Which was harder?

[sistasoul]

Hi all,

I am thinking about applying for my masters to become a FNP in 2011. I graduated in 2008 with my ADN. I found the 2 years of nursing school was incredibly time consuming. I plan to do my masters degree part time while continuing to work as a staff nurse. One of my instructors who holds a doctorate told me that the 2 years to get her RN was harder than getting her masters degree. What did you all think?

I have a BS in financial management and only have a couple of bridge classes to take before starting grad classes.

Thanks to all who respond

[VivaRN]

I found my masters to be "easier" because my BSN was such a huge learning curve: medical terminology, pharmacology, procedures, all of that was new. I remember being so nervous the first time I took a blood pressure or drew up a med for IV push.

At the advanced practice level it was more an extension of that base + work experience. Not to say it wasn't challenging in its own way, but with the foundation already there I was a lot more comfortable with the material. You forget how much you know sometimes!

Your plan should be fine. Good luck!

[FNPGrad]

I found my MSN/FNP to be harder because of all of the papers and doing tons of research and writing for my Capstone project.

I am much better with memorizing facts and clinical "hands-on" skills. Although, as VivaRN said, it is an extension of your knowledge base or a "continuum" so to speak. It is definitely do-able...Good Luck!

[newgrad13]

Gosh, I think with all of the papers and research (and that will be dependent on where you would complete your FNP), I think the MSN/FNP to be significantly "more work". I don't think you'll find it "hard" given your achievements already, but the school I went to was very intense in assignments (lots of papers requiring intensive research and citations) as well as a major graduate project. I went to school full time for 2 years (including 2 summers) plus worked about .5 as an RN until the final semester (I just worked casual the final semester to complete all my clinical hours).

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

The MSN and succeeding post-MSN's that I've done were infinitely harder because of the tremendous amount of responsibility that is placed on you.

[elipscombs]

I am not a nurse now, but from what I have heard there is just a big learning curve for non nurses while getting their bsn. Once you have this, the Masters would be less of a learning curve.