Getting a Master's Degree in Nursing Online
For the past few decades, higher education degrees in nursing have been pretty rare. After all, it's a field where students can enter a program, complete their courses, and get a degree within two years – no Bachelor's degree required. In recent years, however, it's becoming more and more popular for nurses to extend their training to include the four-year Bachelor's program or even longer to get a Master's degree. This is especially true with the spread of online learning options.
The Purpose of a Master's Degree in Nursing
The reason Master's degrees in nursing haven't been all that popular until recently is the fact that unless the goal was to become a nurse-instructor, there used to be few reasons to pursue higher education. Nursing has almost always been a field with room for advancement only up to a certain point; for example, once a nurse became the head nurse of his or her floor, there was typically nowhere to go in terms of career growth from there.
Today, these options are changing, and higher education grants access to a number of career possibilities. Nurses can choose to specialize in a particular field (such as obstetrical nursing), which can allow them to either enter the field of medical research or to branch out and open an independent clinic or care facilities. Nurses can also choose to focus on business or hospital administration, which means that they are better equipped for promotions and careers in upper management.
Many nurses also choose to get Master's degrees in order to become more more medically certified. This option is usually accompanied by exams offered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center and American Nurses Association. These include the ability to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Certified Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse-Midwifes, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Primary or Acute Care Nurse Practitioners. Many of these types of nurses can open their own offices and clinics.
Some additional benefits of a Master's degree in nursing include:
Higher earnings
Leadership roles
Opportunities to move into administration
Greater contributions to the field of nursing
More independent practice
Master's Programs in Nursing
Most programs last anywhere between 18 months and two years, depending on the school and area of focus. This program length is most often offered on top of an existing Bachelor of Nursing degree, which typically requires a four-year investment (also known as an “RN-to-MSN” program). While there are exceptions in the form of accelerated programs or credit for on-the-job experience, most students can expect to make this two-year commitment.
Students looking to enter a Master's of Nursing program with an Associate degree in nursing or a Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field (also known as a “Graduate Entry MSN” or “Direct Entry MSN” program) have additional options available to them; however, these may require more time and basic core curriculum fulfillment, since students must get all of the undergraduate nursing coursework done before they can move on to advanced-level education.
Getting a Master's Degree in Nursing Online
Most of the online courses available for nurses seeking higher education degrees revolve around working professionals with hectic and busy lifestyles. They offer greater flexibility and more self-directed learning than most of the on-site education options available. This makes online schools incredibly popular among nurses currently working in the field and looking to boost their credentials to earn more and move up in their careers.
However, there are some limitations. Those looking to enter the field of nursing in a Graduate Entry MSN or Direct Entry MSN program may be required to do some on-site learning in order to get all the clinical hours they need to become certified. After all, most basic nursing education programs are centered on practicing and interacting with patients, and until you have that experience, you won't be able to get certified to practice in your state.
For those looking to simply boost their existing Bachelor's degree or who want to branch out into the administration side of nursing, online learning is ideal. Most of the coursework is academic in nature, so there are no boundaries regarding where and how it can be learned.
Estimates also place the cost of online Master's of Nursing programs at about one-third less than what students can expect to pay at a private college or university. The exception to this is state-run universities, which may offer lower costs but a much more competitive and stringent application process.
What to Expect from a Master's Program Online
The types of classes you can expect depend primarily on your field of focus and your existing level of education. In most cases, you will take basic classes in things like nursing theory, advanced practice concepts, health-care administration, and legal and moral ethics. From there, you will build a curriculum centered on what you want out of your educational experience.
At the same time, most online programs follow the same basic format. This means that your program should include:
Access to your coursework from any online remote location
24/7 assistance from supervisors, other students, and technical support
Collaboration with students from all over the country
Online “blackboards” and virtual “classrooms” that emulate on-site learning
Self-directed learning
E-textbooks or computer-based materials
Discussion boards
No matter what you choose as your educational format for your Master's degree in nursing, however, one thing remains the same: you are taking one of the best possible steps for your career and your future. These days, a Master's degree in any field is often the ticket to success, and nursing is no different.
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