TO MSN or not to?

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 25, 2016

MSN in what? What are your goals?

nutella, MSN, RN · Jul 25, 2016

So I recently completed my BSN and am pondering going back for my MSN. I heard that the classes are much harder and it is a course that is not meant to have a lot of people graduate from. Does anyone have any experience with the MSN classes and how do they feel about it being completed online compared to in classroom. Thanks for your time.

I agree that the MSN is different from the BSN. The level of knowledge is deeper and the level of homework, reflection, application, reading is more intense. They expectations are higher as well.

I love graduate school and have three classes left, I plan on graduating in spring.

For the logistics: I did mostly part-time school with one class at a time because I work and have teenagers that need my help with college stuff and this and that. I am very organized and plan my homework and studies in a way that I keep up with everything during the week but the majority of intense work like writing papers, presentations and such I do on weekends and on my day off.

I really enjoyed graduate studies much more than the BSN because the level of knowledge and how it applies to my work is different.

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Jul 25, 2016

With several options for graduate level MSNs you really need to see what are your career goals, what education is required to attain them, and how to go about acceptance for those programs.

For example, if you're aiming to teach, there is a concentration of the MSN for that (MSN ed, I think). You will take classes with more theory on leadership and how to teach

If your desire is to go into administration, there are MSN concentrations for that and there is also MPH (master's in public health), or MHA (masters in health administration).

If your desire is to be an advanced practice nurse, there are even several more options (CNM, CNS, FNP, AGNP, ACNP, PNP, psych NP). All of these have specific educational tracks because the coursework required for certification is different.

So. To answer your question, what is it you want to do?

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 26, 2016

I strongly agree with WKShadowRN. You need to figure out "who you are as a nurse" and get some experience before you will be ready to make an informed decision about graduate school. There are so many choices that you should figure out the type of work you want to do -- and work in that field a bit to be sure you like it and are good at it -- before you make that big investment.

Whether a graduate program is easier or harder than undergrad depends on the particular schools involved and your particular talents. Personally, both of my graduate programs were easier and less stressful than my undergraduate program.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 27, 2016

I am working on my MSN now. What I have found is that the RN-BSN "factories" are so much more fast paced. I had two 7 1/2 week sessions per semester, so 4 classes each semester and it was bing, bang, boom. It was an online program (my first bachelors was traditional brick and mortar). I am now in an online MSN (Informatics) and it is SO different. I have 2 classes each semester and TIME to learn something. there are discussion boards and papers, but the pace is slower, the assignments are a little harder, but there is time to delve into things. This semester, I have one class that has only 5 assignments. And they all build on the previous assignment. It is great.

I think the clinical MSN programs are faster paced and more demanding. I know they are more competitive to get into. As many of the PP asked, what are your goals?