A master of science in nursing (MSN) degree is a graduate degree awarded to students who complete two-and-a-half years of approved accredited courses and complete 500 hours of clinical experience. Applicants must be a registered nurse (RN) with a valid license and an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in nursing to qualify for admission to an MSN degree program. Applicants must have maintained a 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate studies and must also have at least one full year of clinical experience working in their field.

Master's program graduates typically earn more than RNs. Graduates with a master's degree in nursing will increase their job opportunities because they'll qualify for several career opportunities, including jobs in healthcare and education.

1. MSN program graduates qualify to work as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).

APRNs have specialized training that qualifies them to assume leadership roles in the healthcare system. APRNs include nurse practitioners (NPs), nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists.

Nurse practitioners provide direct patient care and may be the primary care provider for their patients. NPs have expanded healthcare services to patients who have been unable to find a primary doctor. NPs can pursue a specialty. Family, adult-gerontology, and pediatric nurse practitioners evaluate patients, order medical tests, diagnose patients, and develop treatment plans.

NPs can provide patients with chronic disease management designed to improve their quality of life. While intervention from family NPs may prevent patients from developing some chronic diseases, such as diabetes, other patients may need long-term care for chronic conditions patients may be genetically predisposed to, such as asthma. For example, although smoking is the primary cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), it's possible for people who don't smoke to develop COPD.

Nurse-midwives are APRNs who provide prenatal care and may also provide reproductive healthcare for their patients. These APRNs also deliver babies and assist with medical procedures, such as cesarean sections.

Nurse anesthetists are qualified to give patients anesthesia. They evaluate patients before surgery, give them anesthesia, and monitor patients during surgery. Nurse anesthetists also use medication to treat patients who are in pain.

2. Earning an MSN degree can equip you to work as a mental health professional.

You can opt to specialize in psychiatric mental health studies when earning your masters degree in nursing. Individuals with an MSN with this specialty take courses that cover advanced practice nursing in the mental health field and psychopharmacology. Psychiatric mental health (PMH) nurses learn how to prescribe medication for psychiatric disorders, evaluate the medication's effects, and alter medication plans for their patients. Their courses also cover the side-effects of long-term medications and the risks of substance abuse. PMH nurses also learn about common psychiatric disorders and their symptoms.

Graduates are equipped with the training and knowledge needed to work in psychiatric hospitals or pursue opportunities as substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. PMH nurses may treat patients with a wide range of psychiatric and behavioral health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, autism, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

In addition to mental healthcare facilities, PMH nurses may work for correctional centers, medical clinics, schools, and home health agencies.

3. You can become a nurse educator with an MSN degree.

Nurse educators are postsecondary educators who teach undergraduate nursing courses for students pursuing a nursing diploma, an associate's degree in nursing, or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). Nurse educators may also serve as advisors and help develop curriculum programs for nursing students.

APRNs can also use their nursing skills to pursue opportunities in health education. Community health educators teach people about health and how to manage health issues. They also gather information about community health issues, programs, and healthcare systems and develop recommendations to address community healthcare needs effectively.

An MSN degree equips RNs with the skills and credentials needed to pursue opportunities as nurse practitioners, midwives, or anesthetists. Graduates with MSN degrees can also pursue a career as a psychiatric mental health nurse or a nurse educator.