If you’re interested in moving up the career ladder in nursing, one of the country’s fastest growing professions, you should be looking toward earning an advanced degree, namely an online master’s in nursing.
Qualified nurses are always in demand, but the need is especially high now as baby boomers are retiring and making room for both new nurses and experienced nurses interested in moving into management or more specialized nursing fields. An online master’s in nursing can provide you with the qualifications you need to become a competitive candidate for management, teaching, and specialized nursing positions.
So would pursuing an online master’s in nursing be a good career move for you? Below you’ll find more information about nursing degrees, the nursing profession, and online education in the nursing field.
What types of online master’s in nursing degrees are available?
There are three main types of online master’s in nursing programs available:
- Masters in Nursing (MN)
- Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN)
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Do I need to be a nurse to enter an online master’s in nursing program?
No. For “direct entry” or “graduate entry” online master’s in nursing programs, you do not need to be a registered nurse or have a bachelor’s in nursing degree (BSN). You do, however, need to have earned a bachelor’s degree in some discipline; some schools require that you have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA.
What is the process like of getting into an online master’s in nursing program? What qualifications should I have?
As with any graduate program, you will be expected to apply and supply all of the materials the school requires, which may include an application fee, GRE scores, college transcripts, essay, and recommendations. Unless you are applying to a direct entry program, you will also need to possess a BSN from an accredited nursing school and/or be a licensed registered nurse; you may also be required to have work experience.
What can I do with an online master’s in nursing degree?
An online master’s in nursing opens up numerous, diverse possibilities for its holder. For instance, a nurse with an MSN degree can work in administration, management, or teaching. Moreover, depending on the program, a nurse can also become certified as one of four types of advanced practical nurses (APN): clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, and nurse midwife.
Will I earn more money with an online master’s in nursing degree?
A Nursing2006 survey reported that registered nurses with an MSN made more than $10,000 a year more than RNs with associate degrees, so yes, it is likely that earning an advanced degree can have a positive effect on your salary.
In addition to the potential for a higher salary, an online master’s in nursing can also make you a much more attractive candidate for certain positions in the health care system, particularly those that are highly specialized. Aside from becoming an APN as described above, you can also use your graduate training to focus in a specific area such as:
- Ambulatory
- Cardiac
- Child and Teen Health
- Clinical Research
- Emergency
- Forensic Nursing
- Gerontology
- Hospice
- Oncology
- Perioperative
- Psychiatric and Mental Health
- Radiology
Can I earn a dual degree with my online master’s in nursing?
Yes, some schools do offer joint degree programs for those who wish to pursue an online master’s in nursing with another graduate degree in a related field. Common dual programs include:
- MSN/MBA (Master of Business Administration)
- MSN/MHA (Master of Health or Hospital Administration
- MSN/MHSA (Master of Health Services Administration)
- MSN/MPH (Master of Public Health)
- MSN/MPHA (Master of Public Health Administration)
Keep in mind that although you may be able to earn an online master’s in nursing degree in as little as 18 months, an added degree will certainly extend that time.
Why choose an online program? What are the advantages of online programs over traditional classroom settings?
The biggest advantage of online programs is that they allow you to continue your education and increase your career prospects while you hold down a full-time or part-time job. For the most part, your time is truly yours, meaning you have control over when you’ll study and sometimes even when you’l take exams.
Another plus is that online programs tend to be less expensive than their traditional learning counterparts–and that’s just the tuition costs. You’ll also save money on books and transportation as well.
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