How To Take Your Nursing Career To The Next Level
If you're working as a nurse, you probably value the career opportunities that education can bring. After all, nursing school has already brought you this far.
But how can further education fit into your future?
With more and more healthcare jobs available every year, the future looks bright for nurses. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects jobs in the healthcare field to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033, with around 1.9 million openings expected each year on average. As the U.S. healthcare system grows and becomes more complex, the competition for new jobs will increase accordingly. You'll need something to help you stand out to potential employers, and a master's degree could do just that.
The following guide discusses how to advance your nursing career through pursuing a master's degree in nursing and why WGU is the place to earn one. Read on to learn more.
WGU Provides Educational Flexibility for Nurses
At WGU, nurses can enter either a BSN-to-MSN program or an RN-to-MSN program, depending on their previous education. The RN-to-MSN program (which is for those who already have an RN but not a BSN) includes general education and baccalaureate-level coursework, so it may take longer to complete than a BSN-to-MSN program (which is for those who have already earned a BSN). Working nurses enrolled in an online MSN program can better balance their work and family obligations with their studies.
No matter which program you choose, make sure that it’s accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which accredits baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing, or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which accredits associate- and diploma-granting programs in addition to baccalaureate and graduate programs.
MSN programs generally comprise a core curriculum that covers subjects like anatomy, pharmacology, health policy, translational and clinical research, and comprehensive health assessments. These programs require you to complete coursework specific to nursing science and your nursing specialty, such as curriculum-designing courses for future nurse educators or information management for informatics specialists. An MSN program may also require a certain number of clinical rotation hours.
The Benefits of a Master’s Degree in Nursing
While many nurses enjoy successful careers with a bachelor's degree in nursing, some pursue advanced education because it offers substantial, meaningful career perks. The benefits of earning a master’s in nursing include the following:
Better Compensation
Nurses who obtain an MSN degree and seek a career in anesthesiology, medical care, or midwifery can expect better compensation than registered nurses with bachelor's degrees. According to the BLS, the average annual salary of registered nurses in May 2023 was $86,070.
Contrast that figure with the average annual salary of advanced-practice nurses, for which a master's degree is an entry-level credential: $129,480. These nurses include nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners.
Professional Advancement
For many nurses, a master's degree can open doors to opportunities that might not otherwise be available, offering lucrative job prospects and career advancement.
For example, academic and other topflight medical centers typically require their nurses to hold master's degrees. Likewise, most healthcare systems and healthcare-sector employers require nurses in academic or clinical educator positions to hold master's degrees.
Nurses who want to become leaders often find that a master’s in nursing leadership and management or a master’s in nursing education are practical, effective pathways to prepare for the next step in their careers. Leadership roles may include nursing manager, case manager, unit director, regional director, and director of nursing. Nursing education roles comprise skills lab manager, simulation lab faculty member, assistant or associate professor, and more.
Flexible Career Path
Just as some nurses feel the calling to provide direct clinical care to patients, others are energized at the prospect of healthcare roles in nursing education and nursing informatics. Earning an MSN degree can help make a career in any of these fields a reality.
Nursing students may choose an MSN program tailored to an area of career specialization that aligns with their professional goals and that offers workplace flexibility. For example, a nurse educator who has earned a master's degree can train other nurses and nursing students but is also qualified to educate patients, schoolchildren, community groups, and healthcare workers. While an MSN degree can prepare graduates to work in hospitals, it might also enable them to gain employment in nursing schools, community agencies, nonprofits, and more.
Nursing informatics is another growing area. Data-focused nurses with an MSN in nursing informatics can seek careers as clinical analysts, informatics nurse specialists, directors of clinical informatics, and other similar positions.
Improved Job Satisfaction
Pursuing advanced nursing opportunities deepens both knowledge and expertise. Most—if not all—MSN degrees grant soft skills that empower nurses to effectively help more people and become mentors to those around them. After earning their master’s, many nurses find a high degree of professional satisfaction and personal fulfillment in roles that can effect positive change for patients and other primary- and advanced-care nurses.
Take Your Career to the Next Level
Whether you plan to continue your nursing career or explore nonclinical roles in related disciplines, earning an MSN degree will help you reach your career goals and open the door to career advancement. But where should you enroll in a master’s program?
Each of WGU’s online MSN degrees is developed with input from industry experts and teaches the specialized skills in patient diagnosis, treatment, care, and leadership that you’ll need to thrive in an advanced nursing role.
In addition, WGU’s competency-based learning model lets you advance through coursework as quickly as you show mastery of the material, so you can potentially graduate faster and save money.
Learn more today.
