Whats the Catch: RN to MSN?

Nurses General Nursing

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I ask because I don't know, and would like some insight. Can getting an MSN preclude a BSN for a nurse who wants to work like any other nurse and gain experience in the trenches, but wants to have her degrees under their belt up front?

Reason I ask: I have a bachelor's degree in a non-related field and so I have the choice in front of me to go for a second bachelors (BSN) or go for ADN>MSN (among other choices). The ADN>MSN sounds like the best choice, no?.

Please understand I have no intention of jumping right to management or NP out of the gate, just to obtain up front the degree I would prob get eventually anyway (MSN).

Is there added value? Are their obvious cons?

I did an ADN. I got a job with tuition assistance to further my education, which I am doing online. I'm in a RN-to-MSN program which eliminates some of the classes that I would need if I did these degrees separately. I'm older and a second career nurse, so I know what I want to do (education). There is no one "right" path.

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I did an ADN. I got a job with tuition assistance to further my education, which I am doing online. I'm in a RN-to-MSN program which eliminates some of the classes that I would need if I did these degrees separately. I'm older and a second career nurse, so I know what I want to do (education). There is no one "right" path.

Yes that is the path I was suggested to go, in order to not come out of my second bachelors degree with a ton of debt. Unfortunately there are no jobs for ADN nurses in San Diego so it sounds like I'll have to do my RN to BSN/MSN without a job. :/

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Specializes in Urology.
Yes that is the path I was suggested to go, in order to not come out of my second bachelors degree with a ton of debt. Unfortunately there are no jobs for ADN nurses in San Diego so it sounds like I'll have to do my RN to BSN/MSN without a job. :/

Lots of jobs in SD that only require ADN. Even the naval center is hiring 2 year nurses. RN Jobs, Employment in San Diego, CA | Indeed.com

There is always long term care as well, I know for a fact they hire ASN!

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This makes my head hurt. My opinion would be to worry about earning your RN first and then think about an advanced degree.

I agree with you there! Great point, btw.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

I would encourage you to look into getting your MSN Clinical Nurse Leader if you are interested in entry level into nursing.

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Specializes in LTC, Rural, OB.
Yes that is the path I was suggested to go, in order to not come out of my second bachelors degree with a ton of debt. Unfortunately there are no jobs for ADN nurses in San Diego so it sounds like I'll have to do my RN to BSN/MSN without a job. :/

Most, if not all, RN to BSN/MSN programs require you to be working as an RN so I don't think that option would be there for you.

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

From what I see, most schools require two years of prior experience before entering an MSN program, even the ADN to MSN program. I am currently at UTA Arlington with almost two years experience doing the RN to BSN program and wanted to switch to the RN to MSN Admin program but they needed proof that I had two years experience. I have a 4.0 and know I'm headed towards management so I wanted to start early. Oh well!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
There is absolutely zero point in obtaining a general MSN degree without a specialty area. The point of the MSN is specialization (e.g. informatics, nursing education, clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, leadership, nurse anesthesia).

The general MSN degree qualifies you for the same positions as the BSN degree, yet the BSN degree holder will be preferred due to many hiring managers' negative (but covertly unspoken) perceptions of entry-level MSN nurses.

My advice is to figure out what you'd like to specialize in before putting the effort into earning an MSN. Obtain some real world nursing experience before you enroll.

I disagree with you on this point, Commuter. I see plenty of need for "general" MSN's, such as the CNL degree or similar programs. Inpatient settings need people for staff development roles, program coordinator roles, discharge planner roles, infection control, quality improvement, etc. The common, very specific MSN programs that prepare NP's, CNS's, Nurse Anesthetists, etc. don't prepare people for these mid-level leadership positions that don't fit neatly into those specific "advanced practice" specialties.

My hospital struggles to find people to fill those necessary positions. The NP's of the world (and others who graduate from highly focused MSN programs geared towards preparing people for only 1 specific role) don't have the broad education that includes multiple functions necessary for such roles. A good, old-fashioned, general MSN seems to work best for those roles. Many times, that basic MSN can then be easily augmented with Continuing Education and/or Certification to make a great fit.

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Specializes in NICU, Postpartum.

I totally understand where you're coming from! I too had a science bachelors and was on the fence about the best way to pursue nursing. I chose an ADN program because it was SO CHEAP and my job at the time paid for it. I also feel like I had a lot of meaningful experiences being in a class that had diverse learning experiences, but I digress. I too contemplated going from ADN to MSN, however, there was ZERO chance of me getting a good job as a new grad in Boston if I was without a BSN. I assume they would have accepted my MSN, but that would have taken longer, delaying my finding of a job (they wouldn't have taken ADN enrolled in an MSN, I would have had to finish it first). I finished a BSN at a local state school in 12 months for decently affordable tuition. So do I wish I had pursued an MSN (which I am now pursuing), yes. But getting a job in a hospital was more important. Many of my ADN comrades work at nursing homes and that's not for me. If your city/local hospital hires ADNs, I say go for the MSN!!

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One potential issue with earning a BSN (your second bachelor's) is funding. If you received federal financial aid, there is a lifetime limit regarding how much you can take in loans. In other words, you might have difficulty funding a second bachelor's degree education. If in your area--San Diego--it is difficult to land a hospital job with an ASN, then a generalist MSN is a good path to take. Even though you will graduate with an MSN, you will apply for a New Grad position just as all other new RNs do. It can be a good path to take, especially if hospitals in your area are willing to hire the generalist MSN new grads. (You can always contact HR of hospitals you are interested in and talk to them about their hiring practices.)

Whatever program/s you're looking at applying to, I would attend an information session. Ask questions. Find out what their post-graduation employment rate is. Ask where those graduates work. In my neck of the woods, we have a generalist MSN program with a 100% employment rate. Graduates almost universally land first jobs in the hospital setting, most of which are on ICUs, EDs, or Critical Care units in Level I hospitals.

Look at the number of semesters it would take go through a direct-entry BSN program and compare that to the ADN and MSN. I have seen programs for each of these degrees that last six semesters. One key difference between them frequently is not only the classes you will take but the number of clinical hours in the program. Some master's programs have upwards of 1000+ precepted hours. In this area, local ADN programs cycle through our Level I trauma hospital. While the students do acquire hours, they are not necessarily "hands-on" care but shadowing--sometimes for only one shift or less.

Decided what you want. And then go for it! :D I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I think RN-MSN makes perfect sense if you can find such a program with reasonable tuition. The problem is most places either have BSN, accelerated BSN, direct entry MSN RN or NP, but it is a rare find for RN-MSN except online for profit colleges. You said you already have a bachelors so it might not take too long for a BSN. has the cheapest online program I'm aware of and if you work hard some people have done it in a semester or two. RN-MSN might be a quicker easier option. That said you pay grad tuition from day one which tends to be more than undergrad, and grad student loans have a higher interest rate and interest accrues from day one there is no longer any grace period, Congress got rid of that a few years ago. If I were younger and not so close to retirement I would gladly do a RN-MSN NP program. It is one of my regrets, but NP was not that common back in the day and now just about everybody is doing it and programs are popping up everywhere.

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sandiegotrish:

Here is a list of direct-entry MSN programs. These are generalist programs, not specialty NP programs, for people who already have a Bachelor's degree :)

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/leading-initiatives/research-data/GENMAS.pdf

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