List of Masters Degrees in Nursing

December 19, 2020 Registered Nurses

Are you planning to pursue a master’s degree in nursing? Congratulations! You have just landed in the right place. There is one common question, why would anyone consider nursing as a career path when there are many emerging professions?

Well, let’s accept one fact: the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the value and importance of nursing careers around the world. If you have heard the famous phrase of 2020, ‘nurses are superheroes’, you might also be planning to become one of them- the unsung heroes!

Ask yourself a few questions: do I hold Registered Nurse (RN) licenses? Have I completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree? Have I completed a bachelor’s degree in any outside field? If the answer is yes, you can make it to the end!

But wait, before you get overwhelmed by your dreams, you should know what else it takes to become a nurse. With that said, there are different types of master’s degrees in nursing that you need to explore and pick the one that suits you the best.

Today, this is what we are going to explore today. It doesn’t matter whether you live in the US or hail from Africa; you can equally benefit from the information given below.

So, let’s start with number one…

Types of Master Degree in Nursing

To begin with the basics, there are different types of master’s degrees in nursing. These types will make it easy for you to analyze your qualification and decide where you need to start from:

1. RN to MSN Degree Program:

Do you have an RN license? If yes, then you can pursue the MSN degree program in two years. This program is designed for nurses with a diploma in nursing or nurses having an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Pursuing this degree program helps you quickly gain advanced practice in a nursing career. During this course, you will finish a course equal to a BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing) to seek the MSN program, online or in-person. It will usually take 2 to 3 years to finish the RN-MSN program.

2. BSN to MSN Degree Program:

This program is self-explanatory. If you have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an RN license, and the required minimum GPA, you can enroll in the MSN degree program. Although you can learn online, however, finishing the in-person clinical training hours is a must! Among different types of master’s degrees in nursing, you can learn about leadership, management or opt for family nurse practice in this program. Moreover, given your schedule, you can go for either part or full-time program. The clinical hours, generally, required are 200 to more than 600 hours.

3. Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Degree to MSN Degree:

No degree in nursing? No problem! You can still pursue your passion and apply for one of the different types of master’s degrees in nursing. Most often, you will need undergraduate-level nursing classes to develop an understanding of the master’s curriculum. And if your GPA is competitive, your chances of pursuing a master’s degree are higher. You need to invest 18 months finishing this degree program!

4. MSN Specialized Degree Program:

If you want to go further in your nursing career or become a clinical nurse specialist or any other Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), there are specialized degree programs for this purpose. For instance, women’s health nursing, pediatric care, family nursing, or nurse anesthesia.

Master Degree in Nursing:

As mentioned above, the profession of nursing is respected worldwide. The most significant benefit of a nursing degree is that you can receive quality education anywhere in the world. As hundreds of universities and schools offer a master’s degree in nursing across the globe, you can read about the top ones below.

Here are a few of the nursing schools that offer the best master degree in nursing:

University of Pennsylvania:

If you are ready to invest considerably in a master’s degree in nursing, this is the place for you. The University of Pennsylvania is a private university that offers one of the best master’s degree in nursing in the world.

King’s College London:

If you want to study nursing abroad, The Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery at King’s College London should be on your ‘hit list’. This is also famous for being the world’s first nursing school, ranked as having the best nursing faculty in the UK and second globally!

HS Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Germany:

If you hail from Germany or Europe, you can get your master’s degree in nursing from this school. It offers the latest trends and scientific research to its students. For highly professional, practical nursing education and the latest technology, you cannot go wrong with your decision.

College of Nursing, Seoul National University:

Speaking of Asia, Seoul National University, Korea ranks highest in offering a master’s degree in nursing. Ensuring excellence in nursing degree programs and producing world-class professionals, this school is ideal for pursuing a nursing degree in Asia.

Masters in Nursing Requirements:

If you have made up your mind to pursue nursing as a career path, you need to first meet a master’s in nursing requirements. Linked to the types of nursing master’s degrees, the main goal of meeting the requirements is to make it easier for the future nursing professional to navigate the courses and stay with the competition.

Read on to find out the master’s in nursing requirements to fulfill:

Prerequisite Courses:

Before entering the master’s degree in nursing, you need to finish the following courses.

Human Growth and Development
Anatomy & Physiology
Nutrition
Pathology
Microbiology
Abnormal Psychology
Statistics

Admission Requirement:

In addition to the courses mentioned above, you also need to fulfill the school you want to study. Although requirements vary, however, below are the most common prerequisite for a master’s in nursing:

Minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 from an accredited institution
GRE score
Complete admission application
Two application essays
Three letters of recommendation. Two academic and one professional recommendation.
TOEFL (Test of English as a foreign language)
Updated resume
Proof of immunizations
Proof of health insurance
Drug screening and criminal background clearance

Before you apply, make sure you have met all the admission requirements.

What’s Next After Pursuing a Master’s Degree in Nursing?

Nursing is not only a respectable profession but also a promising career path. For instance, you can become:

Nurse Anesthetist: They administer anesthesia to the patients before, during, and after different medical procedures. They also perform a physical examination.
Nurse Practitioner: if you chose to become NP, your duties could range from providing different health services, diagnosis or devising treatment plans, and supervising staff. You can specialize in oncology, dermatology, or pediatrics.
Nurse Educator: if you are passionate about nursing and teaching, you can specialize in this area after a master’s degree in nursing. You can prepare courses and curricula for different nursing programs, prepare lectures, and provide training.
Nurse Midwife: these professionals provide specialized care for women. Their primary focus is on prenatal care, gynecological examination, delivering babies, and family planning.

Now that you the nitty-gritty of a master’s degree in nursing, it should be easier for you to decide which degree program type is best suited for you. If your loved ones also want to be part of this honorable profession, share this information with them.