As a nurse already working in the field, you may feel like you don’t need to return to school. However, there are several benefits to consider. If you’re ready to take the leap and return for your Master’s degree, there’s a lot that you’ll want to know. Additionally, it’s worth noting that pursuing advanced education can provide you with increased opportunities for professional growth and mobility, especially with the existence of the 39 compact nursing states and territories in the United States. This initiative allows nurses with advanced degrees to practice in multiple states, opening doors to diverse healthcare environments and expanding their career prospects in the ever-evolving field of nursing.
In this article, we’ll cover all of the seven awesome benefits of obtaining your Master’s Degree in nursing! There’s plenty that you won’t expect, so let’s get started.
1. You Make More Money
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The most significant benefit for people is that they’ll certainly make more money with a Master’s in nursing. This advanced degree would get you a higher income through higher-level positions in the field.
.Having a Master’s Degree could potentially allow you to earn about $20,000 more per year! It’s very worthwhile to pursue a senior-level position at a practice.
2. You Can Explore More Opportunities
When you get your Master’s in nursing, you can explore many more jobs within the field. You could become a specialized nurse, manage the other nurses, train nurses, track schedules, and more. Nurses with a higher degree have many more opportunities available to them.
If you’ve felt stuck in your current position, a new degree is just what you need! You’ll have an entirely different experience as a senior-level nurse. Plus, you can even move beyond traditional nursing work with a Master’s.
Here are some examples of nursing jobs that require an MSN degree. These doors will open for you when you complete your advanced education:
- Midwife Nurse
- Psychiatric Nurse
- Anesthetist Nurse
- Nurse Educator
- Clinical Specialist Nurse
- Nurse Practitioner
3. You Can Choose a Specialty
One of the best benefits of getting an advanced nursing degree is picking a specialty to work on. Some nursing jobs require that you work with specific patients. For example, Midwives monitor and assist pregnant women, while forensic nurses work with victims and law enforcement.
You can choose a specialty you’re passionate about and then study it! Since you get to pick, you’ll want to choose a specialized field that you love. When you work in your dream field, it’s not even going to feel like work anymore.
Suppose you want to become an expert in a specific area of nursing. In that case, obtaining your Master’s Degree is the best way to go about doing this! You’re sure to already have a field you’re interested in, so all you have to do is pursue it.
4. Expand Your Knowledge
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Going back to school also means that you can expand your knowledge. You’re much more likely to succeed in your field when you have more education. Patients can tell when medical staff have more ability, leading them to trust you more.
Plus, earning a Master’s Degree also lets you better understand topics that teachers glossed over in your first round of nursing school. You may discover that you enjoy these topics more and want to choose one for your specialty.
Overall, expanding your medical knowledge is one of the best things you can do for yourself as a nurse! Having more knowledge makes you more valuable to your employers, making them offer you better positions and pay to keep you at their practice.
5. Get Better Hours
As a nurse, you know that the working hours can be rough! Shifts can exceed 12 hours easily, and you might have to work over the holidays. However, with a Master’s Degree in nursing, you’re much more likely to have a traditional workweek.
When you have an advanced degree as a senior-level nurse, you’re much more likely to set your schedule during daytime hours. Your skills are also more in-demand, so that the practice will want you there at normal times.
Most senior nurse tasks happen during the typical workday- training, maintaining schedules, education, and talking with patients usually doesn’t happen during the middle of the night.
Suppose you’re tired of working odd hours and having to come in over holidays and breaks. In that case, pursuing higher education can help! You’ll have plenty of opportunities to work regular hours with a Master’s Degree in nursing.
6. It Doesn’t Take as Long
If you’ve already put in the time and effort into getting your Bachelor’s, it’s essential to realize that getting your Master’s Degree won’t take as long! While it takes four years to complete and obtain a Bachelor’s Degree, a Master’s only takes two years- about half the time.
In the grand scheme of time, two years isn’t that long! You’ll be done with your Master’s before you know it, letting you enjoy all of the above benefits.
Many adults with careers also return to get their Masters. Many schools and professors realize this, making the class schedules very flexible. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding classes that work with your complicated nursing schedules while you return to school.
To summarize, you’ve already gone to school for several years to reach where you are as a nurse. Adding two more years to get your Master’s Degree won’t feel that long to you at all. Plus, it’ll be highly worth it!
7. It’s a Great Chance For Growth
As people, we should always try to improve ourselves. Going back to school is a wonderful opportunity to set yourself up for more growth! You’ll learn a lot, meet new people, and build many connections with other professionals.
If you’re looking for a new way to encourage yourself to grow, then starting your Master’s is the perfect way to do so! You’re sure to encounter many experiences that give you the growth you’re looking for.
Challenge Yourself
If you’re ready, you’ll want to start researching schools. Online schools are another option, making it easier to continue working while you pursue your degree. Even if you’re nervous, know that you’re not alone- many nurses return to get their Master’s every year.
In short, there are many benefits to getting a Master’s Degree in nursing. You’re sure to enjoy all of the benefits that getting this advanced degree offers.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
