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What Are the Top Employers of MSN Degree Holders?
With an MSN, there are four career paths you can consider – nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife, or certified registered nurse anesthetist. From there, you can specialize further, working with a certain age group (for example, prenatal nursing, geriatrics, etc.), working with a certain part of the body (cardiovascular, digestive system, etc.), or working in a certain environment (emergency room, family practice, etc.). No matter where you go in the United States, you will find job openings, but you can increase your success rate when interviewing, as well as your salary, if you start by applying with top employers.
According to Payscale.com, some of the highest-paying types of employers for those with an MSN, on average, are as follows:
- Schools: $92,000
- Foundations: $88,608
- Non-Profit Organizations: $79,480
- Hospitals: $78,391
- Federal Government Departments and Organizations: $77,511
- Private Practices: $73,958
- Other Companies: $74,013
Another way to classify employers of nurses holding MSNs is by type of facility. Some of the top employers, in terms of both salary and number of nursing employers, include extended care and nursing home facilities, schools, ambulatory care centers, community organizations and home health services, health insurance companies, and physician’s offices. By far, one of the largest types of employers of workers with MSN degrees will always be the general hospital. In general, mid- to large-sized hospitals pay slightly better than smaller hospitals, and location also makes a difference; hospitals in cities typically have better average salaries for their employees than hospitals in more rural areas. Your salary and the job openings available will also depend on the department in which you want to work. Many hospitals are, for example, hiring more and more nurse anesthetists, since they can do jobs that could once only be performed by licensed doctors. There’s also a high demand for women’s health nurses in the OB/GYN or prenatal departments of many hospitals, as well as in geriatrics, as the population is getting older with advanced medical treatments, and finally nursing informatics, as advanced technologies continue to become more ubiquitous in healthcare settings.
Of course, the best employer for you might not be the best employer for everyone. As a nurse with an MSN, you’ll likely be offered a number of positions when you start applying for jobs; many facilities have a vast shortage of nurses at all times, so they hire anyone qualified for the position. When you’re job hunting, answer the following questions:
- Is this employer located in an area where I want to live?
- Does this employer have programs for advanced training or doctorate degree education?
- Can I see myself growing in a career with this employer?
- Will I be a part of a family with this employer, or just another face in the crowd?
- Does this employer have special perks for employees, like day care facilities?
- How limiting will this employer be on my resume in the future?
A “top” employer isn’t necessarily the one paying the most or hiring the most people; the best place for you to work is somewhere where you feel comfortable and enjoy your job.
Top Schools Offering Online Master's in Nursing Degrees
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Georgetown University offers two degrees through online courses for students who are interested in taking on high level and managerial roles in nursing. The first is a MSN in Midwifery/Women’s Health, and the second is a MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner. Both degrees are for those who want fast-paced curriculum in order to advance their careers quickly. |
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The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of registered nurses with baccalaureate-degree preparation. Coursework covers advanced nursing content and process, as well as leadership skills, teaching experience and the ability to manage health care systems. Areas of specialty within their MSN program include health education, informatics, health administration, and healthcare management. |
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Walden University provides registered nurses with the unique opportunity to further advance their careers through RN to MSN degree programs. Specialties include informatics, education, leadership and a general course. Walden also offers several BSN to MSN programs for registered nurses who have already earned a bachelor's degree in nursing. |
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Earn your M.S. in Nursing with a specialty in nurse administration or nurse education with an online degree from Kaplan University. The Master of Science in Nursing is also a foundation for future doctoral studies. And because these programs are completed online, it is easy to continue your current job. |
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Earn your dual master's degree in business and nursing, along with specialties in clinical care, education, family nurse practitioner, or nursing leadership at Grand Canyon University's college of nursing and health sciences. Each course can provide you with the skills and techniques you need to become the best in your field. |
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The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs from Capella University Online are geared toward BSN graduates currently working as registered nurses (RNs). They offer MSN - Nurse Educator and MSN - Nurse Educator Bridge programs. For those wishing for a flexible and affordable plan to take their nursing careers to the next level, Capella is a very sound choice. |
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Learn how to provide expert clinical care and related health care services to individuals, families and groups of people across the lifespan in a variety of acute care and community settings through Liberty University's Master of Science in Nursing program. Liberty University incorporates core Christian values into all of their degree offerings in order to provide all students a thorough academic and spiritually enriching program of study. |
