What A Master's Degree in Nursing Could Do For Your Career
New graduate Cassie wants her master's degree because she's having trouble competing with better-educated nurses in the workplace. Seasoned pro Sam thinks a master's degree will score him a long-overdue pay raise. Edwina wants to be a Nurse Practitioner. Robin dreams of teaching at a prestigious university.
What's your story? Whether you're already applying to graduate schools or have just started exploring your options, you're on the right track. For nurses who are serious about their goals, a master's degree makes good sense. Here are three of the many reasons practicing nurses choose to go on to earn their MSN degree.
1. Take a Shortcut to a Better Job
"A master’s degree from an accredited university in a subject related to health-care....can substitute for teaching or training experience," reads an announcement posted for a Florida hospice job opening. Such verbiage is not uncommon. While your colleagues may struggle to prove their competence by citing years of related work experience, your master's degree places you in top position for job consideration.
"It's not that someone with a master's degree is smarter or more passionate than someone without one," explains Sujeeta, Human Resources Manager for Alpine Health Systems. "But if I see they've received graduate-level education from an accredited school, I have a sense of the quality and level of training they've gone through...I don't have to guess. It doesn't guarantee you'll get the job but yes, all else being equal I'm more likely to call in master's-prepared nurses for an interview."
2. Earn a Bigger Paycheck
Is it any coincidence that the highest-paying nursing professions all require graduate-level preparation? For example, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists can boast an average salary of $160,000 per annum. It's not unusual for Nurse Practitioners to make between 70 and 120 thousand per year, depending on their specialty. Top-tier Nurse Administrators and Nurse Managers often achieve similar figures.
While each online nursing school offers their own particular nursing program with different specializations being offered, the most popular online nursing masters degree programs are the RN to MSN bridge programs, MSN degree, Nurse Practitioner programs, ,M.S. in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Education, and programs that combine a Masters in Nursing with a Masters in Management or Healthcare Administration.
According to informal calculations published on MSN Money's website, the average increase in lifetime income for master's degree holders when compared to workers with only bachelor's degrees was over $180,000. While these figures refer to averages across all professions, not just nursing, the evidence does seem to indicate a clear link between higher levels of education and higher pay. And although not all nursing professions require a master's degree before you can practice, most supervisory roles screen out applicants who lack graduate-level education. Your master's degree opens the window to generous salaries and benefits packages.
3. Enjoy Personal Satisfaction And Higher Prestige
Today's generation of employees joke that a master's degree is the new bachelor's degree. While master's degrees are becoming more common, commonplace they are not.
"I believe in education as I have two master's degrees and have considered getting my PhD," says Rick D. Mace, CEO of Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital, Bolingbrook, Illinois. It would seem that many nursing professionals agree with Mace's sentiments, according to a 2007 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. The survey found that between 2000 and 2004, the number of RNs with a graduate degree increased by 37%.
Another 2007 study collected data from over 100 community health, school health, and home health nurses. According to the results, "prestige had the highest positive correlation with and was the single significant predictor of job satisfaction." While a master's degree isn't the only factor in the amount of prestige you enjoy, it plays a role in determining the level of responsibility you are given and the types of challenges you face.
Narrowing Down Your Options
To reap the benefits of a master's degree in your nursing career, you must graduate from an accredited nursing master’s degree program. Non-accredited programs just don't cut it with employers. Many top nursing schools offer accredited nursing degree programs online, and you can count on solid educational quality--online programs are held to strict standards and are continually improving. One of the smartest and most convenient ways to receive your master’s degree in nursing these days is through an accredited online nursing degree program. Whether you're fresh out of nursing school or have years of experience under your belt, you're sure to find a master's program that suits your needs and will enhance your nursing career.
Earn Your Master's Degree In Nursing Online
Get the education you need to advance your nursing career through an accredited online RN to MS in Nursing Bridge Program or explore online MSN degree programs. Take the first step towards earning your MSN degree by request additional program information today:
Explore Online RN-to-MSN Bridge Programs
Explore Master's in Nursing Online Degree Programs
Sources Cited:
Weston, Liz Pulliam. "Is your degree worth $1 million -- or worthless?"
MSN Money. Sept 28, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2010 from articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/SavingForCollege/
IsYourDegreeWorth1million.aspx.
Riordan, Jan, RN. "Prestige: Key to Job Satisfaction for Community Health Nurses."
Public Health Nursing, Vol. 8, Issue 1, Pages 59 - 64. Published online May 5, 2007.
Raines, C. Fay, PhD, RN and M. Elaine Taglaireni, EdD, RN. "Career Pathways in Nursing:
Entry Points and Academic Progression." The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing,
Vol. 13, Sept 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2010 from
nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/
TableofContents/vol132008/No3Sept08/CareerEntryPoints.aspx
Keiser University
Campus
Keiser University eCampus Online offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni.
Programs:- Nursing, MS
- Fort Lauderdale
Kaplan University
Campus
Advance your career and get the distinct competitive advantage you need with an online degree from Kaplan University. And do it without missing a day of work.
Programs:- MS in Nursing
- RN to MS in Nursing
- RN to BS in Nursing
- Fort Lauderdale
University of Phoenix
Campus
As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.
Programs:- M.S. in Nursing
- MS in Nursing (RN Required)
- MS in Nursing/Master of Health Administration
- Online
- Henderson
- Oakland
- Palm Beach Gardens
- Costa Mesa
- Saint Louis
- Los Angeles
- Lone Tree
- Las Vegas
- Tucson
- San Jose
- Westlake
- Miami
- Littleton
- Plantation
- Independence
- Westminster
- Hurst
- Fairfield
- Mesa
- Arlington
- Irving
- East Lansing
- Sacramento
- San Antonio
- Jacksonville
- Elk Grove
- San Francisco
- Grand Rapids
- Maitland
- Phoenix
- Ann Arbor
- Fairfax
- Reston
- St. Louis
- Chandler
- Fort Lauderdale
- Rancho Cordova
- Dallas
- Gardena
- Hollywood
- St Louis Park
- Beachwood
- Salida
- Livermore
- Manassas
- Southfield
- San Diego
- Pasadena
- Lathrop
- Clearwater
- Livonia
- Woodland Hills
- Aurora
- Troy
- Roseville
- Saint Paul
- Orlando
- Temple Terrace
- Daytona Beach
- Sarasota
- Flint
- Tampa
- Palm Desert
- Portage
Walden University
Online
Balance your personal and professional commitments while earning a respected Ph.D., master's degree, or bachelor's degree online at Walden University. Programs offered in management, education, psychology and health and human services.
Programs:- M.S. in Nursing (MSN) - BSN Track
- M.S. in Nursing (MSN) - RN Track
Grand Canyon University
Campus
Don't Miss a Day of Your Future! Grand Canyon University is offering Bachelor and Master degrees through our College of Education, Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Nursing & Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, and College of Entrepreneurship. Classes start soon!
Programs:- M.S. in Nursing: Public Health
- M.S. in Nursing: Public Health (Bridge)
- M.S. in Nursing: Health Care Informatics
- Phoenix
Keiser University Graduate School
Campus
Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.
Programs:- Nursing, MS (Online)
- Fort Lauderdale
Keiser University Campus
Campus
Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.
Programs:- Nursing, MS (Online Only)
- Lakeland
- Port Saint Lucie
South University - Campus
Campus
With over 100 years of educational excellence, South University can give you the outstanding instruction and personalized attention you need to prepare for the real world. We offer a variety of degree programs which can be earned online or at one of our five campus locations. Options include Business Administration, Information Technology, Nursing, Criminal Justice, and more.
Programs:- Nurse Educator (MS)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (MS)
- Nursing (RN-MSN)
- Tampa
- Savannah
- West Palm Beach
Herzing University
Campus
Take control of your career at Herzing College. Day and evening classes are offered in Business, Design/CAD, Electronics/Telecommunications and Information Technology.
Programs:- Madison
American Sentinel University Online
Online
Advance your career with the right online degree. ACCIS offers self-paced, real-world programs in Computer Science, Information Systems, Management Information Systems, and Business Administration.
Programs:- MS Nursing - Case Management
- MS Nursing - Infection Prevention and Control
- MS Nursing - Management and Organizational Leadership
Spring Arbor University
Campus
Earn your degree at Spring Arbor, Michigan’s largest evangelical Christian university. Associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs are available. Learn more about enrollment now.
Programs:- Masters of Science in Nursing
- Spring Arbor
The College Network
Online
Start your nursing career with The College Network. Earn your NLNAC/CCNE Accredited nursing degree online from one of our partner universities: Regis University, Indiana State University, Angelo State University and more at 1/2 the cost and time of traditional universities with no campus attendance, no wait list and local clinicals.
Programs:- RN to MS in Nursing - Regis University (Licensed RNs only)
Nebraska Methodist College
Online
Advance your nursing career online with Nebraska Methodist College. Our online programs include Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing, and Master of Science in Nursing.
Programs:- MSN Executive
- RN to MSN Executive
- MSN Educator
Independence University
Campus
You can advance your career 24/7 with online education at Independence University, your proven partner with over 30 years of experience in delivering quality distance education right to our students. Our programs are designed to allow you to continue working and earning as you pursue your online degree.
From associate's and bachelor's to master's degrees in health education and business, with Independence University you can achieve greater success through distance learning programs that suit your busy schedule, with experienced, student-oriented staff to assist you throughout your distance education.
- MS - Nursing Administration
- Salt Lake City
CollegeAmerica
Campus
Finally, a college that delivers. CollegeAmerica is truly unique in that their curriculum is designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to prepare students for success.
Programs:- Master of Science in Nursing Administration (Online)
- Master of Science in Nursing Education (Online)
- Flagstaff
- Fort Collins
- Colorado Springs
- Cheyenne
- Phoenix
- Denver
