Does teaching nursing students interest you? Or wish to be a nurse administrator in a hospital? Opt for an MSN (Masters degree in nursing) to explore the different career opportunities in nursing. Read more on top universities, program eligibility, job scope and career opportunities for MS in nursing.
What are the Opportunities For a MS in Nursing?
A ms in nursing will open the door of opportunities and will also help your career prosper with time. With plenty of job opportunities and excellent salaries, here are some of the job roles that you can choose for with a master’s in nursing -
Nursing Consultant -
A nursing consultant can work in diverse fields, which also includes offering advice to a wide range of entities. Management consultants usually help in improving risk management, communication, and also controlling the cost. Legal consultants generally work with insurance companies or attorneys, whereas Community consultants may also work in a neighborhood or a county clinic. The average salary is $125,000.
Nurse Educator -
A nurse educator has specialized in the education part of the master’s program. They tend to work as professors or as instructors in universities which can be anything between business schools, community colleges, and even major universities. These professionals may also work in hospitals and medical centers. They are responsible for providing instruction to new nurses who have joined recently as nursing students. The average salary is $77,000.
Research Nurse -
A research nurse works as a clinical nurse specialist and usually focuses on research-oriented roles. They typically work in various fields which includes gathering and evaluating all the data, examining the statistics, and also performing similar jobs which are a part of a research team. The average salary is usually $90,000.
Nurse Administrator -
A nurse administrator supervises the nurse teams and also the facilities provided to nurses. They are responsible for scheduling, hiring, and even performing all sorts of management duties. Based on where you work, the average salary can range from $60,000 to $200,000.
Advanced Nurse Practitioner -
An advanced nurse practitioner works in various fields of medicine, which includes gynecology, maternity, obstetrics, pediatrics, and family care. They are often regarded as the patient’s primary caregiver, and also supervised by a physician. The average salary ranges from $60,000 to $72,000.
Clinical Nurse Specialist -
A clinical nurse specialist can opt for the specialty, depending on the diseases, populations, and types of care. The role varies from that of a nurse practitioner as a clinical nurse specialist concentrates on expert, specialized care and staff mentoring versus primary care outside a hospital setting.
More Opportunities and Higher Salaries -
As the nursing field develops, so does the range of career opportunities. A bachelor’s degree is considered as the bare minimum, but a master’s degree in nursing offers so many more opportunities as well as higher income. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand is increasing for a master’s degree in nursing.
What is the Value of MSN Program?
If you are a nursing professional, registered nurse, or a nursing student, a masters degree in nursing is crucial to take your career to the next level. A master’s degree will help you out if you want to opt for advanced positions in nursing. Careers in fields like Nurse Practitioner and Nurse-Midwifery require an MSN degree, though the standard is to choose for the Doctor of Nursing Practice).
In this era where the economy is very much unstable, most of the students and professionals think to continue their education. When it comes to the nursing domain, this means pursuing a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Most of the MSN degrees has a prerequisite which includes Registered Nursing (RN) or Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Also, some of the programs will enroll students based on whether they have a specific background in nursing, maths, science, or relevant fields. As you complete your master’s degree, you will choose a specialty which will increase your marketability and also open for the door for new career opportunities.
Some of the popular specialties include nurse education, nurse informatics, or nurse administration. MSN degree holders generally qualify for job opportunities like Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Administrator. They can also opt for pursuing the next level of study, which is to obtain a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DPN) degree.
Do nurses need a masters degree?
If you wish a considerable hike in your salary and wants to be open for varied career opportunities, a masters degree is necessary. The most convenient way is to go for your master’s program after completion of a bachelor’s degree program in nursing (BSN).
Masters degree is a good idea if you wish to pursue the following advanced practice areas such as -
- Nurse practitioner (NP)
- A certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
- Certified nurse-midwife (CNM)
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
- Nurse leadership (nurse administrator role)
- Education-related roles (postsecondary level)
- Research-related roles (clinical trials and case studies)
- Legal consultation practice within and outside of the hospital setting
What are the Different Types of Master’s Degrees in Nursing?
Depending on your prior education and work experience, many nursing programs provide you the opportunity to avail an MSN degree from being a registered nurse. Also, some students can opt for a masters degree, even without a bachelors degree in the nursing field.
RN to MSN Program
Registered nurses can go for a master’s degree in approximately three years with the help of an RN-to-MSN program. These programs are usually for nurses who have prior work experience and also hold a two-year nursing degree or diploma but not any bachelor’s degree in nursing. The RN to MSN program helps nurses to make advancements in their careers by providing a smooth pathway to obtaining a master’s degree.
BSN to MSN Program
Nurses with a bachelor’s degree can usually earn their master’s degree in two years with the help of a BSN-to-MSN program. These programs typically attract nurses having a bachelors degree in nursing and also who wish to advance their career in this field. One can also go for specialized training to be a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, or in any other sort of advanced practice position in this domain.
ADN to MSN Program
Nurses with an associate degree in nursing can enroll in the ADN-to-MSN programs to obtain a master’s degree in three years of duration. These are also commonly known as bridge programs. The programs provide nurses a chance to complete a graduate degree efficiently without a bachelor’s degree. This route particularly appeals to practicing nurses who want to become APRNs (Advanced Public Health Nurse) as quickly as possible. The ADN-to-MSN programs provide options for nurse educators, nurse practitioners, and other higher levels of nursing positions.
