Whats the Catch: RN to MSN?

[sandiegotrish]

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?

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

There was a lot of excitement about them when they were new programs and a bunch of them were hired. Low successes rates in the nurse residency program is the reason given. What goes unsaid is that management thought that they had too many attitude problems. The Direct entry MSN people I am referring to don't have BSNs.

Also BSN and ADNs are hired interchangeably here. We have been unable to predict success in the residency program based on ADN or BSN. One thing we have found is that (so far) we have 100% of ADN RNs completing their 2 year contract they sign to get into the 9 month residency. Less than half of the BSNs do.

LOL. I can just imagine Bunch of new nurses filled with ideas fresh out of MSN school being broadsided by the dysfunction that really happens at the bedside. What a reality check THAT has to be. No wonder they had "attitude". Not only that, but the "attitude", coupled with an advanced degree probably really didn't sit well with management. TPTB generally like new nurses to be malleable and ignorant in the general working of administration.

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

Perhaps, but it wouldn't fly if you wanted to work in the ICU, OR or cath lab. Depends on your perspective.

I should elaborate. There are many paths to get to all kinds of places in nursing. If you want to do education or management then it can be practical to go straight for an MSN. If your desire is to be clinical, working as a BSN with certifications is the best route. Should you choose to specialize further, then an NP MSN is the next choice. However, it is far more difficult to get into one of those programs without a BSN, if not impossible.

I, most respectfully, disagree.

I am in an area where nurses make top dollar, therefore, the area is saturated with nurses.

What you are describing, I am observing to not be the case.

I am sure it is probably regional, and someone else will voice that it is different where they live and work.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Perhaps, but it wouldn't fly if you wanted to work in the ICU, OR or cath lab. Depends on your perspective.

I should elaborate. There are many paths to get to all kinds of places in nursing. If you want to do education or management then it can be practical to go straight for an MSN. If your desire is to be clinical, working as a BSN with certifications is the best route. Should you choose to specialize further, then an NP MSN is the next choice. However, it is far more difficult to get into one of those programs without a BSN, if not impossible.

Why wouldn't it fly is you wanted to work ICU or cath lab? What's wrong with going strait for MSN if you want to be clinical? There are already so many nurses with graduate degrees working at the bedside.

I don't get how earning a masters degree puts one at a disadvantage over a BSN.

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

Why wouldn't it fly is you wanted to work ICU or cath lab? What's wrong with going strait for MSN if you want to be clinical? There are already so many nurses with graduate degrees working at the bedside.

I don't get how earning a masters degree puts one at a disadvantage over a BSN.

I'm totally scratching my head on that one myself. I know the nurse recruiters at several area hospitals, and MSNs are not turned away for those with BSN degrees.

Very confusing.

I also know several ladies and gentlemen who get to keep track of alumni in the area. Again, still not a "problem" having a MSN degree.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

LOL. I can just imagine Bunch of new nurses filled with ideas fresh out of MSN school being broadsided by the dysfunction that really happens at the bedside. What a reality check THAT has to be. No wonder they had "attitude". Not only that, but the "attitude", coupled with an advanced degree probably really didn't sit well with management. TPTB generally like new nurses to be malleable and ignorant in the general working of administration.

I agree than management their nurses malleable and ignorant. The direct entry MSN grads were also very unpopular with the senior staff who serve as preceptors.