The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) has become the baseline degree for a number of advanced practice nursing specialties, nurse management and nurse education professions.  The term for the nursing specialties is advanced practice nursing.  Some of the administrative positions are hospital based; some can be in public health service organizations or government administrative bodies.  The MSN degree program can be a ticket to many careers in the healthcare and health delivery systems fields.

• Nurses who complete the Master of Science- Nurse Practitioner program also have the option of specializing in Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Adult Nursing, Geriatrics or Acute Care.  A nurse practitioner has a great deal of latitude in treating patients; many work in physician’s offices seeing patients, providing care and writing prescriptions.

• A Master of Science – Clinical Nurse Specialist graduate can take a job managing an acute care unit, working in the surgical field, supervising a neonatal unit or working with a cardiovascular specialist.  There are many specialties in the field, some of which require a little extra academic preparation but most of which simply require experience in the field – the opportunity to break in.

• The Master of Science – Nurse Anesthetist basically takes over the job of an anesthetist in a surgical environment.  Tasks include discussing anesthesia with the patient, explaining the process, applying the anesthesia, monitoring the patient and checking on the recovery process in the post-operative environment.

• A Master of Science – Nurse Midwife tends to women’s health, obstetrics and childbirth.   Some Nurse Practitioners specialize in women’s health which has to do with some Ob-Gyn functions but the Nurse Midwife is licensed to manage the childbirth process in its entirety, under the nominal supervision of a physician.

• The Master of Science – Nurse Educator is for nurses who want to work providing practical education to RNs who are new to clinical practice.  They also work as educators in the public health field.

• A Master of Science – Nurse Administrator works in the health management field as an administrator within a hospital structure, a clinic, or a larger integrated health facility.  Nurse administrators may also work as senior managers in a large medical practice.

• The Master of Science – Clinical Nurse Leader is a new specialty designation developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing for master’s level training in the fields of patient safety, leadership and management skills at the clinical level.

There are several directions that an MSN graduate can take in healthcare management and policy development as well.  Elsewhere on this site is a page listing some of the many careers that are available with a Master of Science in Nursing.