Career Options with a Master of Nursing (MSN) Degree

With a masters of nursing degree you are bound to have plenty of career options. If you have not yet pursued your degree then you have even more because this type of degree can be targeted to any specialty in the medical field. The career options with a masters in nursing degree are many and varied.

Do You Need A Masters To Be A Nurse?

You do not need a masters degree to be a nurse. You can have a satisfying and successful nursing career if you only hold a bachelors degree but you will be limited as to how far you can progress in this field both as far as your salary goes and as far as your responsibilities extend. So now you may wonder what the exact benefits are of obtaining a masters degree in nursing.

What Career Options Can A Masters In Nursing Give You?

A masters in nursing of course will open the door for you to move on to more lucrative nursing positions but that’s not all. A masters in nursing provides you with extensive training in a particular area of medicine so that you will have a specialty. At this point you may be referred to as a clinical nurse specialist and you may either work in the field in your area of specialty or you may choose to use this degree to teach. As a nurse working in your area of specialty you may become more of a consultant for various departments within a medical facility. As a teacher you may work at community colleges and universities to pass on the skills of nursing to future nurses.

Is There A Demand For Nurses With Masters Degrees?

To put it simply, there is always a demand for nurses. Nurses serve as an integral part of the healthcare system and provide a large amount of the patient care services that make up the health care system. As much as nurses in general are always in demand, nurses with masters degrees are harder to come by so the demand for these specialized nurses can be even greater.

You have many careers options with a masters in nursing degree. You can become a clinical nurse specialist and specialize in one area of medicine or you can become a teacher. Whichever route you choose, you will always have many job opportunities just waiting for you to take advantage of them.

Most Popular RN-MSN Degree Programs

Registered nurses looking for career advancement and higher salaries would do well to look into earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. An RN to MSN specifically is a degree designed for registered nurses who may or may not have already completed a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN). Upon completion of an RN-MSN degree program, one can become a clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner. Below are the top online schools offering masters in nursing degrees.

