Why do so many nurses already working very hard commit unnecessarily to even more effort? The reason is actually simple. Getting an MSN is a short-term source of stress for a long-term gain. If you’re looking for a sense of satisfaction and security in your work, this is one of the best ways to do it.
In this article, we make the case for why getting a master’s degree in nursing is one of the best things you can do for your career.
First, What Kind of Job Can You Get with an MSN?
Graduate degrees in nursing can be specialized toward a wide range of advanced practice positions. Nurse practitioners are the most commonly seen professionals in this category, but there are other jobs as well. All advanced practice positions pay more money than RN jobs, and they also provide a greater level of professional autonomy.
In the next few headings, we’ll explain why these factors are of particular importance.
Nursing Is a High-Turnover Career. Graduate Programs Can Help
The nursing industry has an extremely high turnover rate. It’s because of this that hospitals all over the country are experiencing intense employment shortages. There are a few factors common across industries that contribute the most to a person’s decision to turnover. These include:
- A Sense of Satisfaction: When people feel like the work they are doing is meaningful, they are very likely to stick with their jobs. This is actually something that nursing careers have going for them. However, it’s because nursing positions lack so many of the other key factors that people leave the profession anyway.
- Salary: Nurses do make a steady middle-class salary, but there are a few factors that keep this from being a significant benefit of the job. For one thing, they work very hard for their money. A similar amount of effort put into, say, marketing could potentially generate a much higher income. The other issue is that nurses have very little in the way of raise potential. Their income will increase year to year, but on a scheduled basis that is not dependent on their effort or ability. This can lead to a sense of personal stagnation within the position.
- Limited Access to Promotions: Similar to the last factor, nurses don’t really get promotions. They may gain minor leadership responsibilities as they progress in their careers, but there aren’t really distinct jobs available to nurses who have been promoted. This can also lead to a reduced sense of motivation.
- Stress: Obvious—when people are stressed perpetually, they’re less likely to stay in their career. This is a factor that nurses experience in abundance, and it’s also not necessarily one that continuing education opportunities can alleviate, at least not directly.
There are indirect benefits, however. If, for example, getting a graduate degree could provide relief from all of the other professional shortcomings, that would almost certainly result in a reduced sense of stress as well. But in what ways are graduate programs able to meet these needs? Let’s get into it.
What MSN Programs Can Do
Graduate programs offer a solution to almost all of the issues described above. They:
- Increase Your Salary: Nurses with a graduate degree can nearly double their earning potential depending on what path they take. This is a very direct and clear benefit to going to graduate school.
- Career Mobility: Obviously, getting an MSN is also a step up the career ladder. Becoming a nurse practitioner is not exactly the same thing as getting a promotion. It is a different job requiring different qualifications, but it is a professional continuation of the work that you are already doing as a registered nurse.
- Increased Autonomy: The level of independence that you will experience as a nurse practitioner varies based on location, but it is a considerable upgrade from the world of nursing. In some states, nurse practitioners can write prescriptions, perform diagnoses, and do many of the other same things that doctors normally handle.
In this way, the security that you get is twofold. For one thing, nurse practitioners are in high demand, which means that you’re more likely to find high-paying work with this credential. There’s also a sense of personal security. You can be more comfortable, confident, and sure of your career path when you pursue a route that is potentially more rewarding than the path you are on.
An MSN While Working as a Nurse
To say that getting an MSN while working as a nurse is easy is not accurate—but it is fair to point out that this is the situation most people in MSN programs find themselves in. Many programs are structured around the schedules of busy nurses. Some will even allow you to work remotely much of the time, sometimes with pre-recorded lectures that let you study when it is convenient.
Depending on how much time you can put into the program, you may be able to complete an MSN in as little as one year, but three to five years is more typical, particularly for people who are working part-time on their degree. There will still be clinical requirements, and the work will be challenging. However, it is fair to say that anyone who is smart enough and driven enough to become a nurse also has what it takes to get their master’s in nursing.
It may not be easy, but it is a great way to invest in the long-term continuation of your career.
