Registered nurses can gain hands-on clinical experience by working in the field, but higher education and postgraduate certification are needed to qualify them for advanced nursing roles that require a high level of expertise. Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees prepare nurses to specialize in clinical and nonclinical nursing disciplines, which might accelerate their career progression. Currently practicing registered nurses, regardless of their level of experience, might take the opportunity to continue growing their nursing careers by seeking an MSN program that fits their individual needs.

After deciding to pursue nursing for their career, most people earn either their associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing to qualify for registered nurse licensure. At this point, they discover that registered nurses earn an impressive $70,000 median salary, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In addition to this above-average salary, nurses also have exceptional job prospects, with 15 percent more registered nursing positions expected to become available in the U.S. between 2016 and 2026. But what opportunities lie ahead for driven nurses who strive for excellence in the field?

Experienced nurses who want more responsibilities and higher compensation should try to earn the credentials needed to become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). APRNs are postgraduate-educated nurses who have expertise in their clinical specialty. To become an APRN, nurses must earn an MSN and then pass a certification exam. They must also hold a valid state nurse practitioner license and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) licenses from the state and federal governments.

Nursing is a demanding profession that sometimes requires odd working hours, which makes it difficult for active nurses to find time to continue their education. Balancing class times with a shifting work schedule is tough, but online nursing classes are a noteworthy alternative for busy nurses. With all of the lectures and coursework available through the internet, students in online nursing programs can receive the same level of education as students who attend on-campus classes. They can also benefit from a similar level of social interaction, as most online nursing programs also feature regular class discussions and group assignments.

To continue growing as a nurse, it is necessary for a practicing nurse to expand his or her competencies to include skills like patient assessment, nursing research, and nurse leadership. MSN programs typically cover each of those topics, and many of them also help prepare students to become certified nurse practitioners. Nurse practitioners are APRNs who are authorized to diagnose illnesses and provide primary, acute, and specialty treatments to their patients. To become nurse practitioners, student nurses must earn their postgraduate degrees and then pursue certification in any of the following advanced nursing disciplines:

• Family Nursing. Developing long-term relationships with patients has the potential to improve the quality of their care. When studying to become family nurse practitioners, students learn how to provide acute and primary care to people of all ages, as well as promote healthy practices in the families they work with. A family nurse practitioner track prioritizes producing clinically knowledgeable nurses who understand how to effectively educate their patients.
  • To become a family nurse practitioner, MSN graduates can earn FNP certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
• Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing. This educational track focuses on teaching students how to administer therapeutic mental health care to patients of all ages. The typical MSN program will teach students how to communicate with mental health patients, a skill that’s critical to the process of diagnosing and treating mental illnesses.
  • To become a psychiatric–mental health nurse practitioner, MSN graduates can earn PMHNP certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
• Adult Gerontological Nursing. Adult gerontological nursing programs offer specific courses that teach students to care for adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. As students progress through the program, they should understand how nursing is different for patients of different ages. For instance, students will find that geriatric patients often suffer from at least one chronic disease that might complicate diagnoses or cause patients discomfort. By learning how to overcome such obstacles, student nurses can prepare themselves to deliver complex care in hospitals, assisted-living facilities, nursing homes, and long-term-care facilities. They can also get certified in any of the following subfields:
  • Acute AGN. Earn AGPCNP certification to specialize in administering primary care to patients.
  • Chronic AGN. Earn AGACNP certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center to specialize in administering acute or emergency care to adult patients.
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist. Earn AGCNS certification to become a clinical nurse specialist who is licensed to provide direct care to patients or act as a consultant, guiding the decisions of other medical professionals.

Moving from one registered nursing position to the next shows horizontal career growth, but earning a postgraduate degree and becoming an advanced practice registered nurse represents a vertical progression. Enrolling in a Master of Science in Nursing program is a realistic way to commit to consistently growing as a nurse, so start thinking about the different career paths that this degree program might open up for you, and the variety of opportunities that will await you.

Now that you know more about how a Master of Science in Nursing along with certifications can help your career, contact an enrollment adviser today to find out which online Master of Science in Nursing program at Regis College could work for you.