The healthcare world is constantly evolving, as are the education and master's degree level courses and specializations. Since COVID-19 ran its first course globally, the healthcare industry has quickly adapted to the newest protocols, technologies, and approaches to best medical practices. The healthcare landscape is being reshaped and is greatly reflected in how universities and colleges that help Registered Nurses (RNs) prepare for the future through some of the most innovative master's degrees and learning techniques.
What is a Master's Degree in Nursing?
There are many ways to obtain a master's degree in nursing. The most conventional way is to enter after receiving a bachelor's degree in nursing. This route will require students to attend the master's program for about two to three years. Another way to obtain a master's in nursing is when a Registered Nurse (RN) has an associate's degree and enters the master's program. It takes a bit longer because the bachelor's degree is not present. However, it usually takes around three to four years to complete and is called a bridge or hybrid program. The following path to obtain a master's in nursing is with students that have a bachelor's degree but not in a nursing field and is called a direct entry master's nursing degree. This program lasts for around eighteen to three years, depending on the non-nursing degree. Once into a nursing program at a university, students can specialize in one or multiple specializations out of hundreds of choices. Everything from research to administration involves nurses with a master's degree.
What Are Some of the Best Nursing Schools for a Master's Degree?
The US News and World Report already have the 2023 results for the best colleges for a master's in nursing, and the top four are all on the east coast. The top-rated college is Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. The master's degree costs $1,790 per credit and has around 80 faculty on staff. In addition to getting first in the master's degree for nursing, John Hopkins University also took first in the doctor of nursing practice degree.
Duke and Emory University tie for second place for master's degrees in nursing. In addition to master's, Ph.D., and doctor of nursing practice degrees, Duke University offers an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing degree for students who have previously graduated from college. In addition to on-campus courses, the university also offers online courses. Emory University recently made the news in December for inventing and getting FDA approval for its drug, molnupiravir, used to treat COVID-19.
In fourth place for a master's level, a nursing degree is the University of Pennsylvania. To prepare future nurses with the skills needed to care for diverse, complex patients, families, and communities, the nursing program at the University of Pennsylvania integrates science, nursing, and liberal arts education.
How Much Can a Master's Earn in the Real World?
The job outlook for nurse practitioners is highly positive. A nurse practitioner's (NP's) average annual salary in the US in 2020 was $114,510 ($55.05 per hour) across various specialties, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is the median price, with the lowest salaries around $79,000 and the highest being $163,000 for a nurse anesthetist. Of note, a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree will be required for nurse anesthetists by 2025. For one PRN shift, an NP can expect to get around $660. California pays the highest salaries for NPs in the country, and the BLS says the job outlook for NPs between 2020 and 2030 is expected to increase by 52%.
Where to Find Jobs with a Master's Degree in Nursing?
Nursa is an application that helps connect nurses, healthcare workers, and allied health workers to healthcare facilities for PRN shifts. Nurses and healthcare workers can find the shifts they want at the facilities they want to work at and when they want to work. Per diem shifts often pay up to 300% more than contract employees. Nursa offers the opportunity to travel to new cities and learn new skills at hospitals and healthcare facilities across the US. All needed is to download the application, fill out a profile, upload the necessary documentation, and search for desired shifts. Nursa will help give the freedom of working on a personal schedule with the possibility of travel.
