- A Guide to Advanced Nursing Degrees
No matter what your position is in the field of nursing, working as a nursing professional can be incredibly fulfilling. Many nurses work to better the health and quality of life of their patients, and their work can make a significant difference in the lives of others. With higher education, there is always a chance to elevate your career and develop yourself personally and professionally, which is fortunate if you are currently seeking a new career opportunity. Here is an in-depth guide to different types of advanced nursing degrees to help you pick the right one for your future.
- An Introduction to an Advanced Nursing Degree
Entry-level nursing qualifications such as the associate degrees in nursing (ADNs) and the bachelor’s degrees in Nursing (BSNs) are often the degree programs completed at the beginning of a nurses career. An advanced-level nursing degree is a postgraduate qualification that comes after the aforementioned degree programs. With an advanced nursing degree, registered nurses (RN) can widen their field knowledge and specialize in their area of focus. Advanced-level degrees prepare nurses for higher-level nursing positions and can open up more employment opportunities for registered nurses. The length of an advanced level degree program can vary a lot, with some taking just 15 months to complete and others taking up to 7 years to complete. With an advanced-level nursing degree, many registered nurses’ next step is obtaining advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) status.
- Why Should Registered Nurses Obtain Advanced Degrees
The healthcare and medical world is ever-evolving, meaning nursing professionals must commit to lifelong learning to keep up with the changing industry. With breakthroughs in medicine, constant developments in healthcare, and advancements in technology, equipping yourself with an advanced-level degree can help you stay relevant. Nurses can stay relevant by reading medical journals, keeping up with current events, and enrolling in in-house training and development programs. However, higher education is one of the most effective ways to ensure you stay knowledgeable about the industry and possess the right skill set for your job.
- Types of Advanced Nursing Degrees
When it comes to advanced nursing degrees, there are three-degree programs for registered nurses to choose from; a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, and a Ph.D. in Nursing. Each program places focus on different areas of nursing, which is why the degree program you choose should reflect your ambitions for your career.
- MSN
After an ADN or a BSN, a master’s degree in nursing is the typical next step in education. An MSN program often revolves around medical skills, which will help nursing professionals prepare for clinical, administration, and educational roles in healthcare and medicine. This degree program equips nurses with a foundational knowledge of advanced practice and teaches students about behavioral, medical, and social sciences. With an MSN, nursing professionals can achieve APRN status, and at this stage of education, they can choose a specialty to focus their practice around. For example, with an online FNP degree from the University of Indianapolis, students can become nurse practitioners specializing in family care. A family nurse practitioner is a fantastic option for those nurses who want to work with people of all ages, and children without specializing in pediatric nursing. They will often work in doctors’ surgeries, and more experienced advanced family nurse practitioners may even hold their own clinics in the community. It is a chance to work autonomously with patients and delivering the best possible care.
- How to Become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
There are several stages to becoming an advanced practice registered nurse. In addition to an advanced nursing degree, you must also have relevant experience in a clinical setting. Clinical hours are often obtained alongside a degree program. In addition to a degree and clinical hours, nurses need to obtain the correct certification and state license to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse.
- DNP
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is one of the two doctoral degrees nurses can achieve. It is the natural next step in a nurse’s education. However, there are degree programs that allow students to accelerate their learning and earn a DNP degree without obtaining a BSN or an MSN first. This degree prepares people for clinical and research roles in the field of nursing and for executive nursing positions. With this doctoral degree, nursing professionals can take their careers in a whole new direction. A DNP degree centers on management, statistical analysis, leadership skills, data research, and evidence-based practice. To obtain their degree, DNP students usually need to choose a specialist area of study and undertake a major research project with this focus area. DNP students graduate with an in-depth understanding of advancements in nursing, various healthcare systems, and how they affect the world.
- Leadership and Management Positions
With comprehensive knowledge of nursing, healthcare systems, and leadership skills, DNP students are well-equipped to take on management positions in nursing after they graduate. This type of degree helps nurses develop the skills necessary to confidently lead a team, as they are better prepared to make difficult healthcare decisions. DNP graduates can apply for high-level roles, including the CNO, or chief nursing officer, of a hospital.
- Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is the other doctoral degree that nursing professionals can achieve, depending on their education level. It is the degree program that can take the longest time to complete, and it has more general focus on academics and research. A Ph.D. is the best option for nurses who wish to work in academia and scholarly research rather than clinical practice.
Specializing Further
Once you have obtained the highest qualification that you can or want to achieve, you might want to start considering how you can specialize your career interests further. Whether this is going into the academic spheres and clinical research to help develop and inform policies and procedures or taking on the challenge of niche areas in medicine that make a difference in people’s lives.