Torn between MSN/MBA or FNP

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I am interested in obtaining my masters degree but am unsure which route to take. I have been a nurse for 4 years and have had experience in the float pool, med surg, and most recently post partum and plastic surgery. I have taken business classes in the past and have done well and enjoyed them. With all the options available I am unsure if I should go the MSN/MBA track or pursue FNP. I can see myself enjoying Primary care as an FNP or a leadership role in healthcare with my MSN / MBA. I want to ensure the degree I obtain will provide immediate career advancement and will be beneficial salary wise. With such vast choices in nursing I am having a hard time coming to a decision. Also what opportunities would be available with a MSN/MBA?

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I would suggest that since you have had four jobs in your four years as a nurse that you are perhaps not ready for graduate education yet. And by that, I mean that you have failed to find your groove. I would advise finding that passion in nursing, and then work on deciding how to best go about meeting that end.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Not sure I agree with PP - there's no shame in exploring multiple practice areas. Sometimes it takes a while to find your niche.

If you're looking for 'immediate' advancement opportunities, NP is the way to go. It takes a while to move up the ladder in nursing leadership... there's no such thing as overnight success. Nursing Administration is a very challenging practice area that requires actual experience at lower levels in order to qualify for the next step.... very similar to non-academic nurse educator position careers. However, in the longer term, successful nurse administrators will earn quite a bit more than NPs. Administrator salaries >$200k (plus exec bonus) are not that unusual in larger organizations.

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