What Are the Benefits of a Masters Degree in Nursing?

What Are the Benefits of a Masters Degree in Nursing? thumbnail
A master's degree in nursing allows nurse to take on advanced roles.

A registered nurse (RN) has earned an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) or bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN). He may opt to go to graduate school to earn a master's degree in nursing (MSN).

  1. Types

    • A nurse with a master's degree can grow beyond basic nursing practice into any of four advanced practice nursing (APN) specialties: clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners.

    Features

    • APNs are still RNs, but they may obtain a second license that expands their scope of practice. For example, a nurse practitioner carries a primary patient load and delivers care that is similar to that of a physician but with a more limited scope of practice. A nurse midwife provides prenatal care and delivers babies.

    Significance

    • An MSN-prepared nurse has the theoretical and clinical knowledge base to positively impact financial, political and health care systems.

    Considerations

    • An advanced practice nurse provides cost-effective services that are in great demand.

    Effects

    • According to PayScale.com, a nurse practitioner with a master's degree in nursing and 10 to 19 years of experience earns a salary of $67,788 to $87,627 a year, compared with a range of $52,874 to $70,262 for an RN with the same amount of experience but no MSN.

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  • Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of foundphotoslj

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