The Importance of Advanced Nursing Degrees

Nurses are involved in almost every aspect of patient care today, and much of what they do requires specialized training. There has long been a need for highly skilled nurses, which will only increase as health care becomes increasingly specialized. If you’re a nurse who wants to specialize in the field, an advanced nursing degree could prepare you for new roles and nursing workforce trends to come.

Understanding the Different Levels of Nursing Degrees

Nurses aren’t limited to just one or two degree options. No matter your current academic or professional stage, there’s likely a nursing degree that could be your next step in the field amid various levels of nursing practice.

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

An associate degree in nursing is a two-year program that serves as an accessible entry point into the field. A two-year degree lets you begin working as a nurse fairly quickly, and the cost of this degree is often lower because the program is shorter.

An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) can prepare you to become a registered nurse (RN) by qualifying you to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. While ADN-prepared RNs often begin in entry-level nursing roles, the degree provides a strong foundation for gaining experience and advancing in the field. Many nurses choose to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) later in their careers to open the door to broader opportunities.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a four-year degree that provides a more in-depth education and broader training in the field of nursing. Coursework might include classes on leadership, public health, specific nursing fields or other related subjects. Although the program is longer, scholarships and other forms of financial aid are available to many students.

Completing a BSN will qualify you for more diverse nursing positions and make you more competitive in the job market.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Master of Science in Nursing degrees offer opportunities for advanced training and education preparing students for academic and clinical careers.

For example, the MSN-Nursing Education at Texas A&M University is a mostly online degree program centered on nursing education. Some periods of in-person attendance are needed to meet clinical hours requirements as well as for an Advanced Health Assessment course. Graduates can go on to become nurse educators — creating training programs, overseeing professional development and teaching nursing staff in a variety of settings.

MSN programs, regardless of specialization, require a bachelor’s degree and sometimes at least one year of experience in the field.

Having an MSN can open even more opportunities, particularly in leadership. You might use an MSN to become a team lead at a hospital, oversee programs within a health care organization (e.g. training) or provide specialized and advanced clinical care. These are just a few examples of the numerous different professional opportunities.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

A Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is a doctoral program primarily focusing on clinical practice and can include a variety of specializations.The timeframe for most DNP programs is three to five years of full-time study, depending on the program and the applicant’s previous degrees.

Having a DNP could prepare you for a range of top roles within nursing. These nurse-doctors may work in patient care, policy advocacy, health care administration, nurse training and education and more.

PhD in Nursing

A PhD in Nursing is the highest academic degree focused on nursing research and scholarship. Unlike the DNP, which emphasizes clinical practice, a PhD prepares nurses to generate new knowledge through original research. These programs typically take four to six years to complete and are designed for those who want to contribute to the science of nursing, influence healthcare policy, or teach at the university level.

Graduates of PhD programs often pursue careers in academia, research institutions, or leadership roles within public health and policy organizations. With a PhD in Nursing, you’ll be equipped to lead studies that improve patient care, mentor the next generation of nurses, and shape the future of healthcare through evidence-based findings.

Why Earn an Advanced Nursing Degree?

No matter where you are in your nursing career, earning an advanced nursing degree will work to your benefit. You’ll have more career opportunities, qualify for advanced nursing role and likely impact more patients’ lives through your work.

Greater Career Advancement Opportunities

One of the main reasons to pursue an advanced degree is to advance your nursing career. Higher degrees unlock new job opportunities, and you’ll be more qualified when applying for jobs. These include higher-level jobs, more specialized role and positions outside of direct patient care.

Ability to Specialize in a High-Demand Nursing Field

When considering different MSN or DNP programs, one key factor to consider is a specific concentration. Choosing a program that specializes in a high-demand area (like pediatrics, mental health or oncology) could yield plenty of opportunities.

One growing field of nursing that’s sometimes overlooked is nurse education. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected registered nurse jobs to grow at 6% annually through 2023 and create nearly 200,000 new openings for RNs. That will naturally create additional needs for training and education, both for prospective and current nurses.

Increased Job Security in a Competitive Health Care Market

Despite the projected job growth, certain nursing specialties are becoming more competitive. An increasing number of employers prefer candidates who have advanced degrees, which could be either an MSN or DNP depending on the position. Having one of these degrees (or both) provides more job security if you’re in one of the more competitive fields of nursing.

Preparation for Leadership and Administrative Roles

For those interested in serving outside of clinical settings, an advanced nursing degree could lead to administrative, policy, advocacy or other non-clinical work. This could entail anything from developing training materials for a hospital after earning an MSN-Nursing Education to working with health care advocacy nonprofits to managing an entire nursing staff.

Opportunity to Become a Nurse Educator and Educate Future Nurses

Training through programs like a nursing education MSN degree specifically prepares students to become Certified Nurse Educators (after a separate certification exam). Working as a nurse educator brings the personal reward of knowing that you’re influencing the future of the field. You could be teaching soon-to-be nurses, providing continuing education for nurses currently working in the field or developing training programs.

Educating future nurses multiplies your impact across organizations and exam rooms — and can have a lasting effect even after you’re no longer teaching. There’s simply something special about preparing the next generation of nurses.

Expanded Influence in Health Care Policy and Advocacy

Advocacy work and health care policy are more removed from direct patient care, but they ultimately have an immense impact on patient care and outcomes. Nurses with MSNs, and especially those with DNPs, may engage in health care legislation, organization policy or other high-level administrative decisions.

Contribution to Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice

While all accredited levels of nursing degrees base their teachings on research, graduate nursing education delves into the evidence at a deeper level. Students learn research skills themselves, so they’re prepared to use evidence-based practices wherever they land after graduating.

In many cases, students even complete their own research, making original contributions to the nursing field. The research that DNP students complete can result in new practices or policies, and even research at the MSN level can lead to substantial positive changes.

Eligibility for Teaching and Academic Positions

Certain advanced degrees qualify nurses to teach in academic settings such as colleges, universities, and graduate programs. Many tenured faculty members hold doctoral degrees, either a DNP or a PhD. However, MSN-prepared graduates are also well-qualified to teach in licensed practical nursing (LPN) programs, associate degree programs, and bachelor’s degree programs, often serving as instructors, lecturers, or clinical faculty.

Increased Impact on Patient Care Quality and Safety

Advanced degrees enable you to have an increased impact on patient care and safety in a couple of distinct ways. First, you’ll gain more detailed knowledge about what impacts patient care quality, what poses risks to patient safety, and how to address these challenges. Second, many degrees will open opportunities where you’ll be guiding other nurses’ work. The improvements that you bring to a health care organization will also radiate outward from everyone you teach, supervise or otherwise influence.

Qualification for Roles in Public Health and Community Health Care

Some advanced nursing degrees focus on public health and/or community health care, and almost any MSN or DNP could potentially lead to work in these areas. You could leverage a degree to influence public policy, advocate for underserved populations, increase health care access within a local community, or in some other way that benefits the common good.

Opportunity to Develop and Implement Health Care Innovations

Strong research competencies, critical thinking skills and detailed knowledge can prepare you for work in health care innovation. MSN and DNP nurses are involved in the development of new technologies, evaluation of new practices and implementation of innovations that show promise. These advancements can bring real change to the field, and being part of that change is certainly rewarding.

The Shift Toward Higher Education Requirements in Nursing

Nursing, like many fields of work, is emphasizing higher education and degrees more than ever. Employers are increasingly seeking applicants who hold at least a BSN, and many job openings prefer or require an MSN degree. Having an advanced degree will help you keep up with education-driven nursing workforce trends, plus afford new possibilities of where your career could go.

Interested in a master’s degree in nursing? The MSN-Nursing Education at Texas A&M University could be the right advanced nursing degree for you. Contact us today to learn more about the degree program and what you might do with it.

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