What can MSNs do that BSNs can't do?

Nurses General Nursing

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Well, anyone care to comment on what nurses with more education can do?

kmchugh, I think there is an enormous difference between opportunities for Nurse Anesthetists and those with other MSNs. My friends who are NAs do very well, as you indicated. Those I know with MSNs have had to be very creative/take pay cuts from general RN salaries/ go back to floor nursing to make a living. At least where I live.

I agree Quickbeam - Nurse anesthetists are the exception rather than the rule.

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Specializes in Critical care.

I have MSN in acute care...I am employed as CNS in critical care and have been for the last 4 years since I graduated, I had no problem finding a job...As a matter of fact my place of employment is looking for another CNS in critical care if anyone knows of one looking for new job in north texas....I love my job, I have the flexibility to set my own hours, I can still do patient care if I wish when the units are short, I have total autonomy with my job and role. My MSN has given me many opportunities for free travel (conferences, exam writer reviewer).

I feel that any type of higher education beyond high school is beneficial from 2 year Associates degree up to PhD....

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Maybe this should be a separate thread, but since there are people on this thread who might have the answers to this I'll try posting it here.

Do any of you have any advice for someone who is just starting Nursing school in January and hopes to go on to get an MSN?

First off go get some years and bodies under your belt. School is no substitute for experience; it's a great start, but no launch pad to a graduate degree by far. Next, never get a MSN. Why get a MSN when you need an ARNP (same amount of work) to excel and move on?

Now, believe about 5% of the stuff that those MSN instructors are shoving down your throat. There is an old adage that holds true, day after day; "those that can...do....those that can't...teach". The folks that can perform under pressure and make a difference are out there every day doing so. The rest have MSN's and grade papers for a living.

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First off go get some years and bodies under your belt. School is no substitute for experience; it's a great start, but no launch pad to a graduate degree by far. Next, never get a MSN. Why get a MSN when you need an ARNP (same amount of work) to excel and move on?

Now, believe about 5% of the stuff that those MSN instructors are shoving down your throat. There is an old adage that holds true, day after day; "those that can...do....those that can't...teach". The folks that can perform under pressure and make a difference are out there every day doing so. The rest have MSN's and grade papers for a living.

I, too, have heard that "those that can, do; those that can't, teach" line and it's a bunch of *&^%$#@!. Who among us has had an exceptional teacher who touched the students and their patients with his/her skill, knowledge and compassion? I have. Teachers are the only way one has to become an RN and teachers are the only way that we can progress forward with our own education. Please don't shoot them down for their dedication. (And, in response to those that are thinking "but some teachers ... "; yes, some teachers can't nurse so they teach instead and it is detrimental to the whole system. In fact, there are quite a few of them out there. But there are also nurses out there who shouldn't be nursing and managers that shouldn't be managing and so on and so forth). I, for one, think my teachers have been and are currently amazing. I learn everything that I can from them.

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I, too, have heard that "those that can, do; those that can't, teach" line and it's a bunch of *&^%$#@!. Who among us has had an exceptional teacher who touched the students and their patients with his/her skill, knowledge and compassion? I have. Teachers are the only way one has to become an RN and teachers are the only way that we can progress forward with our own education. Please don't shoot them down for their dedication. (And, in response to those that are thinking "but some teachers ... "; yes, some teachers can't nurse so they teach instead and it is detrimental to the whole system. In fact, there are quite a few of them out there. But there are also nurses out there who shouldn't be nursing and managers that shouldn't be managing and so on and so forth). I, for one, think my teachers have been and are currently amazing. I learn everything that I can from them.

