What is the Value of a Masters Degree in Nursing?

Table of Contents

Introduction
Main Theses
Conclusion
Reference

Introduction

In the modern competitive job market, advanced knowledge and skills in particular spheres of activities are immeasurably required, and highly qualified workers are more attractive to employers in comparison with mediocre ones. That is why a masters degree may significantly benefit a persons career. It will provide the development of competence in a certain field of knowledge that is not affordable for undergraduates.

Moreover, a masters degree allows an individual to focus on additional competencies such as leadership or project management that may encourage promotion in the future. For employers, a masters degree is frequently regarded as proof that a worker has the appropriate skills for effective work with complex research, projects, analysis, and synthesis. And it goes without saying that a masters degree provides a higher salary in comparison with a bachelors degree. The purpose of this essay is to examine the value and benefits of a masters degree in a field of nursing.

Main Theses

Once a nursing student, a registered nurse, or a nursing professional makes the decision to obtain more advanced positions in nursing, a masters degree becomes the most essential requirement. In recent years, the value of this degree for nurses became the subject of constituent debates concerning the connection between the quality of health care, improved patient outcomes and higher education for nursing professionals (Clark, Casey, & Morris, 2015). The nursing profession, media, and government thoroughly scrutinize health care workers and currently require the professional and academic development of all nursing education programs.

The program for a masters degree in nursing is similar to the masters programs in other fields of knowledge and takes several years to complete. However, a nursing masters degree has a unique feature as there are several different ways for candidates to achieve it (Clark, Casey, & Morris, 2015). A traditional way requires the initial receiving of a bachelors degree in nursing. However, a substantial number of practicing registered nurses with a masters degree do not have a bachelors degree as they participated in a specific and more intense educational program for nursing professionals that allow them to obtain a nursing masters degree over the course of a longer period.

The value of a masters level for nurses is almost immeasurable. First of all, it opens new career possibilities as certain job positions at prestigious health care organizations, clinics, and hospitals require the candidates with a masters degree. Moreover, for the professionals who want to focus on a certain type of nursing such as nursing management or nursing informatics, a masters degree will be highly beneficial as well.

This degree is obligatory in advanced nursing practices such as nurse educator, nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, and psychiatric nurse practitioner. Advanced nursing practices traditionally require a masters level and have substantially higher salaries. In addition, in the present day, there are numerous ways to get a masters degree in nursing from part-time only programs to accelerated courses.

Conclusion

In general, nurses who efficiently complete masters degrees improve their professional skills in health care delivery. The higher education of nurses has a highly positive impact on patients, health care organizations, and the nursing community as there is an obvious connection between improved patient outcomes and the nurses obtaining of masters degrees. This degree allows nursing practitioners to advance in their knowledge and become unequaled experts in specific areas of nursing as well.