All depends on what your ultimate goals are. For me it was. I was a clinical nurse specialist with an MSN in psych nursing, but I wanted more and missed my ICU/ER days, so an MSN/NP in adult/geriatric medicine was exactly what opened the doors I wanted to go through. Ask yourself how much independence you want, and where you see yourself in 10 years. My APRN allowed me to teach BSN and grad students on a trauma unit for 18 years, gave me the freedom to carry my own patients in an office practice and a better salary doing it all. That's me. Everyone is different. Some will say they don't want even a BSN. It all depends on where you want to go and what you want to have in your theory and skill kits to offer the patients in your practice, so start plotting your career map. Always ask before deciding to take the next degree: is it necessary? If it's not necessary, would it be very helpful and allow me to do things I want to understand more and do better for my patients? Will it open career doors my current credentials cannot? Grad school will require blood, sweat and tears, time, energy and money, so ask these questions to be sure it is worth it for YOU. Everyone's career and professional needs are different. DO NOT get a degree because it "looks good" on a resume. Everyone who earns the APRN really has to work for it. Make sure it will really work for you.
