Reasons to Get a Master’s in Nursing: Benefits of Being a Master’s-Prepared Nurse
Are you thinking about earning your Master of Science in Nursing degree? If yes, then you should know the answer to one of the frequently asked questions: What can you do with a masters in nursing?. A Master of Science in Nursing or MSN degree allows nurses access to advanced clinical roles and management positions. Moreover, an MSN program serves as a bridge between your Bachelor of Science in Nursing studies and advancing to your Ph.D. studies.
An MSN program typically takes anywhere between 1-2 years to complete. In addition, some MSN courses require more time to finish. These programs can take up to 3 years to be completed.
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Nursing?
An MSN degree is an excellent choice for those who desire to pursue advanced practice areas such as:
Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
Certified nurse-midwife (CNM)
Nurse administration
Roles in education, such as those at the higher education level
Research-related roles
Benefits of Graduating with an MSN Degree
MSN programs help students specialize in various areas and further develop their knowledge and skills through in-depth practice and theoretical classes. It gives students more benefits in every aspect of their career. But, what can you do with a masters in nursing education? Let’s find out more about it and each of the advantages it gives.
More Job Opportunities
When earning an MSN degree, job opportunities are almost limitless. As a Master of Science in Nursing graduate, you can choose different pathways starting from:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP)
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (GNP)
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse Educator
Nursing Informatics
Community Health Nurse
Clinical Nurse Leader
Nurse Researcher
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Better Pay
Have you ever asked yourself how much does a nurse with a masters degree make? It is a fact that an MSN degree will certainly help you have better pay. The salary depends on the level of your specialization, job experience, and it varies between locations.
Typically, some of the Master's-prepared nurse positions such as nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners had a median annual wage of $117,670 in May 2020.
As claimed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wages for master's prepared nurses in May 2020 were as follows:
Nurse anesthetists - $183,580
Nurse practitioners - $111,680
Nurse-midwives - $111,130
The median annual wage for Master's-prepared nurses in May 2020 in the most demands industries were as follows:
Hospitals; state, local, and private - $124,660 per year
Outpatient care centers - $122,840 per year
Offices of physicians - $114,570 per year
Offices of other health practitioners - $111,610 per year
Educational services; state, local, and private - $111,400 per year
Specialized Duties
A Master of Science in Nursing degree will make you eligible for more specialized duties in comparison to nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. An MSN will allow you to take on more managerial and administrative positions.
Some of the specialized duties for a Master's-prepared nurse include:
Chief Nursing Officer
Nurse Administrator
Director of Nursing
Nurse Manager
Clinical Nurse Researcher
Legal Nurse Consultant
Better Work Hours
When choosing such a challenging profession, a nurse agrees to long working shifts and time away from their loved ones. However, there is a solution to having better work hours and creating your schedule. Earning an MSN degree will help you with that.
An MSN degree paves the way for managerial positions with up to 40 hours of work a week that require less time and effort compared to many hours spent at the hospital taking care of patients. In addition, considering your income, you might even be looking for more free time to spend doing some other things that are important to you.
More Responsibilities
Students in MSN programs must undergo a faculty-supervised clinical experience, which allows them to obtain hands-on experience in their chosen field and, eventually, qualify them for any board certification or licensure required for their specialties.
However, when nurses get a higher position after getting a Master's degree, they will immediately have more responsibilities. Master's prepared nurses will have to take on more managerial roles, which translate into being in charge and responsible for other nurses without an MSN.
Becoming a Mentor
Another benefit of having an MSN degree is the mentorship opportunities it offers. Nurses with an MSN degree who have more experience in the field can become mentors to newer nurses. Master’s-prepared nurses can use their theoretical knowledge and clinical practice to impact the professional and personal lives of less experienced nurses. This way, you can pay your own mentors forward by now taking on mentees.
Research Opportunities
While studying for a Master of Science in Nursing degree, a medical professional can have the opportunity to do more research on their particular field of study.
Typically when entering a Master's program, you have to finish a research project, such as your thesis. In this case, you can take the opportunity to explore more on a specific medical field or issue that you were always passionate about.
Continuous Learning
The nature of nursing jobs is always followed by a need for lifelong learning and education. Earning an MSN degree is the perfect solution. The courses and clinical experience that this program offers will expand your knowledge in the field and give you a new advanced set of skills.
Most MSN programs allow their students to choose a particular field of study and go more in-depth to specialize in it. The students will be able to comprehend all the information needed using the provided courses. Therefore, a Master of Science in Nursing program is a wonderful opportunity for furthering your studies.
More Independence
As a nurse practitioner, nurse administrator, or nurse educator with an MSN degree, you will be monitored less and have more independence compared to the registered nurses.
You'll be given greater authority, more freedom to make choices, and the responsibility of supervising others' work. You'll help shape the future of healthcare and impact the field's overall goal of serving the greater good. An MSN degree can be the perfect solution to help nurses gain more independence.
Job Security
Nursing jobs are some of the most secure jobs out there. However, when a registered nurse earns a Master’s degree, this security becomes even higher.
As claimed by the BLS, the employment rate of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners is predicted to grow 45% from 2020 to 2030, with a faster pace than the average for all occupations, making jobs in this field some of the most in-demand and secure ones.
Personal Fulfillment
One of the reasons why most nurses get into the medical field is to help others; however, the profession of a licensed nurse only allows for limited help. Obtaining an MSN degree provides more skills and opportunities for improving the lives of your patients, whether you're caring for people in marginalized areas, performing emergency room treatment, or ensuring that premature and ill newborns receive the care they require to grow into strong and healthy babies.
Ultimately, an essential quality a healthcare practitioner can have is understanding and putting oneself in their patients' shoes. The ability to do so enables nurses to form deep bonds with their patients and, as a result, give the best possible treatment. Obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing degree will enable medical professionals to further develop their skills and use them for the benefit of the patient.