PRECISELY. It is sad and moreover, unfortunate that anyone would degrade someone who educates. :o

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well, anyone care to comment on what nurses with more education can do?

i have been an rn since 1978. never went back to get a bsn, much less an msn. reason being:

nursing is just about the only field where we don't build on previous education. i found it insulting as a diploma rn to have to repeat my classes and pay money! i only went to diploma school for financial reasons.

a nurse is a nurse is a nurse. i have gobs of knowledge.

i wish there was more acknowledgement of diploma grads. with the shortage, and before the shortage this has been an issue. i am 47, and know that many nurses my age have left the field due to this diploma nurse dilemma.

i also went and searched for a rn refresher course, so that i could return to the bedside. that was also a fiasco. as nurses, we need to support each other. phd nurses are wonderful....advanced education is great....but, on the battlefield, where are the soldiers?

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Posted by yasmina:I have been an RN since 1978. Never went back to get a BSN, much less an MSN. Reason being:

Nursing is just about the only field where we don't build on previous education.

That's one of my beefs about this field!

I found it insulting as a diploma RN to have to repeat my classes and pay money! I only went to diploma school for financial reasons.

I wish there were more easy ways for you guys to get credit.

A nurse is a nurse is a nurse. I have gobs of knowledge.

Unfortunately many people think this and if it is true, it is a reflection (again) of the problems inherent in our profession.

I wish there was more acknowledgement of diploma grads. With the shortage, and before the shortage this has been an issue. I am 47, and know that many nurses my age have left the field due to this diploma nurse dilemma.

This is another point I've made. If there was one entry level, there would be none of this kind of argument.

As nurses, we need to support each other. PHD nurses are wonderful....advanced education is great....but, on the battlefield, where are the soldiers?

On the front lines...thinking about that G.I. Bill when they get back home!

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Specializes in Case Manager, LTC,Staff Dev/NAT Instr.

Now, believe about 5% of the stuff that those MSN instructors are shoving down your throat. There is an old adage that holds true, day after day; "those that can...do....those that can't...teach". The folks that can perform under pressure and make a difference are out there every day doing so. The rest have MSN's and grade papers for a living.

This is degrading educators (teachers/instructors) and we shouldn't take that from them, all your life you have been taught by educators--school/college and if some nurses want to follow that path so be it, that don't make them a lesser nurse, don't try and put it as if it was a easy way out, being a educator is also challenging via stressful they have a lot of measures vs. criteria to meet as educators. In this dept. they really have to emphasize on degrees in order to advance their salary, education, etc.--believe me they are underpaid ..if you don't have the slightest clue as in what really goes on in this dept. (other than grading papers) don't comment and pass judgement. I really respect educators because they do make a difference.
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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
I, too, have heard that "those that can, do; those that can't, teach" line and it's a bunch of *&^%$#@!. Who among us has had an exceptional teacher who touched the students and their patients with his/her skill, knowledge and compassion? I have. Teachers are the only way one has to become an RN and teachers are the only way that we can progress forward with our own education. Please don't shoot them down for their dedication. (And, in response to those that are thinking "but some teachers ... "; yes, some teachers can't nurse so they teach instead and it is detrimental to the whole system. In fact, there are quite a few of them out there. But there are also nurses out there who shouldn't be nursing and managers that shouldn't be managing and so on and so forth). I, for one, think my teachers have been and are currently amazing. I learn everything that I can from them.

Excellent post.

I'm dumbfounded by the post you are responding to. Can't believe such ignorance prevails. Thanks for your response. So many teachers are so gifted, it would be a sin if they didn't teach and pass that on to the rest of us. :)

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Hey arent you the same one who was bashing Associate degree RNs?

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Hey arent you the same one who was bashing Associate degree RNs?

No, I didn't bash associate degree nurses, it you are referring to Yasmina.

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Hey arent you the same one who was bashing Associate degree RNs?

I wasn't bashing the people holding the ADN or diploma degree, just:

1. the shortsightedness of why the degree was created in the first place

2. the inability of some people to not be able to recognize the difference between the 3 types of degrees and the purpose for each one.

3. the fallacy of "an RN is an RN is an RN"

4. the inability of a group of people to not move their profession forward.

5. and the craziness of 3 types of entry level degrees

We are designing the "Ideal RN" if you want to contribute to that thread.

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