In today’s healthcare sector, nursing is one of the most sought-after and in-demand professions. Many healthcare aspirants flock to this field because of its high earning potential, job security, intrinsic rewards, and career advancement prospects. Additionally, the expanding roles and responsibilities of nurses are paving the way for more lucrative and promising nursing careers. Today, you’ll come across nurses serving in various settings and occupations. Nonetheless, achieving career growth in nursing is no cakewalk as it necessitates earning higher academic credentials. 

Role Of Advanced Nursing Education

Advanced nursing degrees prepare nurses to remain abreast of the latest information and medical research breakthroughs. But for a nurse already working on duty, it can prove physically and mentally taxing to go back to school and get higher education. Adding online classes to the already busy schedule may turn out to be highly overwhelming. Given this reason, many nurses toss the idea of pursuing higher education on the backburner. 

In contrast, some nurses gather the courage to manage their studies alongside work and family commitments. But the only reason most nurses willingly pursue higher education alongside work is due to eLearning. Online education has been a tremendous relief for them, making it easier to earn a master’s degree. Resultantly, some degrees, such as the nursing administration master’s degree, family nurse practitioner degrees, and many others, are becoming incredibly famous among nurses. 

However, if you need more reasons to convince yourself to earn a master’s in nursing, the following points will surely do the job. 

• Higher pay

Financial benefits will surely top the list of reasons to enhance your academic profile. It is common knowledge that a nurse with a BSN degree earns less than an MSN degree. Many hospitals require MSN-qualified nurses to perform specialized roles. 

As the responsibilities increase, it is likely that these nurses earn better pay in return. A Master’s degree holder can earn an average salary of $97,000 annually. This amount is incredibly higher than the average salary of a BSN nurse. A nurse with a bachelor’s degree has an earning potential of $88,000. 

Another positive aspect is that the salary of an MSN nurse further increases with time and experience. After some years of work and training, nurses can earn a median salary of $104,136 each year.

• Increased demand

Today, healthcare is facing a shortage of skilled nurses who are adept in specific areas of healthcare. The benefit of a master’s degree is that it allows you to earn in-demand specializations such as pediatrics, midwifery, anesthesia, acute care, and more. Hospitals today seek nurses laced with the recent skills to improve patient outcomes. Therefore, once they complete their MSN, nurses can enjoy more lucrative opportunities and job options. 

Hospitals also require highly educated nurses because patients feel more confident about their health and wellbeing when cared for by skilled professionals. They are more motivated to follow their advice and cooperate in their treatment. 

• Opportunity to work as nurse educators

In the current scenario where healthcare is witnessing skills gap, the need for nurse educators is at an all-time high. The older and experienced nurses are aging out of this profession and retiring. So along with the shortage of skilled nurses in other specializations, there’s significant demand for nursing educators to fill the void created by the retired nurses. 

Getting a Master’s degree in nursing is one way to get into educational roles. Nursing educators work both in clinical and academic settings to prepare and train new nurses. Through their years of experience and mentoring, novice nurses get well-prepared to secure higher roles. Nurse educators are not just high in demand; they are earning a good salary too. According to indeed.com, as a nurse educator, you can make an average income of $87,361 per year. But you must understand that this salary is contingent on your experience, the state of your work, and your employer. The more practiced and trained you are, the better your earning prospects. 

• Land leadership roles

Previously, it was rare to come across nurses occupying leadership positions. Today, however, this trend has drastically changed – and for the better. Many nurses are willingly striving for higher leadership positions, and advanced education enables them to attain this goal. From managing staff members to overseeing patient care programs and making strategic decisions, nurses are now enjoying leadership status. 

Therefore, if you plan on propelling your nursing career to leadership positions, it’s only viable to earn a master’s degree. Besides, nurses who have a good academic record may also get tuition fee waivers from nursing schools. So, financing your MSN program has become much easier today. 

• Become a mentor 

Even if you don’t want to teach in a university or a nursing school, you can still mentor the nurses within your facility. New nurses need mentors who can help them get through their initial transition period and improve their understanding of various healthcare systems. 

Additionally, various studies validate that having mentors for nurses can lessen nurse turnover, increase employee satisfaction, and reduce burnout. This way, you’ll serve as an essential asset for the organization, helping novice nurses excel in their profession. A mentor-mentee relationship is also important for upskilling or reskilling the current staff members. With a master’s degree, you are qualified enough to assume mentoring roles and cement your position in the organization. 

Conclusion

Often healthcare professionals find themselves battling career stagnation. But for nurses, the situation is entirely different since the nursing profession is highly dynamic and transformative. Nonetheless, to remain ahead of the curve, nurses must improve their knowledge base by pursuing higher degrees. A master’s degree is one of the most advanced degrees in healthcare. It prepares nurses for meaningful and rewarding roles such as nursing educators, mentors, and specialized nurse practitioners. Besides, given the convenience and flexibility of online education, earning higher degrees has become comparatively easier for nurses. 

With more responsibility comes better pay and more prestige among healthcare professionals. Alongside this, you can assume leadership positions, enjoy autonomy, and boost your career advancement prospects.