Online Masters in Nursing Degree Programs

What are the requirements for getting your masters in nursing degree (MSN) and accelerated MSN? There are several paths to the MSN degree. If you have completed your LPN then you can continue your studies to become a RN and then continue onto the MSN course.

If you are a professional nurse with a BSN or bachelors degree in nursing, you may wish to study for a Masters in Nursing Degree. This will allow you to make more money and apply for many more positions in your field. Some of those positions are nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist. There are many more possibilities with an extended education. Although a bachelors or associates degree in nursing is ideal for many entry level positions, advancing in the field often requires graduate education for example a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Nurses with an MSN degree have intricate knowledge of the healthcare field and in many cases a particular specialization, which they use to for treating their patients in a variety of medical situations.

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Selected Online Masters in Nursing Degree Programs

University of Phoenix

• MS in Nursing
• MS in Nursing/Health Care Education
• MS in Nursing/Informatics
• MS in Nursing/Master of Health Administration
• MS in Nursing/MBA/Health Care Management
• MS in Nursing/Nurse Practitioner

Kaplan University

• MS in Nursing
• MS in Nursing - Informatics
• MS in Nursing - Nurse Administrator
• MS in Nursing - Nurse Educator

Chamberlain College of Nursing

• Master of Science in Nursing

South University - Campus and South University Online

• Master of Science in Nursing

Western Governors University

• B.S. in Nursing

Capella University

• MSN - Nurse Educator
• MSN - Nurse Educator Bridge

Walden University

• M.S. in Nursing (MSN) - BSN Track
• M.S. in Nursing (MSN) - RN Track

Western Governors University

• M.S. in Nursing - Education
• M.S. in Nursing - Leadership and Management
• M.S. in Nursing --Education (RN to MSN Option)
• M.S. in Nursing --Leadership and Management (RN to MSN Option)

Grand Canyon University

• RN to BS in Nursing
• MBA & MS in Nursing: Leadership in Health Care Systems
• MS in Nursing: Leadership in Health Care Systems
• MS in Nursing: Nursing Education

Norwich University

• MSN - Nurse Administration
• MSN - Nursing Educator

Herzing University

• Master of Science in Nursing - Nursing Education (MSNNE)
• Master of Science in Nursing - Nursing Management (MSNNM)

Grantham University

• Master of Science Nursing - Case Management
• Master of Science Nursing - Nursing Education
• Master of Science Nursing - Nursing Informatics
• Master of Science Nursing - Nursing Management & Organizational Leadership

MSN Education and Training

This degree is for graduate students in nursing that wish to achieve the training to advance their careers. It will require from eighteen months to two years of continued studies. Often times, nurses may work and obtain their advanced education. However, this can extend the time period considerably. Also, there are some programs that allow RNs without a bachelor degree to go for their MSN. In the process, they earn their BSN and then their MSN. It is sometimes called a RN to MSN program. Other programs like the accelerated MSN and accelerated BSN MSN allow students to complete the program in a shorter amount of time.

Courses in the programs may vary a great deal as they allow for specialization. There is classroom and clinical studies involved. Nurses will study about health care management and nursing science. They will also study about developing nursing leadership skills. Some of the courses in the masters in nursing degree are as follows.

1. Health Economics
2. Health Care Ethics
3. Nutrition
4. Family Planning
5. Mental Health

There are many other courses that may be taken. This will depend on the chosen specialty. For example, a nurse focusing on elderly care will want to take geriatrics and related subjects. Some other areas of specialization include pediatrics, acute care, and neonatal care. Nurses with extended education are referred to as APN or advanced practice nurses.

Careers in Nursing

There are so many different careers that may be pursued and the jobs will vary a great deal. However, some patients in a clinic may see a nurse practitioner, instead of a doctor. In some surgery cases, anesthesia may be administered by a nurse anesthetist, instead of an anesthesiologist. A clinical nurse specialist may oversee a number of health care facilities. For example, a patient may leave a hospital but not be ready to return home. They may need to recover in an extended care facility. This decision is often made by clinical nurse specialist, and these nurses also oversee many rehabilitation programs for patients. Some career paths with a masters in nursing are:

• Nurse Anesthetist
• Nurse Educator
• Nurse Midwife
• Nurse Practitioner

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

Your income will vary due to your profession and location. However, it is not uncommon for APN professionals to earn from sixty to ninety thousand dollars per year. However, some health clinics may pay as low as forty thousand per year. Your wages will also depend on your work experience, too.

There are several APN positions that may earn six figure incomes. Those professionals include certified midwives and anesthetists. It is not uncommon for a certified midwife with five years experience to make $120,000 annually. These salary levels are dependent on location and may be lower in some cases.

The future job market for APN professionals is very bright. As health care costs rise, there is more demand for APN professionals to replace doctors in many settings. Hospital stays are becoming shorter and this increases the demand for after care facilities. These facilities will be run by APN professionals. Their need will be universal and people with a Masters in Nursing Degree should find employment in any part of the country, in the future.