Interested in pursuing an advanced degree, but don’t know where to begin? A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is a logical next step for nurses who are looking to carry the advanced practice credential.
The need
Advanced training in nursing is certainly going to be needed very soon. The field of advanced practice nursing is expected to grow rapidly over the next eight years; however, as of 2022, only 17.9% of nurses are eligible to practice at this level. This is a clear gap that needs to be addressed.
Factors to consider
If you’re interested in pursuing a master’s degree, one of the first factors to consider is whether you want to be a clinical nurse with an MSN degree, such as a nurse practitioner, or a non-clinical nurse with an MSN degree, perhaps as a chief nursing officer. Make sure you review guidelines from your practicing state board of nursing, as some states require that nurse practitioners receive a doctorate education. This is already true for those opting to be nursing anesthetists, as this now requires a doctorate level degree.
Choosing a school
Next, research the schools that offer MSN degrees and what tracks they offer. Some of the most notable programs include tracks such as nursing educator, nurse midwife, nursing informatics, nursing leadership and administration, and a variety of nurse practitioner tracks.
Ensuring accreditation with national accreditation agencies is essential if you would like to apply for federal funding or a scholarship. Make sure that the school has an accreditation with national accreditation agencies such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). CCNE is the accreditation body for graduate level education, and ACEN includes all nursing education levels.
Challenges to anticipate
One of the largest challenges to anticipate is the cost of pursuing graduate education. It can be more difficult to access funding at the graduate level in comparison to undergraduate education. This does not mean that it does not exist.
Graduate level education also has a certain expectation of you as a student, and faculty will hold you to a higher standard. When faculty grade assignments, for example, they will expect that basic mistakes are no longer made.
Keys to success
Ultimately, every key to success leads back to appropriate time management in some way, shape, or form. Much like nursing school, these trainings take a lot of time to study the material or prepare complex assignments. However, the real reason time management is the key to success is because it gives you time to breathe and practice self-care. It gives you time to be a parent, a friend, a nurse, a contributing member of society. Appropriate time management allows you to bake a perfect recipe to impact all aspects of your life so that your graduate level education is not a looming task—which really allows you to enjoy the ride.
Another key to success is asking for help. No successful nurse made it to where they are today on their own. Finding a mentor is important—someone who has been in your shoes, who has done the same research, and/or has completed their MSN degree and is a practicing advanced nursing professional. Appropriate time management, again, leads back to allowing time to find a mentor.
While the cost of graduate level education was previously mentioned as a challenge, I wanted to remind you that Sigma membership has its own benefits. One of the best perks of being a member of a professional organization of this magnitude is the fact that you will have many opportunities to apply for local scholarships throughout the year.
Make the most of the experience
Think about how fast undergraduate education goes by. Graduate education goes by even faster.
Stop.
Close your eyes.
Inhale through your nose.
Exhale through your mouth.
The stress of graduate level education can be consuming, but only if you let it consume you. Yesterday is gone. The time is now. There is no moment like the present, and tomorrow is not promised. Time is going to pass whether you choose to pursue this degree or not, so it only makes sense to enjoy the moment.
This experience and this opportunity do not come back around.
Good luck and never regret your choice to better yourself.
All the best,
Anthony
Anthony J. Silva, MSN, RN, AMB-BC, ROT, is a surgical assistant at Naples Community Hospital, an infusion nurse with The Wellness Lab, and an adjunct faculty member at Rasmussen University. He is a member of Sigma’s Beta Tau Chapter.