RN to BSN vs. RN to MSN: Which One Is Right for Me?
Are you a registered nurse looking to advance your career, but you don't have a bachelor's degree? What if we tell you that that is no problem and you can even earn a master's degree in as little as two years? Keep with us!
For registered nurses with no bachelor's degree, RN to BSN and RN to MSN are two excellent options enabling nurses to accelerate their way into their careers. To learn more about these two programs and help you decide on one of them, read this article to find the ultimate RN to BSN vs. RN to MSN comparison.
What is RN to BSN?
An RN to BSN is a bridge program for nurses who have either a diploma or an associate degree in nursing (ADN) and are interested in advancing their education by obtaining a bachelor's degree.
The program will build on your nursing experience and broaden your foundational knowledge and skills as a registered nurse. So, instead of pursuing a traditional four-year BSN program, you can enroll in an RN-BSN program and transfer your credits to earn your degree way faster.
In addition, an RN to BSN program is a great option allowing you to advance your career while also working.
What is RN to MSN?
On the other hand, if you want to skip straight ahead to an advanced degree, an RN to MSN program is ideal for taking your nursing career to the next level.
Designed for nurses who do not possess a bachelor's degree, the RN to MSN is an accelerated program combining bachelor's level education and graduate training to achieve a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in a specialized area. Midway through the program, or when you complete it, you may earn your BSN degree as well. Graduating from an RN to MSN takes less time than pursuing the two degrees (BSN and MSN) separately.
RN to BSN vs. RN to MSN: Key Differences
Below we compared both RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs, taking into account various aspects like their curriculum, length, job outlook, salary, and more. Read on and learn more about their differences.
Degree specialization
The main difference between an RN to MSN vs. RN to BSN lies in their overall focus. While the RN BSN provides you with additional generalized nursing knowledge and training, preparing you for direct patient care, the RN MSN goes beyond that, targeting specialization as a critical purpose of the degree.
Areas of MSN specialty are various and include leadership, informatics, advanced clinical practice, management, etc. Below you can find some typical concentrations you can choose from when studying in an RN to MSN program:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP),
Clinical Nurse Leadership (CNL),
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP),
Acute or Primary Care Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP),
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP),
Health Systems Management (HSM),
Health Administration (HA).
Program length
Another difference between the two programs is their length. RN to BSN programs usually take one to two years to complete; meanwhile, an RN to MSN program will typically take about three years since more content is covered. However, the duration can vary depending on the program, your specialty, and the time you commit to the program. For people who choose to work full time, getting either of the degrees tends to take longer.
Moreover, let's go further and compare RN-BSN and RN-MSN lengths to the time it takes to graduate from traditional BSN and MSN programs. For example, how long is a BSN program, or how long does it take to go from RN BSN to MSN? The standard BSN program takes about four years, while an MSN will take around two years. If you decide to pursue these degrees individually, it will take more than six years. Meanwhile, you can do that as quickly as in two years with an RN to MSN program!
Curriculum
Since the BSN is incorporated in the RN to MSN program, we notice that both programs consist of the same nursing core courses when comparing both curriculums. However, the RN to MSN goes further and includes advanced master's level courses and specialization classes.
RN to BSN programs usually provide additional skills and knowledge to registered nurses to broaden their perspectives. Thus they offer general education classes like social sciences and core nursing courses focusing on critical thinking, leadership, ethics, health assessment, community and public health nursing, informatics, etc. The program may include clinical hours as well.
On the other hand, RN to MSN programs contain master's level nursing courses in addition to the BSN ones. These include advanced classes in research, management, pharmacology, pathophysiology, practice health assessment, etc. Furthermore, you can expect courses related to an MSN specialization of your choice. Most MSN degrees will also include additional clinical hours in their curriculums.
Scope of work
The ability to choose an area of specialty and the advanced courses that come with an MSN make RN to MSN graduates benefit from a broader scope of practice than nurses who complete only an RN to BSN program.
Nurses with a bachelor's degree earned from an RN to BSN program can work in a wide range of settings, including public health, home care, schools, corporate environments, pharmaceutical companies, the military, etc. Some of their roles may include:
Nurse Educator
Chief Nursing Officer
School Nurse
Healthcare Manager
Director of Nursing
Director of Emergency Nursing
Meanwhile, RN to MSN nurses can broaden their horizons and work as advanced practice nurses. APRNs (advanced practice registered nurses) are monitored less than registered nurses and have greater autonomy to make decisions. They can work in numerous environments like hospitals, private practices, community clinics, etc, as well as take on more leadership roles. RN to MSN graduates can work in various positions, including:
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
Nurse Educator
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
Nurse Researcher
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Career prospects
In an attempt to learn more about RN to MSN and RN to BSN job outlooks, we compared the estimated employment growth for registered nurses and that of APRN positions. As a result, graduates of RN to MSN programs have way more promising employment opportunities ahead.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the projected job outlook for RNs is 9 percent from 2020 to 2030; meanwhile, that of MSN nurses like nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners is 45 percent. This shows that an RN to MSN program opens doors to careers with a higher than average job growth.
Salary
In general, master's graduates through the RN to MSN path will reportedly earn a higher salary than RN to BSN degree holders.
March 2022 data shows that nurses who hold a BSN degree have a salary ranging from $59,500 to $99,000, with top earners making up to $123,000 annually. At the same time, nurses with an MSN under their belt make between $85,500 to $120,000 per year. Furthermore, professionals in the field can earn up to $142,000 per year.
The Bottom Line: Which One Is the Right Fit for Me?
You may be contemplating between the two paths, wondering, "Is RN-to-MSN worth it?" or "Is it better to get BSN before MSN?"—know that the final answer depends on your personal goals.
If you're interested in a specific nursing area you want to specialize in, pursuing an RN to MSN program might be the right choice. An excellent job outlook and competitive salaries are on the way!
On the other hand, if you're still unsure what concentration to decide on, or are not prepared to dedicate yourself to a master's program, then gaining experience as a BSN nurse may be the way to go! That way, you can advance your education and career and still have the chance to pursue a master's later!