4. Master’s in Nursing (MSN)
Some nursing specialties or management roles require additional training and education. Earning yourMaster of Science in Nursing (MSN)allows you to advance your nursing career and expand your scope of practice. Here are three common MSN specialties:
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse who is educated at the master’s level or higher, and represents a step up in responsibilities and autonomycompared to registered nurses. NPs provide an advanced level of care that includes health promotion, health prevention, wellness and disease management, as well as diagnosis and treating acute, chronic, and episodic illnesses.
Demand for nurse practitioners is expected to increase by 45% from 2022-2032, much faster than average for all occupations.
The average salary for nurse practitioners is $124,680 per year ($59.94 per hour), according to theBureau of Labor Statistics.*
You cannot practice as anurse practitioner without a degree- you will need to earn an MSN tobecome a nurse practitionerof any kind. There are more nurse practitioner specialties you can pursue; learn more about all ofHerzing's nurse practitioner degreepathways.
Nurse Educator (NE)
Nurse educatorsare essential for ensuring that the RN workforce can meet the healthcare needs of current and future generations. As registered nurses return to school and new students seek entry to ASN or BSN programs, colleges and universities are under increased pressure to find qualified faculty to educate and train future nurses.
Nurse educators also serve an important role within the hospital system. Their depth of knowledge and experience in the field means that they understand how to convey critical and lifesaving information to other nurses and can help improve processes to mitigate risks to the patient, nurse and hospital.
An MSN-NE degree can prepare you for educator roles in both academic and clinical settings.
If you have a knack for teaching, read our guide coveringhow to become a nurse educatorand what you need to do to embark on this rewarding career path.
Nurse Leadership and Administration
Healthcare organizations need experienced nursing leaders to help them navigate changes in technology and the healthcare landscape. An MSN in Nurse Leadership can help you advance to a variety of management roles,from overseeing a nursing unitto leading the entire nursing department. Possiblejob titles in nursing administrationinclude Chief Nursing Officer, Director of Nursing, or Healthcare Manager. Learn more abouthow to become a nursing administratorand what it takes to reach the upper levels of the nursing profession.
Employment for health services managers and executives is expected to grow by 28% from 2022-2032, according to theBureau of Labor Statistics.
BLS data also shows that medical and health services managers earn an average annual wage of $127,980 per year ($61.53 per hour). Discover theaverage salary for nurse administratorsand clinical healthcare managers across the U.S.
