Your Guide to Nursing Master's Degrees
Nurses do a lot more than care for the patient in a physical sense. They are an essential part of the healthcare world. They help the patients with their physical and emotional needs while also providing help in better understanding the different procedures. That being said, to move up the ladder as a nurse, you need a master's degree. There are various nursing master's degrees, with different pathways to get to them, which will be more thoroughly explained in this guide.
MSN Pathways
A master of science in nursing degree (MSN) could be beneficial because such graduate nursing programs teach advanced skills and training in the nursing field. Students that take the MSN nursing path work closely with the patients monitoring their health and treating different illnesses.
BSN to MSN
You can pursue an MSN degree after completing a bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN). For nurses looking to work in administration or education, taking a path from BSN to MSN is relatively standard. It takes close to two years to complete the transition to an MSN nursing degree. With that degree comes an increase in income as well. The BSN degree may prepare you and give you the proper knowledge to practice in a healthcare setting. On the other hand, the MSN nursing degree gives you a chance to advance your nursing knowledge while providing numerous options to specialize at the graduate level.
MSN Bridge Programs
MSN Bridge programs are typically designed to help Registered Nurses (RNs) who do not possess a BSN to pursue the completion of an MSN degree. These programs allow students with a bachelor's degree in fields other than nursing to complete a master of science in nursing and move up the nursing ladder.
Direct-Entry MSN
Direct-entry MSNs allow even the students who do not have a background in nursing to pursue an MSN degree—starting with the basics and general education in nursing and moving to more advanced and specific teaching by the end. To attend a direct-entry MSN, you need to find specific programs that allow direct-entry MSNs without a BSN or other nursing education background.
Dual Degrees
You can combine an MSN nursing degree with a second master's degree, often an MBA or MPA degree. Students who complete dual degrees earn two separate degrees, which means you need to work harder to earn both degrees. These degrees typically include clinical courses, internships, general nursing courses alongside the regular ones.
Types of Master's in Nursing
There are a variety of nursing master's degrees, such as the APRN Master's in Nursing, MSN Specializations - Non-APRN, Healthcare Administration, and Dual MSN Degree Programs. Below you can find an explanation for each of them.
APRN Master's Degrees
Nurses with MSNs can become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Nurses with such degrees can work in collaboration with physicians or independently. They can perform extensive tasks such as ordering and evaluating test results, diagnosing and treating different illnesses. Types of APRNs include:
Nurse Practitioner (NP),
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL),
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS),
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM).
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Nurse Practitioners are qualified to assess, diagnose, order testing, prescribe medications, and oversee patient problems. Typical duties include performing physical examinations, ordering diagnostic tests, determining and initiating treatments, and informing patients on different procedures.
You can become an NP through the traditional pathway of completing a BSN, ASN, or MSN degree. After graduation, take the NCLEX-RN exam to become a state-certified RN, through which you can gain meaningful experience in the nursing field. After graduating, you can take either the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC )exam to practice as an NP. The other pathway is through the direct entry for students with bachelor degrees which typically takes 3-5 years to complete.
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
Clinical Nurse Leaders are capable of providing care within any healthcare setting. CNLs are lifelong nursing learners because they keep developing their healthcare skills and expand their overall knowledge all the time. The CNL evaluates patient outcomes and can change care plans if necessary because they have that authority.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
A Clinical Nurse Specialist or CNS is an APRN who has a nursing masters degree or doctoral degree. They assess, diagnose and treat patients, although their role extends in other fields as well into healthcare management and research.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists or CRNAs deal with administering anesthesia for medical procedures such as surgeries. CRNAs must have at least a nursing master's degree to practice the position.
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
A Certified Nurse Midwife or CNM works with helping people during their birthing process. They help and support the pregnancy stage, labor, birth, and postnatal period while caring for the newborn baby. They also educate and provide the necessary information to pregnant women and their friends and family.
MSN Specializations - Non-APRN
There are some masters of science in nursing specializations that are not considered as APRNs. Below you can find each of those specializations.
