So, you’ve got your Bachelor’s degree in nursing and you’re loving the job so far, but you want to continue progressing your education to improve your job performance and maybe even get ready for management level.
You’ve come to the right place, because we’ve got all the information you need when choosing what type of Master’s degree you want to apply for.
No matter what type of degree you choose, studying a Master’s of Nursing is an incredibly worthwhile feat to improve your career and flesh out your qualifications.
So, without further ado, here are the types of Master’s Degrees you can choose from in the nursing sector!
Master’s in Nursing Degree Options
There are several Master’s in Nursing Degree options to choose from, but it’s important that you look at the admission requirements before applying, as not all are capped at only a Bachelor’s degree. Here are the main options you can choose from depending on your specific circumstances:
Baccalaureate to Master’s Degree
Most Master’s in Nursing courses require you to have a Bachelor’s degree and at least one year of independent clinical nursing experience, and the Baccalaureate to Master’s Degree is no different.
This program tends to last between two and three years, and it can be offered online or in-person, so you’re in control of your learning experience.
MSN Bridge Program
Don’t have a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing? This isn’t necessarily a problem if you have an Associate Degree in Nursing and have been practising as an RN for a while.
The Bridge program lets you combine the final two years of a Bachelor’s course with the Master’s training, giving you a chance to earn your Master’s without dealing with the full four years of a Bachelor’s first.
These programs tend to last between three and four years, but the qualifications you’ll earn by the end of your time will be more than worth it!
Direct-Entry Master’s Degree
Again, the Direct-Entry Master’s degree is another option for nurses without a Bachelor’s in Nursing.
This is a program designed for people with a Bachelor’s or graduate degree in fields other than nursing so you can still become a registered nurse without having to retake your Bachelor’s studies.
You’ll need to take a condensed year of the BSN curriculum first and take the necessary courses to earn your nursing licence before being able to begin the Master of Nursing portion of your program. The majority of these courses last between 18 and 36 months.
Dual Master’s Degree
Lastly, the Dual Master’s degree is designed to combine two related programs, such as the MSN and a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA).
This will help you on your journey into advanced leadership roles that need a more complex understanding of nursing practice.
Dual Master’s degrees tend to take longer to obtain because there’s so much to learn, usually requiring between three and four years to complete either online or in person.
Types of Master’s of Nursing Degrees in Specialisations
Some people might prefer to go into specialisations rather than general nursing, and there are plenty of nursing degrees to choose from to help you achieve your dreams in these specialisation areas. Here are just a few of the most common nursing specialties that you can study for a Master’s:
Nurse Practitioner
If you want to advance your nursing career, a Nurse Practitioner Master’s is perfect for you. You can then choose to specialise in many other areas, such as adult gerontology, women’s health, family practice, and mental health.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
A Clinical Nurse Specialist Master’s program lets you prepare for APRN careers in nursing training, mentorship, research, and education.
You’ll learn how to improve your outcomes, use evidence-based nursing care in real-life practices, and educate yourself as well as your patients.
Certified Nurse-Midwife
You can specialise in Certified Nurse-Midwife Master’s if you’d like to go into individualised care of patients during pregnancy, labour, and after delivery.
Once you’ve obtained your Certified Nurse-Midwife degree, you’ll be able to perform OB-GYN duties other than performing c-sections.
Still, you’ll be able to offer prenatal and postnatal care and exams, deliver babies, help patients prepare their birth plans, and much more.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are plenty of types of Master’s degree programs to explore when wanting to further your nursing skills and career. From several ways you can obtain your Master’s, you don’t even need to have a Bachelor’s of Nursing beforehand!
The variety of options available to you make it easier for more people to get these qualifications and begin helping more people who need them, which we think is amazing.