ASN to MSN Program
Nurses who have an associate of science in nursing (ASN) and a current RN(Registered Nurse) license can complete a master’s degree in 3 years with the help of an ASN-to-MSN program. Often referred to as a bridge program, the ASN-to-MSN programs enroll nurses with an associate degree. The degree provides advanced nursing training, usually within a specialization. You can choose to specialize in gerontology, nursing management, or clinical nursing as well.
Program Specialisation
Nursing master’s degree programs are available in a wide range of direct practice and secondary care specializations. Some of the important specializations include -
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PACNP)
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Prerequisites for MSN Degree
A ms in nursing program usually take up to two years to complete. Some MSN programs also require a certain amount of work experience before you can be admitted, but MSN programs generally require the following -
- A bachelor of science in nursing (BSN)
- A registered nurse (RN) license
- Minimum GPA and GRE scores that vary according to the program and the university
- Clinical experience (depends on the program)
It’s also possible to pursue an entry-level MSN if you already have a bachelor’s degree in a different subject. These programs take about three years to complete.
Top Universities
US
- The University of Illinois at Chicago
- University of Pennsylvania
- The University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA
- University of Alabama
- Columbia University
- Case Western Reserve
- University of Michigan University of Maryland New York University University of Miami
UK
- University of Liverpool
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Glasgow
- University of Bradford
- University of Sunderland
- University of Huddersfield
- University of East Anglia UEA
- University of Leeds
- University of Keele
- University of Nottingham
Australia
- Monash University
- Deakin University
- The University of Sydney (USYD)
- University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
- The University of Melbourne
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- The University of Adelaide
- Flinders University
- The University of Queensland (UQ)
- Australian Catholic University (ACU)
Canada
- University of Alberta
- University of Regina
- University of Saskatchewan
- Dalhousie University
- University of Windsor
- Queens University
- University of Ottawa
- University of Victoria
- Thompson Rivers University
Germany
- FH Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences
- HS Esslingen University of Applied Sciences
- HS Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences
- IMC FH Krems University of Applied Sciences
- Catholic University of North-Rhine – Westphalia
- Alice Salomon HS Berlin
- FH Münster University of Applied Sciences
- Lutheran University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg
Sweden
- Malardalen University
- Lund University
- Karolinska Institute
- New Zealand
- Massey University
- University of Auckland
- Victoria University of Wellington
- University of Canterbury
- University of Otago
Ireland
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Dublin
- University of Limerick
- National University of Ireland, Galway
- University College Cork
Program Duration
The program usually takes two years to complete. Typically, an MSN program can take up to two years to complete. Some MSN programs require a certain amount of work experience before you can be admitted.
The Demand For Nursing in The Future
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners is expected to increase by 31 percent between the year 2014 and 2024. It also means about 53,400 more jobs are required in this competitive market. There will always be a constant demand for nurses, as the population is on the rise.
For example, when we talk about the country US. According to the 2014 US Census Bureau report, by the year 2050, the number of US residents aged 65 and over is expected to be 83.7 million. As the population ages, there will be a higher demand for healthcare professionals, and this includes nurses as well, and this goes for other countries as well.
How much does a nurse with an MSN degree holder make a year?
The salaries tend to be approximately $98,000 or more per year. With this degree, many new doors of opportunities can open for professionals in this domain. While the average salary for registered nurses is around 64,000 USD, MSN graduates average salary starts from 86,000 USD.
Highest Paid Nursing Jobs
The common job roles that make a great amount of money in USD are as follows:
- Pediatric nurse – Median salary: $89,000
- Certified nurse-midwife – Median salary: $96,970
- Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner – Median salary: $102,000
- Nurse practitioner – Median salary: $95,350
- Gerontological nurse practitioner – Median salary: $64,906
- Critical care nurse – Median salary: $80,000
- Nurse anesthetist – Median salary: $157,690
Do traveling nurses make more money?
Traveling nurses make a lot of money. Often the travel nursing agencies and lead generators get people to sign up for their services. Traveling registered nurses usually earn a significant amount of money, which surpasses the $68,450 median annual income for the current year.
Factors that make the pay considerably higher is insurance, bonuses, free housing, travel allowance, and other relevant expenses that are added to the salary. Usually, a traveling RN (registered nurse) can make up to $100,000 annually.
Travel nurses typically earn far more than staff nurses, and their pay rates are considered as the highest in the travel nurse industry. The average pay for a travel nurse who is working 36 weeks is $101,288. On-assignment nurses usually receive their paychecks weekly.
Top Paying Countries For The Nursing Profession
The top countries that pay nurses the most are as follows -
- United States
- Australia
- Norway
- Israel
- The Netherlands
- Switzerland
- Republic of Ireland
- New Zealand
Demand For Nurse Educators
Nursing is a practice that requires constant education of patients, family members, others, and ourselves. Nurse educators are allowed to fortify their nursing knowledge and are also provided the ability to foster and grow their teaching potential.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for nursing instructors and teachers is $69,130. Nurse educators work in an academic environment like nursing schools, community colleges, and also technical schools. Some also work in the health care domain as staff development officers or clinical supervisors.
Degree Needed to Teach Nursing
Before you can opt for this profession of teaching in the nursing domain, you must become, at minimum, a registered nurse (RN) with a valid license and several years of work experience. Most nurse educators complete a masters degree in nursing, although a doctorate is required to teach at most universities.
How much does a nursing professor make?
The mean salary for full-time nursing professors is $102,399, according to AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing) data for the 2012-2013 academic school year. The 25th percentile is $82,005, and the 75th percentile is $117,075. The maximum salary, according to the AACN(American Association of Colleges of Nursing) data, is $272,095 per year.