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
As explained beforehand, clinical nurse leaders can practice their profession within any healthcare setting. Some of the responsibilities as a CNL include mentoring other nurses, educating patients and their families, and analyzing data. You might specialize in pediatrics, emergency care, psychiatric care, among other possibilities.
Health System Management
Health System Management involves the leadership and management of healthcare systems and hospitals. Some of the responsibilities in health system management include setting goals and objectives for the department, being updated with laws and regulations, developing work schedules, preparing and monitoring budgets, and more.
A master's degree in healthcare management allows you to work as an administrator, executive director, vice president, chief nursing officer, or practice manager.
Nurse Educator
To become a nurse educator, most nurses complete a nursing master's degree. Though, to teach at the university level, a doctorate is required. Nurse educators develop lesson plans, teach courses and evaluate educational programs.
Nurse Executive Leadership
Within a nursing organization, nurse executives typically hold the most senior administrative role. To become a Nurse Executive you need two years of experience in an executive nursing role, be a registered nurse (RN) license, and have at least a master of science in nursing degree.
Nursing Informatics
Nurse informaticists organize patient care software and electronic medical records, and they also optimize these systems by using their clinical nursing knowledge. Nursing informatics combines congestive, computer, information, and nursing science that includes developing, analyzing, and evaluating patient care information systems. A bachelor in nursing science or relevant field (such as healthcare informatics) is required as a baseline to practice as a nurse informaticist.
Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality
Patient safety and healthcare quality is a discipline that somewhat emerged due to patient harm in healthcare facilities. Its goal is to prevent risk, errors, or liability caused to the patient during their stay. Usually, master programs in patient safety and healthcare quality include educating students in protocols that help best serve and protect the patient.
Healthcare Administration Master's Degrees
Healthcare administration master's degrees allow for a wide range of job possibilities, such as director of business development or executive director within the healthcare system.
Master of Healthcare Administration
Currently, healthcare administration and management are growing fields in the healthcare industry. With a master's in healthcare administration, a whole new world of opportunities will open up for you. Some of the jobs you will be qualified for with a master's in healthcare administration include hospital CEO, nursing home manager, healthcare marketing manager, among others.
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MBA in Healthcare Management
An MBA in healthcare management will open career opportunities like hospital administrator, pharmaceutical project manager, or policy analyst. Pursuing an MBA in healthcare can be beneficial when fighting for a desired position, and higher education makes it easier to find employment. And with a high salary to go along with it, completing the MBA, in this case, is more than worth it.
Dual MSN Degree Programs
Dual degrees typically combine the primary degree with a second-degree program. In this instance, a dual MSN degree program would combine an MSN degree with a master's program. Thus, completing a dual MSN degree makes it possible for a student to earn two degrees simultaneously.
MSN-MHA Dual Degree
Among the usual education that the MSN degree provides in nursing, an MSN-MHA dual degree also includes education in healthcare administration. To earn their MHA degree, however, students must complete internships and the required clinical hours.
MSN-MPH Dual Degree
An MSN-MPH dual degree makes it possible to advance in the nursing profession while also gaining all the general knowledge necessary. The MSN-MPH degree is designed for students who already have a BSN degree and their RN certification. Just like the other dual degrees, it may take up to two years to complete. After completing the degree, students are prepared to pursue careers in advanced nursing, leadership positions, or program planning and policy.
MSN-MBA Dual Degree
Graduated students with an MSN-MBA dual degree will enjoy a high job demand in the medical field. Some of the topics explored in this dual degree include leadership theory and management skills competency in nursing.
MSN-MPA Dual Degree
An MSN-MPA dual degree provides two degrees to students who graduate. Possible employment in government, NGOs, or public healthcare administrations is very likely to be pursued after graduation.
There is certainly a lot to wrap your head around regarding all the different possibilities of master's in nursing degrees. However, it is crucial to know what each specific degree offers to prepare you for a future position in healthcare. Among numerous graduate nursing programs, you have the freedom to choose the one program that works best for you. This way, you can entirely focus on becoming the best possible nurse you can be while also ensuring you're not straying from the correct path.