MSN and BSN.. however because I already had a BS they would only admit me into the BS --> MSN program since I already have a Bachelors and their BSN is for first time Bachelor's students only.

Additionally, I have 1.6x more clinical hours than a BSN grad from my school.. 765 hours for BSN and 1,215 for my program.

I feel that this should show that I am MORE qualified than a BSN grad, not less. My education is no different and I have more clinical time.

Also, I did my leadership rotation of 300 clinical hours in a level III NICU.. I took care of my own patients.. I have some experience so I know I love it, and I know I can be good at it..

It blows my mind, truly.

Also, OldTimer.. I do truly feel scammed. Unfortunately, it is a state and therefore state-funded school and there is nothing I can do about it.. Too bad my state is notorious for being corrupt and money hungry..

I thought I was doing myself a favor for seeking the more "prestigious" education..

hindsight is 20/20.

Thanks everyone for your well wishes. I will just keep praying that God has a plan for me and I must just wait it out.. psych isn't so bad for now.. but I truly feel my calling is in NICU.. :redbeathe

That really sucks.

Seems you are more qualified than the basic BSN.

Just wondering if there is any point using a credentials evaluation service to make a case to potential employers ?

If you can show you have the science, liberals arts and nursing papers vs basic BSN.

Just an idea

Best wishes for your search - I really hope something comes up soon

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

i think there is some confusion here about what the mn is. some mns are clinical nurse specialists or nurse practitioners. some are not. i got my mn and worked bedside for years, getting staff nurse pay (some differential for the degree, but not a lot), because i was a single mother of very small kids and i couldn't take a regular 40+ hour job until they got older.

some bachelor's-in-anything-to-mn programs exist, and for the most part they're good ones, but i have never seen a grad from one get a clinical nurse specialist designation or position because, well, they haven't had the clinical nursing in the field yet. they are in a good position to get there soon, or do research, but nobody expects them to be proficient in a specialty area like nicu. i had one to orient in the icu once and i swear to god she didn't know how to put the stethoscope tips in her ears so she could hear. she had no idea about pressors or preload/afterload, and although she was a very bright woman who would be able to learn this stuff rapidly, she wasn't ready to hit the floor running. she was shocked, because that's not what they told her in school.

yet another reason to read all the fine print when you embark on a (costly) course of study. is it really preparing you for what you think it is?

[hannahmaepunk]

Good thing here in my country, RN's need to get BSN first before getting their license. And nurses who are master's degree graduates or still taking their master's, get better pay and better staff positions. I will not comment on the programs that are offered in your state, but hey, even though you only have units taken on your master's, it's only right that you get higher salary and positions. But that's not the case at hand,because your master's degree focuses on NICU and not pyschiatric nursing, so i guess your master's is not really needed by your current workplace/employer. And since you DO have units for NICU specialty MASTER's right now, why can't you get hired by NICU employers? I guess they do have a standard/preference in hiring: BSN + experience in similar setting. It's possible to get BSN easily on your part, because the BS degree would be credited and you would only have to take major subjects. But then again, i don't know the specifics on your state.

[Wishinonastar, BSN]

I worked with a MSN CRNP in home care for a while. She had no desire to move up and truly enjoyed the work which is very independent anyway. There are also a lot of MSNs working in school nursing since you have to get credits beyond the BSN to get a level II certificate.

Many nursing instructors who have MSNs work in hospitals to keep their skills up- just regular bedside nursing jobs. I don't think an MSN is as elite these days as it once was. In fact, that is one reason why I chose to get a graduate degree in something other than nursing. If you have a clear goal of teaching or specializing a MSN is great. Certainly it can never hurt and it makes perfect sense to get some time in the trenches under your belt anyway before you go off to specialize.

[PatMac10,RN, RN]

CXG174 is right. I start NS this fall and we were introduced to the staff at a meet and greet nursing acceptance meeting. I realized that 2 of our instructors are my co-workers at the local hospital I work at (the same hospital we happen to do clinical at, I might add ). They both have MSNs. One is 2 semesters from finishing her PhD and the other writing a book on nursing care plans.