Friday, January 13, 2012

Completing a Master in Nursing

Nursing is such a noble profession that many people don’t consider it a profession at all. Nurses generally care more for others than they do for themselves. An ideal degree if you wish to become a nurse is a Masters in Nursing.

The nobility of nursing does not extend to the status of new nurses - you will start at the bottom. Nurses also have to fight their way to the top - it is not a walk in the park. At the end of the day we all have to put bread on the table.

Before you can begin your climb to the top, you will need to become a licensed RN (Registered Nurse). This is a useful start but you are still below a regular nurse in terms of responsibility. RNs do not earn much and they have very little significant responsibility - they are equivalent to nursing aids.

It is more valuable to do a BSN so that you can start as a recognized regular nurse. You can study this course at most major tertiary institutions, or nursing-specific colleges. Rather take this degree if you can - you will automatically start at a better pay bracket.

Why not try to complete the course online? A general RN qualification neglects certain key subjects that the online option covers. The advanced techniques that you learn through these online degrees can help you to deal with more specialized ailments.

RN-BSN may be a big jump to some but there is yet a better offer: the RN-MSN program. This course is particularly useful for RNs who want to improve the CVs. This program is tailor-made so that an RN avoids an overlap from needing to go through a BSN program first before continuing to MSN.

You can really climb the ranks with an MSN as you will become an APN, or advanced practice nurse. Anyone with a Bachelor’s degree could become an APN even without prior nursing experience. This means that you can change professions and enter the world of health care with a Master's behind your name.

Most people don't want to change to a new field of study because it takes so much time. Due to the fact that the first year of the course is based on subjects that are not specific to the field of nursing, anyone can make the transition without too much difficulty. The next two years are for research, coaching into one’s specialization, and preparation for RN licensure.

You can now decide exactly what area of nursing you wish to focus on, with options ranging from administration and management to educating other nurses. The fact that you get to select your specialization sets you up for a fulfilling career. People who hate teaching should steer clear of the Nurse Educator specialization - but you have the choice to do so.

If you do choose the Nurse Educator option, you will be tasked with educating your peers, patients, their relatives, and even doctors. This potent qualification will give you real insight into how policy is made, what governs insurance, and other scientific aspects of nursing. The next step once you are a qualified APN is to finish your education by becoming a DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice.

If searching for details about master of science in nursing, hitting the link would help.