You can take your nursing career to the highest levels within the profession by completing a master's nursing program. A master's degree in nursing can also allow you to specialize in a particular area of interest such as nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, or nurse midwife. A growing shortage of general practitioner physicians is creating opportunities for highly trained nurses to advance their careers by assuming additional duties and responsibilities. Earning a master's degree can give you the training and experience that health care providers are seeking.
Master's Degree in Nursing Options
There are various routes you can take to earn a master's degree in nursing. If you are in the process of earning a bachelor's degree in nursing, you can continue your education with a nursing master program. You can even earn a master's degree in nursing if your undergraduate degree is in a different field, but you may need to take some additional undergraduate courses and get some clinical experience. Registered nurses (RNs) who wish to specialize can choose masters of nursing programs that fit their needs, and it is even possible to pursue online masters of nursing programs. After earning a master of science in nursing (MSN) you may chose to become certified in one of the four advanced practice nursing specialties:
- Nurse practitioner
- Nurse anesthetist
- Nurse midwife
- Clinical nurse specialist
Job Outlook and Salary Ranges for Nurses with Master's Degrees
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the nursing career field should be one of the fastest growing occupational areas through 2018. Nurses at all levels of the profession should expect job growth of up to 18-22 percent, and highly trained, experienced nurses may have excellent job opportunities. The median annual salary for a registered nurse in 2009 was $63,750, and the top 10 percent earned $93,700.
