A Master’s in Nursing is a viable option for those wanting to pursue the field of health care. A master’s degree is an important educational milestone that allows advanced practice nurses to work as nurse practitioners, certified clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse anesthetists and also as certified nurse midwives. Master’s degrees in the field of nursing administration and nursing education are also available and are a noteworthy choice for prospective students. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical and health administrators is expected to grow by 22 per cent from 2010 to 2020.
To facilitate students, a number of accredited schools and institutes provide a variety of master’s degrees in nursing. While the specific degrees usually depend upon the requirements set by the college or the faculty of the nursing program, many colleges host an accelerated program for RN’s which enables nurses with a high school diploma to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a compact manner. Many schools also offer joint degree programs in nursing, such as Master’s in Nursing combined with a Master of Hospital Administration, Master of Public health or Master of Business Administration.
Admission Requirements:
The admission requirements for a master’s nursing program usually vary from school to school. Generally, most schools usually require the following documents:
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Bachelor’s degree accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
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State RN License
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Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test ( MAT) scores
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College transcripts
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Letters of reference
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Essay or personal statement
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Clinical work records.
The above mentioned documents form a composite package and each detail is given due importance before a decision is reached.
Master’s Curriculum:
While the specific Master’s in Nursing curriculum varies from school to school, generally, the degree enables the student to develop an expertise in their chosen area of study. Full time master’s degree programs usually consist of eighteen to twenty four months of uninterrupted study. Many universities offer online programs as well whereby working students can complete their master’s in nursing degree at their own pace, by fitting their studies around their work schedules according to their own convenience.
The master’s level curriculum generally assimilates theories and concepts of nursing science and their applications, along with the management of health care. Students undergo both classroom lectures and extended clinical work as part of the master’s degree requirements.
Students get to study a variety of topics and these include health economics, statistics, research management, health policy, health-care ethics, health promotion, nutrition, family planning, mental health as well as ways to prevent family and social violence. Once students have chosen their preferred specialty, they can take more courses in that field.
Students aspiring to become clinical nurse specialists after their master’s degree can choose a variety of specializations. These include maternity/newborn, pediatric, mental/psychiatric, and women's health nursing, health, community health, critical care, gerontology, rehabilitation, , adult health , oncology and geriatrics among others.