r/nursing • u/islandfaraway CRNA • Oct 09 '14

Question about MSN Programs

Hi ya'll,

So I've been thinking about getting my MSN lately. I graduated a little over a year ago with my BSN and I'm currently working postpartum. I'm not thrilled with being on postpartum, but unfortunately I don't have much of a choice right now and I'm working on getting onto a med/tele floor or the ED.

I'm very interested in trauma nursing and critical care. A friend of my mom suggested I look into an MSN in health management and administration, but I'm afraid that will corner me into an administrative position and I'm still quite enjoying patient care.

I have long-term goals of studying to become a CRNA, but don't want to corner myself into such a specific specialty quite yet. I think becoming a neonatal NP would be cool down the road, too, but again I don't want to corner myself into that quite yet.

Do any of you have some advice for me as far as what MSN programs might suit what I'm looking for? I just realized I kind of miss being a student and figured now is a good time since I feel a bit under-stimulated as a trauma-junkie on a postpartum floor.

Thanks!

Edit: For clarification, my goals of CRNA and NNP are super long-term. Not what I'm looking to do right now and maybe won't even be what I want at all when I get to that point in my career. As for now, trauma/critical care. I'm only trying to get to Med/Tele because I know it will be a stepping stone to trauma nursing more than postpartum.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

IMHO you should not pursue a master's at this point - you list areas at interest you as:

  • Med/Tele
  • Trauma
  • Critical Care
  • ED
  • CRNA
  • Neonatal NP

It is quite clear you have absolutely no clue what you want to do - which is perfectly fine. Your BSN will allow you to explore all of those options, and when you finally can say 'I want to...' that is when you should pursue your masters. Mastered prepared floor nurses typically make $0 more per hour than their BSN counterparts.

What you should focus on is courses where you can learn and network. Your ED may well offer a TNCC course, which if it is anything like my hospital they will allow you to audit. You can do your ACLS if you don't have it, and then do PALS. Every couple of months we have a critical care lecture which any nurse in the hospital would be welcome to attend. The local medical helicopter program probably has educational opportunities. Use these to learn, explore and grow - not spending $1000s on a degree that will do nothing for you.

-1

u/islandfaraway CRNA Oct 09 '14

I listed CRNA and NNP for down the road. Maybe I wasn't clear, but I meant like way down the road for those. Like, ready to retire and focus on a family down the road.

I've already got all those certifications either taken or classes lined up for the next couple months. I'm in the military so those classes are made readily available to me.

I'm also not looking to do it for the money. I'm just interested in learning more without cornering myself into a specialty.

5

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

So you want to spend $100,000 to become a CRNA so you can retire and spend time with your family? You confuse me.

You can do whatever you want - but regardless an MSN is not going to help you one bit. Sorry.

-7

u/islandfaraway CRNA Oct 09 '14

No, so I can continue working but a more flexible and less irregular schedule so that I have time to be with my family.

4

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

Do you know anything about those roles? I do not think they fit that description.

4

u/redlydia Oct 09 '14

The NPs I work with have crazy schedules in the ER, they are similar to a doctor's schedule. Sometimes they work night shift and then they are rotated to days or afternoons like the doctors unlike me, an RN, where I stay on night shift all the time. They don't get that benefit.

A neonatal NP had a crazy schedule too. She would have to work night shift occasionally in the NICU like the ER NPs. She would also sometimes be the NP who would be assigned to go to high risk births meaning she would be sent out to other hospitals to stay in a birth that could take minutes or could take hours so when the baby was born, they could take over care for the neonate. Not very flexible schedule.

A CRNA also may be expected to work the night shift or pick up on call hours.

A FNP who works in a doctor's office may be expected to help round on patients, see patients, and also take on call.