There’s no question that it’s a big decision: Should you pursue a master’s degree in nursing? The arguments can be compelling. On one hand, it could be your key to advanced nursing work, leadership potential, higher salary and more job opportunities. On the other hand, if you’re already a nurse, you’re wondering about the cost of earning a master’s degree, whether you’d attend school full- or part-time, and how you’d even go about getting more information.
As a nurse, advancing your education can open doors to new opportunities and career growth. While a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) is sufficient for entry-level nursing, a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree can provide key advantages.
Let’s look at 5 of the top benefits of earning a master’s in nursing and why it may be a worthwhile investment
1. Career Advancement
One of the prime reasons nurses pursue their MSN is to ascend into advanced roles with higher pay and responsibility, An MSN qualifies nurses for positions such as
- Nurse Practitioner
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Nurse Educator
- Nursing or Health Administrator
- Nurse Researcher
Nurse practitioners and other advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are among the hottest growth areas in healthcare. The MSN provides the gateway to these prestigious roles.
Expanding your scope of practice as an APRN also means earning a higher salary. Nurse practitioners typically earn 20% more than RNs on average. Those with an MSN can expect to see their income rise compared to nurses without an advanced degree.
2. Specialization & Versatility
An MSN allows nurses to specialize in their desired practice area while expanding their knowledge base across the field.
MSN programs are available in over 20 nursing specialties, including:
- Adult-Gerontology
- Pediatrics
- Neonatal Care
- Women’s Health
- Psychiatric & Mental Health
- Anesthesiology
- Oncology
- Emergency Care
- Public Health
- Nursing Education
Pursuing an MSN with a specialization allows nurses to hone their expertise. At the same time, the expanded clinical knowledge and leadership skills make MSN graduates adaptable to diverse roles across healthcare settings.
3. Research Opportunities
The MSN curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice through nursing research. Nurses develop skills in research methodologies, data analysis, and translating research into practice.
This opens doors to get involved with research projects, clinical trials, or nursing scholarship. MSN graduates can disseminate research findings to enhance care practices.
The applied research focus equips nurses for data-driven decision making and leadership. Those interested can pursue a PhD in Nursing for advanced research careers.
4. Increased Knowledge
Advancing from a generalist nursing education (BSN) to a Master’s level offers intensive growth across these key dimensions:
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Clinical expertise – Gain depth in assessment, pharmacology, pathophysiology, interventions and evaluation.
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Leadership – Build skills in communication, organizational culture, quality improvement, and leading teams.
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Technology – Leverage informatics and healthcare technologies to improve delivery of care.
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Business acumen – Understand regulations, policies, financing, budgeting and operations management.
This multifaceted knowledge empowers nurses to improve care, design innovative solutions, and drive change organizationally and policy-wise.
5. Advanced Clinical Practice
For many nurses, the ultimate benefit of an MSN is being able to provide advanced patient care within an expanded scope of practice.
As an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with an MSN, you can:
- Diagnose and treat common acute and chronic illnesses
- Prescribe medications
- Order and interpret diagnostic tests
- Perform medical procedures
- Manage complex medical cases
- Counsel patients on health promotion
Whether as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, midwife or other APRN role, the MSN enables nurses to take on greater responsibility in caring for patients.
Key Takeaways on the MSN Degree
For nurses looking to take their career to the next level, the MSN degree offers pivotal advantages:
- Higher salaries and prestigious roles like Nurse Practitioner
- Specialization in your desired clinical focus
- Research and scholarship opportunities
- Developing well-rounded knowledge and leadership
- Advanced clinical practice authority as an APRN
While requiring an investment of time and money, the MSN degree gives nurses the expertise and versatility to advance in their careers while making a greater impact through practice, research, education and leadership.
Is the MSN Worth It for You?
Deciding if pursuing the MSN is the right move depends on your professional passions, interests and career aspirations.
