RN to MSN Degree

RN’s are registered nurses that are qualified to do a whole range of medical services for patients and doctors. They can work independently or under the supervision of a matron or a doctor too. RNs are also authorized to operate and use medical equipment; administer injections and medication and even start medicated IVs. Trained RN’s also help and assist surgeons in surgery, post surgery recovery and work in supervisory positions to instruct and assign work to other nursing personnel. RN’s can study in a four year or two year program and are then licensed to work in a hospital. If you are an RN and want to study further for an MSN degree then there are a few simple requirements you have to fulfill like:

• You can choose to enter the MSN program fulltime if you have a background in nursing with your BSN degree. A BSN degree takes about four years to complete but if you have studied for two years to become an RN, you will have to take up a bridge course that will prepare you for the MSN course. These bridge programs are for students who have a BS in a field other that nursing for less than three years or have not completed their BSN. Once you’ve finished the bridge program you are then accepted into the MSN course.
• It’s extremely necessary for you to opt for a BSN course if you have not done it. The reason for this is simple. Different college’s have different syllabi about what end degree is provided after the course is complete. If you are a RN without a BSN degree, you may be granted a MSN in a limited postgraduate field. And it may also be a field you are not very interested in! But after completion of a BSN you are allowed many more streams to postgraduate in!
• Please check with the college to find out exactly what your MSN course entails. Several colleges have a four year program where when you finish the first two years you are granted a BSN degree and in the latter two years you are granted a MSN degree. Although this may be really attractive to students, this route may not really be valid or accredited. Before signing up please check with the college thoroughly to find out the exact degree you will be getting.
• A few schools use the "RN to MSN" tag to indicate nurses who have a diploma in nursing or an ADN PLUS or even a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. That means students who already have a BSN follow a different curriculum and students with a BS in another subject follow a separate curriculum. Check before signing up!