Types of Master's Degrees in Nursing: Which is Right for Me?

At some point in your nursing life, you may find yourself seeking goals that require new skills other than those you've used since you entered the profession. You may want a change from performing the same duties you've always performed as a registered nurse. Perhaps you're interested in exploring your talents for leadership or administration, or for sharing your knowledge and experience with a new generation of nurses.

If you already have a bachelor's degree in nursing, you'll be well positioned to follow this path by returning to nursing school and earning a master's degree in nursing, which can lead to a variety of careers, including positions in health systems leadership or nursing education.

Health Systems Leadership

Are you a natural leader? Earning a master's degree in nursing with a concentration in health systems leadership could open up a new career where you could be involved with issues of vital interest in your field. For instance, you could find yourself doing some or all of the following:

• analyzing important issues involving clinical nursing practice and health care administration
• providing leadership in conflict resolution
• providing decision making on ethical issues
• taking a lead role in resource management, quality improvement, solving problems, improving communication, boosting team building and furthering negotiation strategies.
• promoting health care in many different environments
• incorporating aspects of cultural awareness and spiritual sensitivity into nursing practices

Health systems leadership requires a person with solid nursing education and experience incorporated into a business, community or government setting. Above all, nurse leaders should be passionate about ensuring the systems they administer provide the best patient care possible.

Specifically, a nurse leader would do some or all of the following:

• Create budgets, managing overall finances of the organization.
• Oversee nursing and administrative assistants, reviewing work as required.
• Lead and motivate staff.
• Ensure that regulations are observed.
• Maintain records.
• Ensure efficiency and cost savings.

What Does a Nurse Educator Do?

Nurse educators are in increasing demand as healthcare organizations are requiring ever-greater educational attainment for nurses. No longer do most nurses who want to advance in their profession stay with an associate's degree; these days, they need educational credentials to help them climb the ladder.

Nurses are usually motivated by a generous spirit to help others. They are often naturals as nurse educators, teaching and mentoring future nurses. Do you have what it takes to be a nurse educator? Maybe you have a talent for talking to student nurses, for guiding them in their studies, and for helping them learn what can be challenging material. Maybe you have a passion for imparting what you've learned to others, so a new generation of nurses can profit by your experience, and can help their patients with the same high degree of skill and professionalism that you have exercised.

Nurse educators may work in four-year universities and colleges, community colleges, and proprietary schools, helping students attain their associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree. In a post-secondary educational setting, they typically help develop curriculum, and teach by means of lectures or clinical and lab work. They are also often mentors or advisors. Or, they might work in long-term care facilities, hospitals, for home health care or community health care agencies. They might also direct wellness programs, or work in patient education.

Some nurse educators may become involved with research, assisting in medical and pharmaceutical research that leads to cures and new medicines by looking after patients involved in clinical trials for new medicines or observing and caring for patients with a particular disease. They might work in universities, teaching hospitals, for research organizations, government agencies, or for pharmaceutical companies.

First Steps

If either of these fields seems like the next best step for you as you move up in your career, you will want to look into obtaining a Master of Science Degree in Nursing.

If your interests pull you toward the nursing systems leadership field, you will want to find an accredited program that offers a focus on quality management and safety, and evidence-based practice.

Are you interested in taking the next step in your nursing career and providing care in a different way? If you want to become an MSN and earn your Master of Science in Nursing degree, consider ECPI University for the education you’ll need to accomplish your goals. With accelerated classes and online study available, you could finish your degree in as little as 15 months. For more information about this program, be sure to connect with a helpful admissions counselor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Master of Science in Nursing

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