You may have noticed I have a bit of alphabet soup after my name: RN, MSN, MBA. This means I am a Registered Nurse (RN) with a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a Masters of Business Administration. So, basically, I spent a lot of time in school.

A number of people ask me why I got two master’s degrees and what each one does for me. I will answer that question further into this post. But first it is helpful to understand what each degree is and what it can do for a nurse’s career.

What is an MSN?

As we already covered, MSN stands for Masters of Science in Nursing. It is a graduate level degree for Registered Nurses. It can prepare you for an advanced clinical role as a Nurse Practitioner, which also allows you to specialize in a field like midwifery, psychiatry, or anesthesia. But there are also a number of non-clinical MSN specialities such as nursing education, informatics, and leadership.

Some schools offer joint MSN degrees with another degree. The second degree could be a Masters in Public Health (MPH), Masters in Health Administration (MHA), or a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

The MSN program length varies depending on specialty. Most can be done part-time as well as full-time, and usually have some type of hands-on experience involved. Even the non-clinical MSNs typically require internships or practicums.

Most programs require a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN). There are bridge programs both for people with a bachelor’s degree in another field, and RNs who do not have a bachelor’s degree. RN licensure is also a requirement, as well as some amount of clinical experience. Clinical experience may also be integrated into the program for accelerated MSNs.

What can you do with an MSN?

As I mentioned, clinical MSNs allow nurses to work as Nurse Practitioners. This means they are licensed to order tests, diagnose, and prescribe treatments and medications. What Nurse Practitioners can do depends on the state where they practice. That essentially comes down to whether they can work independent of a physician or not.

Non-clinical MSNs generally allow nurses to take on more advanced roles. For example, the MSN in Nursing Education prepares nurses for roles as instructors in colleges and universities, staff development directors in healthcare organizations, or even grant writers and research assistants.

My MSN in Nursing Informatics prepared me for a career in health technology. The master’s degree is not required for most Nursing Informatics jobs. Where it is helpful is for Informatics Nurses who want to be Directors or Vice Presidents of Clinical Informatics. That is where you will be expected to have a master’s degree.

‘Climbing the corporate ladder’ is one reason for nurses to get a master’s degree. Many healthcare organizations will not promote nurses who only have a bachelor’s degree into leadership roles. Unfortunately, I have seen many good nurses who want to be Nursing Directors hit an education ceiling. If you think you want to be in a leadership role some day, that is one very good reason to get an advanced degree.

But, if you want to be a nurse leader, is it better to get an MSN in Nursing Administration? Or a Masters in Business Administration? They sound similar, so what is the difference?

What is an MBA?

As we covered above, MBA stands for Masters of Business Administration. It is a graduate degree for anyone interested in business. Business here has a very broad definition. For some people pursing their MBA, ‘business’ means a job in finance or working for a Fortune 500 company. But for others ‘business’ can mean a career in non-profit leadership, consulting, and, yes, even healthcare.

Like MSNs, MBA programs may be part-time or full-time. There is also something called the ‘executive MBA’ that is similar to an accelerated MSN. It allows students who have leadership experience to get their MBA in a shorter timeframe.

MBA students come from a variety of backgrounds, so it is difficult to generalize what type of preparation is needed. MBA programs do require a bachelor’s degree and results from either the GMAT or GRE standardized tests.

What can you do with an MBA?

The primary goal of MBA programs is to teach students the fundamentals of business and prepare them for leadership roles in their chosen field. There are a number of famous people with MBAs, such as Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook who got her MBA from Harvard Business School.

But if you look at hospital CEOs, you will also see a lot of MBAs there as well. For example, Melinda Estes, MD, MBA is CEO of Saint Luke’s Health System in Kansas City, Missouri; David T Feinberg, MD, MBA is President of UCLA Health System in Los Angeles, California; and Gary L. Gottlieb, MD, MBA is President and CEO of Parners Healthcare in Boston.

While the MBA is not required to be an executive (Mark Zuckerberg does not even have a bachelor’s degree), it does put you in good company if that is your goal. In healthcare where there are many highly educated people, the MBA is a respected and understood degree. It allows people outside of Nursing to understand what you are capable of.

MSN vs MBA: Which one is better for nurses?

Since I have both degrees, it should come as no surprise that I would say nurses do not have to choose just one. You always have the option to get both an MSN and an MBA. But it does take longer than getting just one degree. Even if you see yourself staying in clinical roles, do not cross the MBA off your list. There are Nurse Practitioners who run their own practices and healthcare businesses, and having business training can be helpful.

However, if you are not interested in more than one degree, then the answer to that question depends on your career goals. As I mentioned, the MBA specifically prepares students for leadership roles. If you want to be a leader, the MBA should be on your list. If you do not see yourself running a hospital, a clinic, or even a department, then you should think about where you see yourself in the future and check-out MSNs that align to your interests.

Why did I get both degrees?

I wish I could say I was wise enough earlier in my career to know what I wanted to be when I grew up. If I was, I would have done a dual MSN/MBA program and gotten through school much faster.

Unfortunately, that is not my story. In my case, I started with the MSN in Nursing Informatics because I wanted to transition into the health technology field. I knew nothing about technology or Nursing Informatics, so I thought the master’s degree was the only route. The program itself was very helpful in giving me the background and skills to be able to work in this new field.

However, when I looked at who the leaders were in health technology, they were business people with MBAs. Some did not understand what my master’s degree prepared me for. When recruiting people for leadership roles they looked for other MBA graduates.

I was definitely disappointed to see my MSN did not give me as much credibility as I thought it would. But, I also refused to let a degree limit my career. I went back to school to purse my MBA part-time while working full-time. Even simply being in school for the MBA opened doors for me. Suddenly, I was visible to executive leadership, and someone in whom they saw potential.

Key Takeaways:

Nurses who are interested in advanced practice in a particular area of Nursing can benefit from an MSN. Whether that MSN is clinical and allows them to become Nurse Practitioners, or it is non-clinical and opens the door to careers in Education or Informatics, the degree is helpful for any nurse who wants to take the next career step.

The MBA is helpful for anyone interested in becoming a leader. MBA programs are designed to give you the business fundamentals to lead organizations, whether that is your own private practice or a multi-state health system.

Nurses can certainly get both degrees, so there is no reason to choose if you are interested in both. However, if you are only planning to get one degree, you will have to evaluate what you want in your career and decide which program best aligns.