Earning a bachelor's degree in nursing requires time, energy, and money. You might be wondering why you need to earn a master's degree in nursing(MSN) when some companies don't even require it for employment.
Besides, adding a graduate program to your already busy hours as a nurse can seem like more trouble than worth. However, earning an MSN is crucial for you as a nurse if you want to achieve and enjoy some incredible things in your profession.
Furthermore, even if you don't want to go back to school in the literal sense, the rise of online education has made it easy for you to earn your master's degree without quitting your job.
Additionally, if you're still wondering what a master's degree in nursing could do for you when you're already a nurse, here are eight benefits of earning a master's degree in nursing.
Exceptional Benefits of Earning a Master's Degree in Nursing
Offers You Career Stability
Earning a master's degree in nursing enables you to create a fulfilling and dependable career for yourself, which will provide career stability. Also, while you're studying for MSN, there is every probability that you'll specialize in a particular nursing field. This specialty will make you more valuable to healthcare companies.
Additionally, your specialty will allow you to remain valuable in the healthcare industry since you'll be studying and updating yourself on all the latest medical practices. Your value as a specialized nurse will allow you to retain your job for a long time.
Access To Intellectual Opportunities
After years of working as a registered nurse, I decided to further my education and am now completing my MSN masters in nursing degree to become a nurse practitioner. Earning an MSN means that while studying for your master's, you have access to some academic opportunities that bachelor's degree nurses and registered nurses don't have.
Furthermore, a master's degree in nursing means you took some advanced classes that challenged your thinking and helped you develop critical-thinking skills. Also, you might have been allowed to conduct research that expanded your intellectual capacity.
Offers Better and Higher Salary Benefits
Studying and successfully earning a master's degree in nursing means you are eligible to earn a higher salary. As a nurse with an MSN, you'll have a higher level of experience, specialization, and expertise in the medical field.
Moreover, getting a higher pay isn't always guaranteed, but earning an advanced degree proves that you have some valuable skills that nurses without an MSN don't. Also, an MSN means you're qualified for higher roles in the nursing field, which offers more pay.
For example, an advanced degree in nursing leadership, and informatics o,r education grants you access to senior-level roles in the healthcare facility or hospital. Most times, these roles come with a higher salary benefit.
Offers You an Advantage in the Job Market
Earning a master's degree in nursing will increase your chances of a more competitive role in the healthcare job market. An advanced degree means you have the skills and credibility to perform specific tasks your employers would love.
Most times, when you possess an MSN, it allows the hospital or facility to hand over higher clinical authority to you. Compared to Registered nurses and BSNs, you'll be able to work independently and sometimes even treat patients. This means that with an MSN, you have the advantage of filtering the job market and securing a job that best fits your needs.
Offers Better Work Hours
Although the nursing career can be rewarding, most nurses spend grueling hours at the hospital on most days. For seasoned nurses and fresh nursing graduates, a twelve or fourteen-hour work shift per day can be exhausting, and some even work on holidays.
Moreover, when you earn an MSN, it makes you eligible for senior-level management positions, which can offer more regular working hours. As a nurse manager or educator, you're more likely to work during regular hours than on nights and weekends.
Additionally, most nurse managers are in charge of several nurse teams, setting nurse schedules so they can delegate and have more time for themselves. Also, an advanced degree in nursing education allows you to train other nurses on hospital protocols and procedures, which occurs during regular working hours.
Ability To Teach
A master's degree in nursing education offers you the ability to teach and guide other nurses. Most nursing students and fresh nurse graduates require assistance and guidance to learn the skills needed to perform their roles effectively.
Therefore, with an MSN you can offer these nurses your high level of knowledge and expertise. Additionally, it allows you to train other nurses in healthcare institutions and nursing colleges. Earning a master's degree allows you to practice and retain your role as a nurse while performing your duty as an educator.
Gives You More Medical Knowledge
One of the best things about getting an advanced degree is the increased knowledge it bestows on you. Earning a master's degree in nursing widens your medical knowledge and makes you more prolific at work.
Besides, the more educated nurses are, the higher their clinical skill set. When nurses have a high clinical skill set, their success rate is usually very high due to how knowledgeable they are.
Therefore, earning an MSN will give you a deeper understanding of all you were taught during your bachelor's degree program or nursing school.
Gives You a Sense of Achievement and Personal Fulfillment
As a nurse, you will be involved in treating and offering assistance to patients daily. It is the wish of every nurse to offer the best clinical care to their patients.
Hence, a master's degree in nursing equips you with the necessary credentials and knowledge to provide optimum care for your patients. The ability to provide such care will give you a sense of professional satisfaction and personal fulfillment
It's Not Too Late
A master's degree in nursing can seem like a problematic task when considering many things, but it has many benefits and prestige. Aside from the higher salary and better job opportunities, earning an MSN will allow you to impact other nurses with the knowledge and skills you have earned.
Furthermore, the healthcare industry is evolving, so there is a need for more specialized and advanced nurses due to the increase in critical cases and patients. Also, earning an MSN will allow you to grow as an exceptional nurse and help your patients effectively.
Additionally, It's not too late for you to get that Master's degree in nursing. You can always try the online route if you don't want to stop working while you're schooling. Take a look at the benefits highlighted in this article to make your decision faster.
WRITTEN BY
Sophie H.