The rise of RN to MSN "bridge" degree programs has presented an opportunity for some nurses to get a graduate degree more quickly than was previously possible, by combining bachelor's and master's level study in one program. These degree programs have varied admissions requirements, however. Some are for RNs with an associate's degree and some job experience, others will accept RNs with a diploma only and still others are designed for nurses who have a bachelor's degree - but in a non-nursing major.
The MSN can qualify a nurse to move up into a management position - something not generally available to those with a BSN only - or into advanced nursing categories like nurse education or nurse anesthetics. The length of time it takes to get an RN to MSN can vary anywhere from three to seven years, depending on whether it's done on a full-time or part-time basis. But for most students, this type of combo degree will make it possible to earn a master's a good deal more quickly than the traditional approach of going to college for four years to earn a bachelor's and then going to a grad school for an MSN. Here's an overview of RN to MSN online degrees.
