What is BSN/MSN?

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May be a silly question but I'm seeing a 2 year program on a website...The MSN portion, is that for a speciality, say nurse practitioner or CRNA?

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Yes, MSN is for a specialty.

There are also direct entry MSN programs for people with a bachelors degree is something non nursing. These are usually more general master degrees with titles such as "Clinical Nurse Leader".

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What is the benefit of doing a BSN/MSN. For example, the school I was researching limited the MSN specialty to women's health, pediatrics, and gerontology nursing. They said for something like Psych NP you need at least 2 years of experience before you can attend that program. I'm just confused by that. Do most programs limit your MSN to a specific field of nursing? I don't see the benefit of doing it, not having any generalized RN experience. Just seems faster, which is good, but what about the quality of care?

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Based on what I am reading, I do not know if you understand how the MSN works.

You cannot just go get the Psych NP degree. You must work as an RN for a couple years (after getting your bachelors or associates in nursing), figure out what type of nursing you like and then apply. This is just an example because each school has their own requirements. There are multiple steps to this process & it is not "faster".

The MSN is meant to take a general nurse and make him/her a specialist in the field they are interested in. The quality of care for the patient should be improving because the nurse is more knowledgable in that field and more educated in evidence based practice.

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If you read my above post, we are saying the the same thing. You would have read that I understood the MSN gets you in to a speciality but going straight from BSN in to an MSN program, where is that experience gained in the middle? I guess that is just a personal question as some student want to get the highest level of education as fast as possible. Obviously I know what a masters degree is.

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Had you written a clearer post that articulated whatever you are trying to say, it may have be easier to read and understand. Something like "Why do you some people get their BSN and go straight for their MSN without working to gain experience first?"

Anyways, you referenced two MSN tracks (NP and CRNA) that for the most part require years of work experience prior to applying. So people are not just jumping into those programs right after graduating with a BSN but rather going into it WITH "generalized RN experience".

For those who jump right into it, they can do externships or work as CNAs so they know which type of nursing they like. In addition, some nurses are able to work while in their MSN program in order to gain more general nursing knowledge.

Obviously if you don't agree with it, just don't go that route.

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Be wary of some Direct Entry MSN programs that don't award you a BSN as well as your MSN. You did the work, you should have the degree.

Also, there are some Direct Entry MSN programs (Northeastern University comes to mind) that build in time for you to get RN experience and hold a spot for you in between finishing your BSN and starting your master's track.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Lemme wade in on this one . . .

In the US, pre-licensure nursing education is designed to produce a generalist - who can then pass NCLEX and become licensed as an RN. Graduate education provides more in-depth preparation in a functional and/or clinical specialization. Functional specializations are areas such as administration, education, quality & safety, clinical specialist, practitioner, etc. Clinical specialization is advanced theory and practice in a specific clinical area. The practice part is important.

So - graduate nursing education (MSN) can produce someone who is qualified for advanced clinical practice (NP, CNS, CRNA, CNM, etc) or qualified for advanced professional practice (administration, education, etc). Some programs (like mine) require professional practice majors to also have a clinical specialty . . . mine is MSN Education/Critical Care. Clear as mud, right?

Normally, graduate programs that include clinical specialization are not designed to teach the basics/fundamentals, just the advanced practice stuff. So these programs will require a minimal level of actual clinical experience in order to be eligible for admission. Mine required at least 2 years full-time critical care experience. However, some graduate programs for professional practice do not require clinical experience. If you are already an RN, there are some of MSN programs that are 100% online and provide theory only... no practical internship. I'm not saying that you'll have a great chance of getting a job if you get an MSN without any clinical or professional experience, but you can get the degree.

Direct-entry or Entry-level MSN (ELM) programs are different - and confusing for potential employers. They produce a pre-licensure graduate with no clinical expertise & no advanced professional qualifications who then has to pass NCLEX to become an RN. I really have no idea what types of jobs these grads are supposed to be qualified for. They end up competing for the same positions as the BSN & ADN grads. Also (warning) ELMs may not be able to obtain a license in some states that specifically require an undergrad degree in order to become licensed.

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Just to muddy the waters further, there are plenty of direct entry programs designed for individuals with a BA/BS in another discipline and no nursing education or experience, and prepare them for advanced practice roles (NP, CNS, CNM). Just because the program the OP is looking at doesn't offer a PMHMP track doesn't mean that plenty of other schools don't offer it, for people with no nursing experience. The graduate program I attended offers a direct-entry PMHNP program, no experience required.

The direct-entry MSN programs that offer advanced practice specializations are basically an accelerated BSN program, which covers the bare minimum of "regular," basic nursing education, plus an MSN program. You go in with no nursing experience whatsoever, and come out, 2 or three years later, as an advanced practice nurse.

I'm not saying I'm a fan of these programs, but they do exist and are v. popular. They've been around for decades now.

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Maybe it was the way it was articulated. It also may have been your interpretation. Anyway, try not to be so condescending in the future. People come on here for advice, not judgement.

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Thank you all for the helpful info!

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