If you desire to:
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Take on greater clinical responsibility and leadership
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Specialize in a particular patient population or setting
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Move into advanced roles like NP or CNS
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Deepen your knowledge through nursing research
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Broaden your practice capabilities and autonomy
Then investing in an MSN degree may be well worth it! With proper planning, a motivational outlook, and taking advantage of tuition assistance programs, nurses can reap immense rewards from advancing their education to the master’s level.
The MSN can equip you to meet evolving healthcare demands while growing professionally. Assess if this next step may help you achieve your nursing career goals and make a powerful impact.
Benefits of a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN)
If you are wondering, “why should I get a master’s in nursing degree?”, there are a few things to consider. A master’s degree usually takes two more years of study. But graduate degrees can also be earned online, meaning you may not have to leave your current job while you study. There are many positive reasons to consider an advanced degree, whether you’re in nursing school now or are mid-career and thinking of returning to school.
Here are some potential benefits of a master’s degree in nursing:
- Positions of higher responsibility and authority: With a master’s degree (or higher), you may be qualified to pursue a variety nursing career paths:
- Nurse practitioner: Providing health care to clients one-on-one, ordering diagnostic tests and treatments, and prescribing medications. Nurse practitioners are qualified to do many things that registered nurses are not.
- Nurse midwife: Specializing in women’s reproductive health during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Nurse anesthetist: Administering and/or monitoring anesthesia during surgery or diagnostic procedures.
- Nurse administrator: Representing, scheduling, hiring and supervising other nurses.
- Clinical nurse specialist: Working with doctors and patients within a specialty.
- Nurse educator: Teaching courses at universities, hospitals, medical centers and corporations.
- Research nurse: Focusing on research-oriented tasks as part of a team.
- Nursing consultant: Providing advice to companies, legal firms or community organizations.
- Job opportunities: Advanced nursing jobs—nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists—are expected to add 29,400 jobs, a growth rate of 45% from 2020 to 2030. And data published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) shows that by 2032, there will be a shortage of physicians numbering somewhere between 46,900 and 121,900 positions. Certified nursing practitioners can help fill those critical health care needs.
- Higher salary potential: In 2020, the median pay for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners was $117,670, according to the BLS.
- Possible Career Autonomy: In some states, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), are qualified to provide health care in more ways—including the authority to write prescriptions— without the supervision and/or collaboration with a physician. Be sure to check your state’s Nursing Practice Act for more information..
- Expand your education: All nursing skills are valuable. That said, it’s possible that providing the same level of nursing care for 10, 20 or 30 years could make you feel stuck (especially if you max out at a hospital’s pay level). An advanced practice nursing degree may open up new challenges and opportunities by way of exposure to advanced courses and clinical hour experience in different practices.
- The ability to choose a specialty: With a master’s degree in nursing, you can choose an area of medicine that you’re truly passionate about. These possibilities include family care, adult-gerontology primary care, adult-gerontology acute care, neonatal care, pediatrics and psychiatry. These types of programs may help prepare you for APRN certification in these areas.
- Potential for leadership: With an advanced degree and the work experience it makes possible, you may choose to follow an administrative, leadership or management track in the healthcare field.
- The possibility of earning a doctorate: We know, you’re just now considering a master’s degree. But should you find that a certain specialty has become your passion, you can pursue it at an even higher level after a master’s degree.
10 Pros and Cons of Getting your Master’s in Nursing Degree
What can you do with a Master’s in nursing?
Master’s nursing programs prepare individuals for a variety of advanced roles in administration, teaching, research, informatics, and direct patient care.
What are the benefits of a master’s degree in nursing?
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.
Is a Master’s in nursing a good career?
Earning your Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is one of the best ways to advance your nursing career. Not only are MSN-educated nurses able to practice with a greater level of autonomy and responsibility, but they also typically earn a much higher salary and enjoy even greater job security.
What is a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree?
What Is A Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree? A Master’s of Science in Nursing, or MSN, is a graduate-level degree designed to prepare nurses to become Advanced Practice Registered Nurses or take on advanced, non-clinical nursing roles. Earning your MSN can prepare you to work in a number of different advanced specialties.
