Jobs You Can Get With Masters In Nursing Degree

Nurses can undertake a wide range of specialized professional activities in the health care industry, and many pursue a master’s degree to qualify for more advanced positions. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) can lead to a variety of career opportunities. If you want to grow in your nursing profession, you should consider which career route is best for you.

What is a master’s in nursing?

A master’s degree in nursing is a postgraduate degree that recognizes a nurse’s advanced abilities and training in nursing practice. Earning a master’s degree in nursing may also enable nurses to pursue more advanced positions with increased responsibility and competitive remuneration. Nurses pursuing a master’s degree can also specialize in a specific field of nursing, such as orthopedics, midwifery, or anesthesia. A master’s program for nurses might last one to two years, depending on the university that offers it.

Master in nursing jobs

1. Public health nurse

• National average salary: $64,621 per year

A public health nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who cares for and educates their community. Public health nurses can conduct traditional nursing activities, but they also participate in more advanced attempts to educate people about health care. This can include visiting senior centers, schools, and community centers to hold public health programs and educating the community on how to make healthy choices. A public health nurse in a low-income community may also teach prenatal and baby care programs and aid with vaccines in schools and elder institutions.

2. Nurse manager

• National average salary: $84,373 per year

Nurse managers oversee the nursing staff in a medical facility. Their tasks often include managing the nursing budget, developing schedules, hiring and training new nurses, and monitoring nurses to ensure they are providing care that meets the facility’s standards. They may also review data and devise methods to improve patient outcomes.

3. Nurse consultant

• National average salary: $88,131 per year

Nurse consultants provide medical advise to corporations dealing with health care challenges. They often have specialized experience in a certain area of medicine, such as gerontology or oncology, and they contribute their insights to assist medical enterprises in developing effective goods and processes. Nurse consultants may also engage with law firms to help lawyers grasp complex medical facts related to legal disputes.

4. Clinical nurse educator

• National average salary: $88,677 per year

Clinical nurse educators educate nursing students in healthcare settings such as clinics and hospitals. They frequently partner with educational institutions to ensure that students receive a mix of classroom instruction and clinical practice, and they may conduct research to check the effectiveness of clinical assignments. Clinical nurse educators can collaborate with teachers, stimulate reflection after clinical practice, monitor students, and provide personalized feedback on student performance.

5. Director of nursing

• National average salary: $92,663 per year

A director of nursing is a corporate executive who manages a medical facility’s nursing operations. Nursing directors are often in charge of hiring and training new nursing personnel, developing procedures to help boost a nursing department’s productivity, and managing financial information such as budgets, salaries, and accounting systems. They may also encourage communication among nurses, physicians, and administrators to ensure that patients receive the necessary treatment, as well as participate in management team meetings with other executives at their hospital.

6. Clinical nurse specialist

• National average salary: $93,615 per year

A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice registered nurse who focuses in a specific field of nursing, such as pediatrics, critical care, oncology, or rehabilitation. Clinical nurse specialists can give medical treatment to patients, consult with other nursing staff to educate them about their specializations, and occasionally work in management positions to improve a medical facility’s procedures. Some clinical nurse specialists also operate in a research context, making research available to patients by assessing data and outcomes, reviewing research proposals for new studies, and assisting with the implementation of new research into practice.

7. Clinical research nurse

• National average salary: $110,567 per year

A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice registered nurse who focuses in a specific field of nursing, such as pediatrics, critical care, oncology, or rehabilitation. Clinical nurse specialists can give medical treatment to patients, consult with other nursing staff to educate them about their specializations, and occasionally work in management positions to improve a medical facility’s procedures. Some clinical nurse specialists also operate in a research context, making research available to patients by assessing data and outcomes, reviewing research proposals for new studies, and assisting with the implementation of new research into practice.

8. Nurse practitioner

• National average salary: $113,985 per year

A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse that provides primary care to patients in hospitals, physician offices, or clinics that perform medical exams and treatments. A nurse practitioner’s typical responsibilities include providing physical exams, diagnosing medical issues, and recommending treatment choices for patients, such as medication or physical therapy. Patients may also be given treatment and condition explanations, as well as health and wellness recommendations.

9. Chief nursing officer

• National average salary: $123,391 per year

Chief nursing officers are executives who oversee a health care organization’s nursing department. Their responsibilities often include cooperating with other executives, establishing standards for the care that nurses offer, implementing training and feedback mechanisms to achieve organizational goals, and strategizing to improve nursing operations. They frequently handle compliance to ensure that the facility adheres to local and federal requirements.

10. Long-term acute care nurse

National average salary: $125,965 per year

A long-term acute care nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who assists patients with chronic diseases in managing their symptoms. These nurses may create treatment regimens, communicate information with patients, and strategize to reduce pain. They often keep extensive records of their patients’ progress and treatment responses.

11. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner

• National average salary: $139,695 per year

A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner treats patients with mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and eating disorders. They may assess patients’ symptoms, diagnose their ailment, devise a treatment plan, and track their progress during treatment. These nurses may collaborate with the patient’s care team to give accurate diagnosis and successful treatment.

12. Certified registered nurse anesthetist

• National average salary: $151,917 per year

A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is a registered nurse with advanced practice experience in anesthesia. CRNAs use a patient’s medical information to choose which anesthetic to deliver, administer anesthesia prior to surgical operations, and follow patients after anesthesia to guarantee their safety. They also communicate with other members of the medical team to ensure that each patient receives the attention and care they require. Nurse anesthetists can work in any medical facility that performs surgical or other treatments that require anesthesia, but the majority work in hospitals or private offices.

Frequently asked questions

What are the highest-paying MSN jobs?

Individual salaries can vary based on your location, experience and employer. If you want to pursue a high-paying nursing job, here are some titles to consider:

• Nurse practitioner
• Chief nursing officer
• Long-term acute care nurse
• Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
• Certified registered nurse anesthetist

What skills do you learn as an MSN?

MSN programs often focus on skills like:

• Communication: MSN programs often help nurses learn to communicate effectively with patients and other care providers like physicians and surgeons.
• Advocacy: Being able to champion patients’ needs and advocate for higher standards can allow MSNs to make a positive impact on the health care facilities where they work.
• Critical thinking: It’s vital that nurses can make effective decisions, so the ability to weigh evidence and choose the appropriate action using critical thinking skills is important.

How can you decide if you should get an MSN?

Reflect on your goals to determine if earning an MSN is the right path for you. If you want to advance your nursing career and pursue a role with leadership responsibilities, it might be worthwhile to pursue a master’s degree. Advanced degrees can also be beneficial if you’re interested in education, as a master’s is often a requirement for nurse educator roles.