RN to MSN - Career Benefits and Education Options

A nurse in many cases holds a Master of Science innurse practitioners, midwives, and anesthetists, are in
Nursing (MSN). The implications of an RN receiving anhigh demand, for the medically underserved areas of
MSN go beyond patient care. Their education inboth rural and urban settings to serve as lower-cost
leadership, research, and understanding the currentprimary care providers (U.S. Department of Labor). In
political framework of the medical system allows anrural settings in particular, there may be fewer
MSN to achieve greatness in the field of nursing.physicians available and the MSN will replace the duties
Changing Course - RN to MSNof the absent physician unless the patient requires the
There are major differences between an RN anduse of hospital facilities or advanced medical care.
MSN. The education attained by an MSN opens theEducation, Admission Requirements, and Salary
doors to learning the field of medicine that is similar toIn order for an RN to achieve an MSN and become an
the work of a medical physician.advanced practice registered nurse, most programs
An MSN may choose one of many different nursingrequire a masters program lasting approximately 2
roles. They may be a Nurse Practitioner who diagnoseyears following the Bachelor of Science Nursing
and treat patients, Certified Registered Nursedegree. Some programs require at least 1 to 2 years
Anesthetist who provide anesthetics to patients inof clinical experience as an RN for admission. In 2004,
collaboration with surgeons, dentists, or childbirththere were 329 master's programs for nurse
procedures. Next we have Certified Nurse Midwivespractitioners, 218 for clinical nurse specialists, 92 for
who provides primary health care to women, prenatalnurse anesthetists, and 45 for nurse midwives (U.S.
care, labor and delivery care, care after birth,Department of Labor). Many programs combine the
gynecological exams, and many other care takingBSN and MSN degree for the nurse to graduate with
procedures necessary for women's health. Lastly,two degrees together.
there is the Clinical Nurse Specialists who specialize inThe education includes both classroom learning and
education, research, consulting, case management, andclinical requirements. Admissions usually require scores
leadership.taken from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the
National Implications of MSNMiller Analogies Test (MAT). In addition, college
Managed care, Medicare, Medicaid, and hospitaltranscripts, letters of recommendation, and essays, are
reimbursement issues are all realities of the currentusually required.
health care system. Many new nurses are unfamiliarMSN's generally receive a higher salary than BSN's
with the national crisis occurring each day; a cloud ofand RN's. The average salary for a RN/BSN is
financial and political challenges that are within thebetween $43,000 and $63,000. The average salary
medical system.for a Nurse Practitioner, for instance, is approximately
For an RN who seeks to make a difference in the$66,000 and can go up to $90,000 if the nurse owns
current structure of our political system, they will betheir own practice.
motivated to receive an MSN. An MSN degree offersConclusion
the opportunity to deal with these issues head-on.An RN who is becoming an MSN has much to ponder
As medical costs continue to increase astronomically,for the field they are about to enter. It is no longer
the challenge is to cut costs wherever possible.about just becoming a practitioner. Many RN's become
Studies show that the U.S. could save up to $8.75outstanding clinicians; however the doors are open to
billion annually if MSN's were used in place ofmake a difference in the current financial, political, and
physicians (Thomson Petersons). Advanced practicinghealth care system. Their training is in leadership,
nurses with MSN's will be at the frontline to saveresearch, clinical learning, and communication skills. This
money and treat patients, to diagnose and replace theis a formula for success in the dynamic field of nursing.
role of the physician.Copyright 2006 Michael V.
In addition, MSN nurses such as clinical nurse specialists,