Growth in the nursing industry is on the rise. The demand for nurse midwives and nurse practitioners is expected to expand by 45% between 2019 and 2029. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) provides you with access to more career opportunities, higher pay and the ability to broaden your knowledge in a specific area of interest.

Learn more about how nurses with a master’s degree can expand their career horizons to becoming a nurse practitioner, a certified nurse midwife, a nursing informatics specialist and more below.

An MSN degree allows you to specialize in your area of interest while earning a higher salary than that of a registered nurse. The median annual salary of an RN is $77,460 compared with a nurse practitioner who earns $115,800. Holding an MSN opens doors to new and rewarding opportunities, such as becoming a nurse practitioner or a nurse educator or taking on nursing leadership roles.

During your studies, you can expand your knowledge of health on more in-depth topics such as pharmacology, pathophysiology, assessment, diagnostic reasoning and management as well as research. An MSN degree program is also an excellent way to focus more in depth on a specific area of nursing, such as mental health. Some nurses who earn their MSN even go on to obtain their doctoral degree to advance their knowledge in research that creates new knowledge (PhD) or translational research that focuses on quality improvement (DNP).                                        

Earning your MSN gives you greater control over your nursing career. If you are specializing by becoming a nurse practitioner, you can work independently in many states. Opportunities available with an MSN degree include:

• Adult gerontology nurse practitioner. NPs in this area manage the health of patients ranging from adolescence to geriatric. They focus on assisting their patients with preventive care and chronic conditions.
• Family nurse practitioner. FNPs work with patients of all ages throughout the lifespan with a particular focus on preventive care. FNPs may or may not work under the direct supervision of a physician, depending on state restrictions.
• Nursing informatics. This area of nursing is focused on data and communication and how to use this information to improve performance and quality of care. According to Nurse Journal, the goal is to “boost efficiency, cut costs and boost patient care quality.”
• Certified nurse midwife. A nurse midwife is responsible for managing all aspects of pregnancy including preconception, prenatal, delivery and postpartum. Additionally, CNMs are responsible for providing family planning and care in the area of reproductive health.
• Clinical nurse specialist. A certified clinical nurse specialist is focused on a specific area of nursing, such as pediatrics, women’s health or geriatrics. In this specialty, you often work in a hospital setting providing both direct patient care and playing an important role in patient and staff education.
• Psychiatric/mental health NP. These professionals help patients cope with mental health challenges, such as mood disorders or anxiety. NPs work to evaluate patients, diagnose health issues and create and monitor treatment plans.

If you’re interested in becoming a nurse practitioner, you have many options for receiving your education, including in-person or online options. The benefit of online programs is that they’re designed for any busy, working nurse. Consider the following.

• Online MSN degree programs. Online MSN programs are designed to provide the required knowledge to pass board certifications. Coursework does not typically have mandatory login times, so you can fit the work around your schedule. Programs are 100% online with the exception of clinicals, practicums and residencies.
• Online NP programs. An online nurse practitioner program allows nursing students concentrate their studies solely in the area of becoming a nurse practitioner. You can focus on a specific area of nursing practice, such as becoming a mental health NP, pediatrics NP or family NP. Programs provide you with the required knowledge and experience to seek certification and licensure.

Online MSN programs are created to help busy working nurses find a balance between meeting their career goals and managing existing responsibilities. A few potential requirements to MSN programs may include:

After obtaining a master’s degree with an advanced practice specialty, you will need to pass a national certification exam in your specialty area in order to obtain a nurse practitioner license from the state where you will practice. In addition to educational and certification requirements, you may need to show proof of a collaborative agreement with a physician and acknowledging board standards and other requirements.

• A bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN).
• Minimum GPA requirement. Some programs give program preference to applicants with at least a 3.0 GPA.
• Evidence of an unrestricted registered nurse license in your state.
• Professional references from a supervisor or educator.

After obtaining a master’s degree with an advanced practice specialty, you will need to pass a national certification exam in your specialty area in order to obtain a nurse practitioner license from the state where you will practice. In addition to educational and certification requirements, you may need to show proof of a collaborative agreement with a physician and acknowledging board standards and other requirements.