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One of the biggest benefits of an MSN degree is that it allows nurses to move away from the bedside and focus on more managerial roles. This is one way to help address the nursing shortage and improve patient care.
1. Better Job Opportunities
An MSN in nursing administration requires a lot of work, money, and time. However, if you’re serious about expanding your career opportunities in the nursing industry, then an MSN is a smart investment for you.
An MSN will enable you to move into a managerial position and play a critical role in ensuring the best healthcare is delivered to your patients. It will also equip you with the knowledge and skills to lead a team of nurses efficiently and effectively. You will gain insights into healthcare management and administration that you would not be exposed to in a BSN program or learn as a bedside nurse. It will also give you access to senior-level professionals who can offer advice and mentorship on succeeding in a leadership position.
2. A Better Work-Life Balance
Pursuing an MSN in nursing administration requires much of your time, and many nurses already work full-time. If you have a family or other obligations to tend to, this can take a toll on your personal life and lead to added stress.
Nurses typically work 12-hour shifts and often have to be on call during the weekends, nights, and holidays. Moving into a managerial role with an MSN degree allows you to pursue a career that adheres to standard business hours.
The MSN can also allow you to move into a leadership position, such as a chief nursing officer (CNO). CNOs oversee all nursing departments at a healthcare facility and are crucial to making important patient care decisions.
3. Better Salary
If you’re considering pursuing an MSN in nursing administration, it is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before committing to the degree. While the program will offer better salary opportunities and expand your career options, it will also cost a lot of time and money.
Additionally, an MSN degree requires you to choose a specialty. This can be clinical or non-clinical and will guide some of your courses and experience.
Moreover, it will teach you the best nursing leadership and management practices that are not covered in BSN programs or learned on the job as a bedside nurse. This makes it a worthwhile investment for those aspiring to become nursing leaders.
4. Better Work Hours
A nursing career can be physically exhausting, especially if nurses constantly move and work on their feet. By pursuing an MSN in administration, nurses can leave the bedside and find administrative roles, which allow them to work behind a desk and have more time off of their feet.
In addition to better work hours, those with an MSN are often more prepared for managerial positions and can take on leadership roles. This means they can move up the ladder faster than those without an advanced degree and may even become a head nurse or other senior-level administrator.
Of course, gaining an MSN at Lamar University requires a commitment of both money and time, so it is important to weigh the pros and cons before making this life-changing decision. Those ready should look into an online MSN program compatible with their current lifestyle and career goals.
5. A Better Future
An MSN will increase your earning potential and open up new opportunities. It is a good idea for anyone who wants to take their nursing career to the next level.
An advanced degree also opens up better work hours. Nurses who hold an MSN rarely have to work 12-hour shifts or nights, and they can often enjoy a more stable schedule that allows them to keep working into retirement age.
Final Words
For nurses with a bachelor’s degree, an RN-to-MSN bridge program can allow them to complete their master’s without earning their RN first. The curriculum includes advanced nursing theories, healthcare systems and policies, research methods, and leadership and management skills. It will prepare you to think strategically and participate in policy decisions while guiding your organization through changes.