Western Governors-- MSN Edu or Leadership?

Published

Specializes in MICU.

Will be starting one of these programs Jan 1- I"m having difficulties deciding which to choose. Advice? Pros and Cons? I've had someone tell me that even with the Leadership concentration, I could teach, but with the Edu, that would basically put me in a position of only teaching, not administration.

Someone helllllllp.

Josh

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Well, what are your longterm goals? What do you hope to be doing in 5 or 10 years?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would suggest, respectfully, that, if you don't know which concentration you want, you're not ready for graduate school. I agree with klone that it makes more sense to decude where you want to go and what you want to be doing in your career over time, and then figure out what degree you need to get you there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Agreed! If you're getting a masters degree just to get a masters degree- then you really aren't ready. Decide where you want the degree to take you FIRST- then choose a program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

I want to start the WGU MSN Leadership track soon because I feel that this option would better serve me even if I chose a path involving staff development and/or education, say at my hospital, and it would also suffice if I chose to teach or do clinicals part time at a local college or university.

I found out during my RN to BSN that I would never be happy teaching nursing students (as I initially thought I would) but rather that I am more interested in - and have way more patience for - helping/teaching licenced nurses instead!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU.

The two aren't mutually exclusive as for future goals and I'm not getting a degree to get a degree. After discussing more with my manager and fellow coworkers, I'm opting to change my declared concentration to Leadership since with that, I can still teach if I decide to, but it will also offer more possible opportunities if i don't want to.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The two aren't mutually exclusive as for future goals and I'm not getting a degree to get a degree. After discussing more with my manager and fellow coworkers, I'm opting to change my declared concentration to Leadership since with that, I can still teach if I decide to, but it will also offer more possible opportunities if i don't want to.

That's exactly what I did. Now I do both!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Josh,

I just went through the exact same dilemma that you're having. I basically looked at what I could do with each respective degree. In other words, what jobs or positions could I realistically apply for in nursing with each degree? My ultimate goal is to secure a leadership position, but I'd also like to teach clinicals at one of the nearby colleges. I found that the MSN will enable me to do both. I'd also eventually consider an MBA or MHA, but am not entirely sure. If you look on indeed or any other job search engine for nursing leadership positions, almost every single one will say, "MSN preferred." They don't care what it is in. Trust me. BSN/MSN also helps with Magnet status.

Another member mentioned that he can teach with an MSN in leadership but I haven't found any schools in my area where that's the case. Perhaps it is a regional thing. If you ONLY want to get into leadership, and that's what is more interesting, then go for the leadership degree. You could always go back for a post-masters cert in education if you have a change of heart. If you, like me, kind of want the best of both worlds, then do the MSN, Ed. I know of many nurse managers who have education degrees. You will have a hard time becoming a manager of a unit you've never worked on simply because you have a MSN in leadership. They'll move somebody else up from withing regardless of education or leadership degree, first. Again, just my opinion.

Another option (just to confuse you more) if you REALLY want administration, you might consider WGU's healthcare MBA.

At the end of the day, what it really boils down to is how competent you are, who you know, and are you at the right time at the right place. Again, MHO (and experience.)

Best of luck!

JG

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

In the area where I reside, a person can become a nurse manager or nurse executive regardless of the type of degree they've earned. It can be a BSN, or it can be a MSN in any specialty area (leadership, education, informatics, clinical nurse leader, etc.).

On the other hand, schools in my area will not hire instructors without the MSN with a specialization in nursing education.

Therefore, the answers to the OP's questions might be heavily dependent upon the region where he lives and works.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion