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Graduate Degrees For Nurses
Are you considering getting your Masters’s in nursing? A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree can open the doorway to more opportunities for you as a nurse, from leadership positions to advanced clinical roles, as well as a higher salary!
If you’ve been thinking about advancing your degree, now’s the time! Read on to explore all the different paths you can take with an MSN.
We Found the Following Schools with Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
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Capella offers CCNE accredited programs, including through their FlexPath program which allows you to control your pace of learning. Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.Show moreACCREDITATIONCCNELOCATIONOnlinePREREQUISITERN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
- MSN
- MSN – Care Coordination
- MSN – Nursing Education
- MSN – Nursing Informatics
- MSN – Nursing Leadership and Administration
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GCU ‘s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionalsShow moreACCREDITATIONCCNELOCATIONOnlinePREREQUISITERN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
- M.S.N.: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- M.S.N.: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology (ACNP)
- M.S.N.: Public Health Nursing
- M.S.N.: Nursing Education
- M.S.N.: Health Informatics
- M.S.N.: Health Care Quality & Patient Safety
- M.S.N.: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems
- M.B.A. & M.S.N.: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems
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At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.Show moreACCREDITATIONCCNELOCATIONOnlinePREREQUISITERN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding IA, IL, WI
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Master of Science in Nursing – ExcelTrack™
- Master of Science in Nursing – DNP Path
- MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator
- Master of Science in Nursing – Executive Leader
- MSN/MBA Dual Degree Option
Request info Walden has been helping students earn degrees for more than 40 years and is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Walden’s online nursing programs meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and the School of Nursing teaching faculty all hold doctorates. Show more ACCREDITATIONCCN ELOCATION Online PREREQUISITERN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding AK, ID, MA, NH, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD
- MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Primary Care
- MSN – Nursing Education
- MSN – Nursing Education – Tempo Learning®
- MSN – Nursing Informatics
- MSN – Nursing Informatics – Tempo Learning®
- MSN – Nurse Executive
Types of Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
Before we dig into each of the degree and specialization options for nurses wanting to earn a Master of Science in Nursing, let’s talk about the different MSN program types.
Depending on where you’re starting out, there are a lot of different ways to earn your MSN.
1. BSN to MSN Programs
Who is it right for? RNs that already have a BSN
If you’re an RN that already holds a bachelor of science in nursing, this is the route for you. In this case, you can continue on directly from your undergraduate degree into an MSN program, or choose to work with your undergraduate degree while pursuing your MSN.
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2. RN to MSN Bridge Program
Who is it right for? RNs that have an ADN or Diploma
If you have your Associate’s Degree in Nursing, or if you have a diploma RN, you can either earn your BSN and then apply to an MSN program, OR you can earn both your BSN and MSN at the same time, known as an RN-to-MSN bridge program.
These typically allow RNs to earn their MSN about a year sooner than the traditional route.
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3.) Direct-Entry Master’s Degree
Who is it right for? Those with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree
If you have a bachelor’s degree in a different field, this type of program is designed for you. Rather than having to start from scratch and earn another bachelor’s degree, this program allows you to jump right into your MSN degree. Perfect for any aspiring nurses that know they want to work as an APRN or other master’s educated level nurse.
4.) Dual Master’s Degree Programs
Who is it right for? Nurses who want advanced leadership or healthcare administration roles
If you know that you want to one day become a hospital CEO or a Chief Nursing Officer, you may want to consider a dual master’s degree in nursing program. With these, you can earn an MSN at the same time as you earn a more leadership-focused degree like an MSN/MBA, or an MSN/MHA — Master’s in Healthcare Administration. You can also earn an MSN/MPH if you want your career to take a public health route.
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Types of Master’s in Nursing Degree Specializations
Now that we’ve covered the types of master’s in nursing programs that there are, let’s dig into the specific specialties you focus on with your MSN.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse degrees prepare a Registered Nurse for an advanced clinical role. To become an APRN nurse, in addition to earning an MSN degree, you’ll also need to pass a certifying exam in your chosen specialty field.
Other types of MSN degrees focus on preparing nurses for non-clinical roles such as public health or nursing informatics.
- APRN Masters Degrees
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
- MSN Degree Specializations
- Public Health
- Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
- Nurse Educator
- Nursing Informatics
- Nurse Administrator or Executive
- Nurse Researcher
- Dual Master’s Degrees
- MSN/MBA
- MSN/MPH
- MSN/MHA
- MSN/MPA
- Healthcare Administration Master’s Degrees
- Masters of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
- MBA in Healthcare Management
Nurse Practitioner (NP) — $117K/year
Nurse Practitioners work to provide advanced care to different patient populations; they can independently assess, diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication.
Salary: The average Nurse Practitioner salary is $117,670, but salaries vary by specialty, as well as other factors like location, years of experience, and where you work.
Specialties: Much like a doctor can specialize in virtually any type of medical care, an NP can choose a specialty track with the corresponding certification to become an expert in his or her field.
Some courses will allow you to specialize in your chosen field through your degree program, while others will have you become a general practitioner, and then take an additional certification course to specialize.
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Nurse Practitioner Specialties & Avg Salaries
- General Nurse Practitioner – $117,670
- Family Nurse Practitioner – $105,898
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner – $90,102
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner – $107,309
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – $121,659
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner – $110,076
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner – $91,454
- Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner – $100,035
- Emergency Nurse Practitioner – $113,840
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner – $124,756
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) — $106K/year
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) serve as clinical experts in one specialty field, such as geriatrics or acute care. A CNS can provide care and act in more of a consulting role for advanced practice.
Salary: ZipRecruiter reports an average salary of $106,407 for CNSs.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) — $183K/year
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists assess patients before administering anesthesia, monitor and adjust medication flow during the time the patient is under anesthesia, and provide post-anesthesia recovery. CRNAs can work in a variety of settings, from the hospital to surgical clinics and may work in a medical or oral surgeon field. However, as of 2022 CRNAs programs are now required to be doctorate degrees, not master’s.
Salary: One of the highest-paid APRN roles, CRNAs earn a median average annual salary of $183,580, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics as of 2020.
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Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) — $117K/year
Certified Nurse-Midwives are practitioners who provide complete pre and post-natal care, along with labor and delivery services and women’s health care. CNMs can work in an office setting, at a hospital or birth center, or in private practices.
Salary: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median average salary for Certified Nurse-Midwives is $117,670 as of May 2020.
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Public Health — $67K/year
With a Public Health degree, a nurse may pursue a track that is focused on broad public health goals, such as healthcare policy, population or community health. A Public Health Nurse may complete population studies, perform research, analyze outcomes, and provide education and advocacy for public health goals. They may work at the state or local level on infectious diseases, disease prevention, and health promotion.
Salary: According to indeed.com, the average salary for Public Health Nurses is $67,290 per year or $28.88/hr.
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Nurse Educator — $84K/year
As a Nurse Educator, you will be responsible for educating the next generation of nurses, both at the clinical and classroom levels. Nurse educators can conduct research, present at conferences, consult, and publish academic pieces to continually keep up-to-date on healthcare developments in the nursing profession.
Nurse educators can work in a variety of settings and may have some flexibility to their schedules as well. If you are interested in becoming a nurse educator at the collegiate level, you should be prepared to continue to earn your doctorate degree as well.
Salary: According to the BLS, the mean annual salary for nurse educators in post-secondary universities is $84,060.
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Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) — $104K/year
Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs) deliver and supervise bedside care and work with other team members to assess and improve clinical care. After earning your MSN, it’s recommended that nurses also become certified through the Commission on Nurse Certification as a CNL.
Salary: According to ZipRecruiter, Clinical Nurse Leaders earn an average annual salary of $104,107.
Nursing Informatics — $100K/year
In this role, nurses work in an intersection between technology and nursing. An Informatics nurse could do things like consult on new technology systems, analyze and build data systems to reach healthcare goals or write computer programs.
Salary: The HIMSS 2017 Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey, found that 46% of respondents earn base salaries of more than $100,000 each year.
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Nurse Administrator or Executive — $118K/year
This track—also known as Nurse Leadership—prepares a nurse to manage a team of other nurses and/or healthcare members. A Nurse Administrator, sometimes referred to as a nurse manager or executive, may serve as a unit manager, for instance, or in even more expanded leadership roles. Additional advanced certification for Nurse Administrators and Executives are available as well.
Salary: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for medical and health services managers is $118,800 as of May 2020.
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Nurse Researcher — $82K/year
Are you fascinated by studies? A Nurse Researcher role might be right for you—in this track, nurses learn to perform, assess, analyze, and provide recommendations based on research.
Salary: Payscale reports that Research Nurses earn an annual average salary of $81,500.
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Dual Master’s Degrees
You can also choose to pursue a dual degree to earn both your MSN and a concentration in another specialty. For example, according to the AACN 120 dual MSN degrees are available in the following specialties nationwide:
- MSN/MBA — to combine nursing with business
- MSN/MPH — a nursing degree with a public health degree (MSN/MPH)
- MSN/MHA — nursing and health administration
- MSN/MPA — nursing and public administration
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Healthcare Administration Master’s Degrees for Nurses
In addition to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, nurses looking to pursue a master’s degree also have the option of going the healthcare administration route. For nurses looking to move beyond the bedside or go into an administration or leadership role, this can be an excellent path to take.
The two primary healthcare administration master’s degrees are:
- Masters of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
- Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Management
An MBA in Healthcare Management focuses on general business leadership as well as healthcare administration while a Master’s in Healthcare Administration (MHA) focuses on topics specific to healthcare like understanding healthcare operations and functioning in a leadership role at an executive level.
Earning an MBA or MHA are both excellent options; however, an MBA has a broader focus in the curriculum. An MBA in Healthcare Administration allows individuals to gain a better understanding of general business and financial practices rather than those specific to healthcare.
benefits of masters degree in nursing
After completing a bachelor’s degree in nursing, a graduate can opt to continue their studies and earn a master’s degree. A master’s degree provides graduates with more specialized skills and training, which means that they can work in a variety of areas within the nursing field. Nursing professionals may have the opportunity to advance their career, making a master’s in nursing a popular degree to pursue. In this article, we explain what a master’s degree in nursing is and outline various benefits of pursuing such an educational opportunity.
What is a master’s degree in nursing?
A Master of Science in nursing, or MSN, is a graduate degree available to professionals in the nursing field. Typically, registered nurses (RNs) or Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) graduates are eligible to pursue MSNs. Through theoretical and practical learning, MSN degree programs develop students’ skills and help them specialize in a specific area of nursing.
Related: Types of Master’s Degrees in Nursing
20 benefits of earning a master’s degree in nursing
Studying for a master’s degree in nursing provides various benefits, including:
1. Better compensation benefits
By pursuing a master’s degree in nursing, successful students may earn higher salaries. This is because nurses with MSNs usually possess higher levels of specialization, expertise and experience within the field that compensate at higher rates. Nurses earn an average national salary of $83,577 per year, and those who complete a master’s degree may earn higher. For example, nurse practitioners who hold MSNs typically earn an average of $114,470 per year.
2. Advanced career opportunities
An MSN may provide professionals with access to additional job opportunities. As a nurse advances their academic achievements, they can work to develop their competencies in a variety of areas. This often creates a higher demand for nurses with master’s degrees. Individuals who want to become qualified nurse practitioners or nurse midwives, for example, must achieve a master’s degree in nursing to be eligible for such roles.
Related: A Complete Guide to Online Nursing Master’s Programs
3. Various working hours and conditions
Earning an MSN may allow a nurse to work in a different capacity for fewer hours at a rate of similar or increased pay. For example, a nurse practitioner may work behind a desk as a part of their responsibilities. With a higher level of education, MSN graduates often perform managerial duties, whereas RNs and BSN graduates may complete more practical, experiential work.
4. Specialization opportunities
If you are interested in concentrating your work within a specific area of nursing, you may consider an MSN. Nurses who earn an MSN can specialize in various areas of nursing, including pediatrics, neonatal care, gerontology and several other areas. Focusing your studies on a specific area of nursing may allow you to pursue your passions at an advanced level.
5. Increased long-term earning potential
In addition to a higher base salary, nurses who pursue an MSN may have the opportunity to increase their annual earnings over time. Compared to RNs and BSN graduates, MSNs may receive a higher rate of incremental salary increases and benefit add-ons in the long term. Late-career MSNs may also receive higher compensation due to a result of their increased expertise, value and experience.
6. Scholarship opportunities
Most medical institutions, health organizations, government institutions and universities offer funding opportunities to nurses who want to continue studying for advanced degrees. In addition, employers may offer to fund tuition as part of professional development programs. This can be a significant benefit because scholarships and tuition reimbursement can help lower tuition fees.
7. Leadership opportunities
MSN graduates can often access more leadership positions than RNs and BSN graduates. Nurses with advanced educational credentials usually become viable candidates for administrative or managerial nursing roles. In these roles, MSN graduates lead teams of other nurses, allowing them to teach their extensive knowledge and skills to help improve healthcare systems and positively influence patient outcomes.
8. Flexibility
Since many nurses continue to work full time while earning MSNs, most schools offer flexible programs to accommodate working schedules. MSN programs sometimes allow students to plan their own learning schedules on a part-time basis or through hybrid learning modalities. These options offer a feasible balance for professionals who want to remain working in their current job while they study for their degrees.
9. Teaching opportunities
As clinical nurse education prepares students to become educators, some nurses with MSNs pursue roles at universities so that they can teach classes and offer their higher level of expertise to prospective nurses. If you want to train others in colleges and healthcare institutions, you need an MSN. These opportunities may also be a good option if you still want to practice as a nurse because you can perform both roles simultaneously.
10. Further educational pursuits
A master’s degree in nursing provides a student with more opportunities to pursue additional studies. Continuing your nursing studies provides a wider range of career paths that offer more lucrative benefits. For instance, a qualified MSN student can go on to pursue a doctorate degree in a related field, which can make them eligible to apply for research positions and professorships.
Related: 14 Masters In Public Health Jobs
11. Personal satisfaction and achievement
Nursing involves helping other people on a daily basis. Achieving an advanced degree also requires a significant amount of dedication, hard work and perseverance. Completing an advanced degree and earning the credentials to better care for your patients can allow you to feel a sense of accomplishment and professional satisfaction.
12. Mentorship ability
New nurses and nursing students often require mentorship and encouragement to learn the skills they need to perform their roles. A nurse with an MSN can use the expertise they learn in their advanced studies to offer mentorship and support to nurses with limited experience. The opportunity to mentor others can lead to fulfillment and collaborative opportunities in which you can help your team develop their skills.
13. Unique travel opportunities
Nurses often have the ability to travel and offer their professional services to underserved communities. Some nations have a high demand for nurses with specialized skills, including nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives. By pursuing a master’s degree in nursing, candidates may be able to access more opportunities to work abroad in areas with a need for highly competent healthcare professionals.
14. Professional development
As you advance your studies in an MSN program, you’ll likely learn new skills. MSN programs typically help candidates develop professionally and build upon the competencies they learned in their undergraduate programs. For example, MSN programs offer more research opportunities to students, and in return, graduates can develop their skills in a specific area.
Related: Your Guide to Registered Nursing Programs
15. Ability to meet healthcare demands
There is a high demand for healthcare professionals in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners to grow by 45% from 2019 to 2029—a growth rate approximately 10 times faster than the average for all occupations. By obtaining a master’s degree in nursing, you can help fill a critical gap in the medical sector and enable the entire industry to provide better healthcare services to the public.
16. Access to career stability
An MSN can allow you to establish a dependable and fulfilling career that may provide more career stability. With a specialized skill set, your abilities may be more valuable to healthcare organizations, which can help you secure a long-term role. These roles may allow you to stay relevant in the medical field since you need to continually study and stay up to date on the latest practices.
17. Competitive advantage in the job market
Pursuing an MSN can increase your chances of securing a role, as an advanced degree can legitimize your skills and show your credibility to prospective employers. Often, an MSN may allow nurses to practice independently and offer a higher level of medical aptitude to patients compared to RNs and BSN graduates. Because of this, your MSN may give you a competitive advantage over other candidates and allow you to find a job that suits your needs.
18. Intellectual opportunities
While studying for your MSN, you may have the opportunity to access intellectual opportunities otherwise inaccessible to RNs and BSN graduates. Taking advanced-level classes can likely challenge your perspective and allow you to develop your critical-thinking skills. In addition, as an MSN student, you may often conduct research as a part of your degree program, and this can allow you to expand your intellectual capacity.
19. Potential to improve patient outcomes
With an MSN, you may be able to develop skills and expertise that increase your potential in improving patient outcomes. As a nurse, caring for patients and ensuring their wellness is a top priority. Therefore, being able to provide specialized, high-level care may be a significant benefit of earning an MSN.
20. Greater influence within healthcare organizations
Since an MSN can allow you to access advanced employment opportunities within healthcare organizations, you may be able to exercise a greater level of influence when it comes to organizational structure, policy and healthcare practices. This influence can allow you to develop the procedures that directly impact patient outcomes, healthcare costs and organizational success.