Is Nursing School Worth It? 3 Reasons to Get an MSN Degree
As a nurse, you possess the ability to positively impact the lives of others, but if you’re looking to develop the sought-after skills needed to transform people’s lives through excellent patient care — you should consider obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Let’s talk about why nursing school is worth it, and explore three main reasons to get an MSN degree.
Evidence that nursing is a top career option and that nursing school is worth it:
Nurses with an MSN are eligible for certification in a wide range of leadership and specialized nursing roles like clinical nurse leader or advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP). The degree allows nurses to move out of generalized nursing care and into jobs with more ownership and focus.
Here are three key reasons (backed by numbers) why you should embrace the field of nursing for your career and pursue an advanced degree that opens up your opportunities for growth within the field:
- Nursing and other healthcare related professions are currently some of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, with the need for nurse practitioners in particular growing at 52%, far above the average for all occupations.
- Research indicates that 76% of graduates from entry-level MSN programs have been offered a job by graduation. Four to six months out from graduation, 95% of graduates have been offered jobs.
- The ongoing nursing shortage and the projected retirement of over 1 million experienced nurses by 2030 means that nurses who gain higher levels of education and experience now will be well-poised to lead the next generation of nurses in all settings: research, education, and practice.
Get an inside look at PLU’s Master of Science in Nursing:
Ranked as one of the top 150 graduate nursing programs in the United States by U.S. News and World Report, the PLU Master of Science in Nursing is designed to equip nurses with the knowledge and skills to lead change, promote health, and elevate care in various roles and settings.
At the MSN level, we offer both a BSN-MSN track and an entry-level MSN track for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. We are the only school in Washington state that offers an entry-level MSN program.
We offer students the opportunity to specialize as Advanced Generalists or as Clinical Nurse Leaders:
Advanced Generalist: As frontline caregivers, the generalist nurse plans and provides direct care to patients, interacts with families, coordinates patient care that requires regular interface with other members of the health care team (nurses, physicians, and others), and participates in organizational activities that promote safe, quality and efficient patient care.
Clinical Nurse Leader: The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is a nursing role developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in collaboration with an array of leaders from the practice environment. The CNL is an advanced generalist clinician with education at the master’s degree level.
Looking for a nursing job in Washington state? Choose PLU’s MSN!
Now is the time to immerse yourself in an experiential, top-ranked graduate nursing program that will give you the skills you need to thrive in the nursing profession long-term. An advanced degree in nursing will allow you to take the next step in your nursing career and prepare you to provide high-quality care to those who need it most.
If you’re looking to advance your career in the field of nursing, then we encourage you to contact us.