Advanced Nursing Degrees, Should You Take the Leap!

Nursing is an incredibly rewarding career path with ample opportunities for growth, including pursuing an advanced degree. An advanced degree may be a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD), which all open doors to new opportunities in nursing. By completing an advanced degree, the opportunities in leadership, patient care, and contribution to nursing and healthcare science grow. You may pursue a path as a family nurse practitioner, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, or a nurse manager of a healthcare clinic.

With all these options, you must take a moment to determine which path is best for you and your goals as a nurse. So, should you take the leap and become an advanced practice nurse? Let’s look at why you should and the potential challenges of becoming an advanced practice nurse.

Types of Advanced Nursing Degrees

First, let’s discuss the different types of advanced degrees. There are masters of science in nursing (MSN), doctor of nursing practice (DNP), and doctor of philosophy (PhD). Each of these degrees carries unique opportunities, but what are their differences?

An MSN focuses on clinical practice and providing patient care, leadership, and management. A DNP also focuses on patient care and leadership in the clinic setting. Still, they also emphasize applying research into practice and improving patient outcomes through change within the healthcare system. A PhD focuses on a slightly different aspect of nursing in that it contributes to nursing by generating new knowledge through research to impact the nursing and healthcare profession.

Specialties for Advanced Nursing Degrees

Before pursuing an advanced nursing degree, you must first decide which specialty you want to pursue, as there are multiple options. This is an important decision requiring time and thought as each program has different prerequisites, and the demands of post-graduation from each job will vary.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN):
Clinical Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Nurse Educator
Nurse Leadership/Administrator

Reasons to Pursue an Advanced Nursing Degree

Now that you understand the various types of advanced degrees and the specialties available, why consider pursuing an advanced nursing degree?

Job Opportunities: There is an increase in job opportunities with an advanced degree, including opportunities in education, research, leadership, and direct patient care.
Higher Earning Potential: Nurses with advanced degrees can earn more because their additional education indicates expertise in their specialty and increased responsibility in their new role.
Professional Growth: An advanced degree in nursing demonstrates professional growth and the desire to continue to learn and build on the foundation of nursing knowledge.
Autonomy: The degree of autonomy varies depending on the state you reside in, but regardless, an advanced nursing degree does come with increased autonomy.

Potential Challenges and Considerations

Obtaining an advanced degree is rewarding, but it is also challenging. When completing your advanced degree, time and financial commitments are involved. The program will cost money and may require loans to be paid back after graduation. The time commitment will vary from program to program but can be demanding, especially if the degree pursued requires clinical hours. In turn, this may take away time from life at home, making it difficult to feel like you have a strong work-life balance.

How to Decide: Should You Take the Leap?

So, how do you decide if you should take the leap? You must first consider your career goals. Do you want to provide direct patient care? Or work in education or leadership? Once you decide on a specialty to pursue, you should research programs to determine if there is a schedule that fits your schedule and family dynamics.

Conclusion

Becoming an advanced practice nurse has its rewards and challenges, making it incredibly important to reflect upon your nursing goals, including where you see yourself as a nurse. Regardless of what you decide, being a nurse is a rewarding career path that allows us to make an impact on our patients and the healthcare system every day!

Interested in pursuing an advanced nursing degree? Then check out the Daily Nurse Career Center to get jobs, scholarships, and nursing news delivered weekly to your inbox.

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Kasee Wiesen

Kasee Wiesen, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, is a Family Nurse Practitioner and freelance writer. She has a passion for education at the bedside and in the classroom and has been a nurse educator for more than ten years.