How to Become an MSN Nurse with an Accelerated Program
Because today’s patients are living longer and experiencing more complex medical conditions, the need for a highly educated nursing workforce can help by ensuring that people have access to high-quality and patient-centered care. Nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) are able to work independently by treating patients across their lifespan.
They can also help fill the primary care gap by meeting the needs of the aging baby boomer generation and the over 30 million newly insured Americans. Healthcare organizations, legislators, and patients have now recognized the value of MSN-prepared nurses, and nurses from the clinic to the operating room and beyond are being called to advance their education to meet this demand.
Benefits of a Master’s of Science in Nursing Degree
Specialization: An MSN degree will enable you to specialize in different fields of nursing. For instance, you can venture into family nurse practice if you love working with patients and want to play a major role in their treatment. An MSN degree will also enable you to join the health systems leadership and management field, which is expected to grow by 20 percent between 2016 and 2026, or if you’re a great teacher, you can become a nursing educator. Only an MSN degree can provide you with true specialization.
Qualification to pursue a doctorate degree: If you are passionate about taking care of others and want to become one of the best in the industry, you will need to further your studies and get a doctorate to achieve your Ph.D. While you’re expected to remain committed to your continuous professional education, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to study towards a Ph.D. However, most nurses choose to eventually obtain a doctorate. An MSN degree will take you a step closer towards your goal.
Meet licensing laws: As the nursing field develops, the licensing laws will only get stringent. According to a report by the Institute of Medicine, there are plans to ensure at least 80 percent of all nurses working in the U.S. have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree by the year 2020. While you can become a registered nurse with a BSN, soon you may be required to work towards an MSN degree for you to retain that license. Therefore, if you have the opportunity, now is the best time to pursue your MSN degree.
Ease of transitioning from BSN to MSN: Some years ago it would have taken you an additional three to four years of study to acquire your MSN degree. However, today it is easier to work towards your MSN degree within one and a half to two years. Furthermore, you can submit transferable credits, which will keep your cost of study low.
You can study online: There are many MSN programs that are being offered completely online. Therefore, you don’t have to give up your lucrative career to further your education. You can also keep your family commitments and gain more education at the same time.
You can take advantage of accelerated MSN programs: If you can study around the clock, then you can take part in an accelerated program. Such a program will enable you to learn what you would have learned in two years within just one year. Although such a program will put you under a lot of pressure, you will be able to get started in the field of your choice quicker. This will help you to earn back the money you have spent on your education within a shorter time.
How an accelerated MSN Degree Program can Expand Your Career Options
When considering different career options with an MSN degree, you should keep in mind a recent survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the BLS, management-level nursing positions now require graduate degrees in either health services administration or nursing. And while a Bachelor of Science in Nursing can help you land a good nursing job, additional education can expand your career prospects.
The typical curriculum of an accelerated MSN degree program includes courses such as ethical issues, nursing theory, nursing informatics, nursing leadership, nursing research, pharmacology, and pathophysiology. Additionally, registered accelerated MSN degree programs will enable you to focus your education to work on specific conditions, for example, an administration track. Overall, an accelerated MSN program offers bright job prospects, especially due to the expanding access to quality healthcare and the need for nursing professionals to continuously educate themselves due to the changes in the field.
Are you interested in moving your nursing career forward? If you’re ready to earn your Master of Science Degree in Nursing, ECPI University offers this program at an accelerated rate. For more information on the program, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Master of Science in Nursing
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