RN to MSN RN to MSN: Nurse Admin RN to MSN: Nurse Education	*Kaplan University* - Kaplan University's RN to MSN program allows students to complete their bachelor's degrees and MSN together, with the MSN program in a condensed format. In addition to learning everything from basic to advanced nursing practices, students can opt to get MSNs in Nurse Administration or Nurse Education if they want to pursue management or teaching positions.
RN to MSN MBA/MSN Dual Degree MHA/MSN Dual Degree RN to MSN: Informatics RN to MSN: Health Education	*University of Phoenix* - The University of Phoenix offers several RN to MSN degrees in addition to the general one, like an MBA/MSN dual degree, an MSN/MHA dual degree, or a RN to MSN degree in health care education or nursing informatics. The MBA/MSN blends advanced nursing and business management skills; the MSN/MHA combines nursing with health care related business and management skills; and the MSN/Health Care Education degree incorporates leadership skills into the Nursing program to prepare nurses to teach effectively.
RN to MSN RN to MSN: Health Mgmt	*Loyola University of New Orleans* - Offering both a general RN to MSN and specialized degree in healthcare systems management, Loyola University of New Orleans is becoming a leader in online nursing programs. The Health Care Systems Management (HCSM) specialization is designed to teach the knowledge surrounding the challenges faced by Nursing leaders in positions throughout the healthcare organization.
RN to MSN RN to MSN: Informatics RN to MSN: Education RN to MSN: Leadership	*Walden University* - Walden University has specialized RN to MSN programs in Informatics, Education, and Leadership & Management. The RN to MSN in Informatics program combines nursing with computer science to help nurses use technology effectively to improve patient care. RN to MSN in Education incorporates teaching skills to the advanced nursing program. The RN to MSN in Leadership & Management prepares nurses for advanced careers and entry into management level positions.
MSN: Educator MS: Educator Bridge	*Capella University* - Capella University offers two MSN programs: Nurse Educator, and Nurse Educator Bridge. Both programs are designed to teach registered nurses the skills they will need to take on roles as nursing faculty or clinical nurse mentors. The Nurse Educator Bridge specialization is especially good for nurses who wish to have careers teaching in higher education institutions, or even the military.
RN to MSN RN to MSN: Case Mgmt RN to MSN: Nurse Informatics RN to MSN: Nurse Leader	*American Sentinel University* - The RN to MSN degree programs from American Sentinel University teach advanced methods in nursing. An MSN in Informatics prepares students to manage healthcare information systems. The MSN in Case Management teaches patient care innovations, while the MSN in Leadership will help you develop leadership skills.
RN to MSN: Adult Care RN to MSN: Mental Health RN to MSN: Nursing Faculty RN to MSN: Entrepreneurship RN to MSN: Management	*Drexel University* - Drexel University offers a wide variety of specialized MSN programs including adult acute care, adult psychiatric care, clinical trials, nurse management, entrepreneurship in advanced nursing practice, and contemporary nursing faculty. Courses are offered online, but the college is affiliated with the finest teaching hospitals in the U.S.
RN to MSN	*Gonzaga University* - Gonzaga University's RN to MSN program teaches students to critically examine the latest research findings, communicate articulately to peers and patients, develop individualized holistic plans of health care, and assume leadership roles in health care – all while incorporating Jesuit values into their lives and practices.
RN to BSN	*Post University* - For students looking to advance their career in Nursing, Post University has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing available online. The online course can cut many of the costs associated with campus programs, like commuting, and increased living expenses. This course can be completed at a relatively fast pace compared to its campus counterpart too.
RN to MSN RN to MSN: Adult Health RN to MSN: Nurse Education	*South University* - South University's RN to MSN nursing programs are intended to prepare students to use research, apply nursing theories, design teaching plans, implement teaching skills, and analyze how health care policy will impact clinical practice. Students will learn about caring for multicultural societies, financial management for nurses, legal and ethical issues, theoretical perspectives, nursing research methods, palliative care, and gerontological care. Specialized degrees are offered in adult health and nursing education.
RN to MSN	*Chamberlain College of Nursing* - Chamberlain College of Nursing makes the RN to MSN simple by offering two tracks: the Educator Track and the Executive Track. Courses are offered online and include classes on informatics, leadership, assessment and evaluation, managerial communication, as well as advanced nursing practices.
RN to MSN: Nurse Admin RN to MSN: Nurse Educator RN to MSN: Nurse Midwife RN to MSN: Women's Health	*University of Cincinnati* - The MSN Programs at the University of Cincinnati's College of Nursing include perspectives from nursing sciences and holistic care to enhance the quality of health care its students can provide. Several MSN degrees are offered, including psychiatric NP or CNS, CNS/Nurse Education, Nursing Administration, Nurse Midwifery, and Women's Health.
RN to MSN: Clinical Nursing RN to MSN: Nurse Education RN to MSN: Patient Care	*Sacred Heart University* - Sacred Heart University offers numerous specialties in it's graduate nursing program. The MSNs in clinical nursing and patient care are designed to teach how to provide the most efficient and effective patient care. The MSN in nurse education is designed to complement your clinical skills in teaching future nurses with the best practices of nursing.
RN to BSN	*Utica College* - Utica College is an inexpensive alternative for students who want to further their careers in Nursing quickly. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing provides a more in-depth study and allows students to pursue higher level positions. Moreover, most masters programs required a Bachelor's degree making this a highly sought-after program and valuable addition to your education.
RN to MSN: Education RN to MSN: Leadership	*Grand Canyon University* - Grand Canyon University offers an RN to MSN in Nursing Education and an RN to MSN in Leadership in Healthcare Systems. GCU has an exceptional record of students passing the NCLEX-RN examination, and graduates are frequently recruited by health care facilities. The RN to MSN in Leadership in Healthcare Systems uniquely combines graduate nursing core courses and courses taken with the MS in Leadership program, emphasizing communication skills.
RN to MSN	*Benedictine University* - The online Benedictine University RN to MS in nursing program focuses on the interrelated academic preparation in areas of leadership, education, administration, and global health care. The curriculum includes courses on the elderly population, those with chemical addictions, HIV/AIDS, the poor and those with catastrophic illnesses.
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