You might be considering taking an RN to MSN online program. It could greatly help you in your career. But are there things to consider? Yes. Like everything else in life, there are pros and cons to going ahead with this.
We will present things from both sides so that you can get a better idea of what you will be getting yourself into.
Pro: You Can Get Higher Pay
This is one of the main reasons that people get this degree. When you get an advanced degree like this, then your salary can rise accordingly. If you have a good amount of experience as a nurse, then you can see your pay rise due to this. That can make putting in the time for this worth it.
Con: Is It a Necessary Degree?
This one depends on where you see yourself in your career. Are you content doing your job as a nurse and staying by patients’ bedsides or are you looking to get more responsibility? If the answer is the first, then you might be better off just staying as you are. Many nurses have had long, rewarding careers without moving up.
Pro: There Will Be More Job Opportunities
If you are an experienced nurse, you could even take your MSN to a school and be an instructor. Schools are looking for people to fill in the ranks of their faculty since a lot of them are retiring. So you can leave the hustle and bustle of the hospitals and head over to the school where you can help the new generation of nurses learn how to be the best at their job.
Con: Are You Ready to Possibly Take on Debt?
Where are you in terms of financial stability? Would it be worth it to get this degree? The bump in pay may eventually pay off. Might you have to undergo some lean times in between then? This also depends on your family situation too – whether your partner or another family member can shoulder some of the load.
Pro: You Can Be a Leader
Do you feel like you are more suited to being a leader? Getting an MSN can help you achieve that goal. Places that are looking for administrators or managers will regard you much better with that degree on your resume. So, if you want the chance to run a nursing unit, this could help pave the way.
Con: You Won’t Have Any Free Time
A nursing schedule can be a tough one. Adding the classes will possibly have you feeling like you are running yourself ragged. The ones who can manage their time properly will be the ones who succeed the most. You will likely be studying when you are not working or sleeping.
Pro: You Can Be Independent
When you get this degree, you can start feeling like you can chart your own course as far as your career goes. You will have more opportunities and you can weigh those however you like. This includes possibly making your schedule be much more manageable in terms of the hours you work. That alone will be worth a lot to you.
Con: There Will Be More Stress
On the other hand, there will be more stress, both when you are taking your class and when you start your new job. People will be looking to you for answers. The days of putting your head down and just doing your job will be over. Will that be worth it?
Pro: You Can Specialize
Is there an aspect of nursing you like? You can narrow your job down to that with your degree. That can make work fun.
Con: You Will Be More Legally Liable
This is something you need to think about, since the higher up you go, the more chance that you will have more legal responsibility. Any cases tend to look at the higher-ups and what kind of conditions they had the people under them working in.
These are just some of the things to consider about your getting an MSN. You will want to look back with pride, not regret.
