Master Of Arts In Nursing: 7 Different Types of Degrees

Many people think that nursing is a low-level field of medicine, but this isn’t true. Some nurses are actually trained at a very high level (and command much respect in their workplaces).

While all nurses don’t need to go to university and get master’s degrees, those who want the best chances at success often do. As in any industry, a master’s degree can make you much more attractive to employers, not to mention significantly increase your chances of getting a promotion.

This Jobandedu post will tell you about 7 types of master’s degrees that nurses can get. Far beyond what we shared, you’ll have a deeper look at the master of arts in nursing. Off we go!

Different Types of Master's Degrees in Nursing: Explained
Find out types of nursing degree. Source: unsplash

Type Of Course

Before exploring specific master’s courses that can be taken, let’s first discuss course types

Because of the pandemic, many universities are now offering distance learning courses. If you are interested in studying from home, then a distance learning course might be what you are looking for.

If you intend on taking one of these courses then you might be able to completely forego an actual college, and instead, take it with an online course provider. An online course provider will be able to give you a master’s degree while simultaneously saving you money.

Here, you might pose a question: Is Anatomy And Physiology Hard? Have it in-depth research on how much they can benefit nursing students now.

Dual Programs

Another thing that’s worth considering is taking a dual program course.

If you aren’t familiar with this type of course, then it is essentially just when you take two different courses at once. These courses can also be taken online. Taking online dual concentration NP programs (NP standing for nurse practitioner) will help to hone your skills more and make you more attractive to employers. Having two different concentrations, or disciplines will mean that you have much more expensive than the average candidate for a nursing job will. Taking one of these courses can also help you to get a promotion if you are currently in employment.

Master Of Arts In Nursing (and Corresponding Careers): Different Types Of Degrees

Master’s Degrees in Nursing (and Corresponding Careers)
Move mountain to secure a Master Degree. Source: Unsplash

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners are able to diagnose conditions and prescribe medication. If you are interested in getting into nursing but want more freedom, then getting an NP master’s degree is something that’s definitely worth considering.

If you plan on taking an NP master’s degree, then you can expect to study pharmacology, diagnosis, treatment, and of course, nursing practice. Nursing is not a STEM major, yet a nurse practitioner often employs the inside disciplines to handle practical issues. 

In the United States, the entry-level salary for a nurse practitioner exceeds $100,000 which makes it a very desirable job for many aspiring nurses.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is a nurse who specializes in the treatment, ongoing health management, and diagnosis. A master’s degree in CNS will cover diagnosing people’s health conditions, treatment, pharmacology, and other things. However, clinical nurse specialists earn on average $10,000 less than nurse practitioners do.

One advantage to working as a clinical nurse specialist is that they are able to work independently in some states, without being supervised by a physician. The course is not as intense as an NP course is, but it is still a challenge, as one might expect a master’s course to be.

Certified Nurse Midwife

A certified nurse midwife (CNM) is a nurse who cares specifically for women who are pregnant and also aids in childbirth. A certified nurse midwife is able to oversee a birth, including home births, which means that they have a lot of responsibility. Naturally, their salary matches that of a nurse practitioner. However, certified nurse midwives often have to work under the supervision of a physician and aren’t able to work independently.

Some of the things that you will cover in a CNM master’s course include childcare, birthing techniques, and also miscarriages.

Public Health Nurse

A public health nurse is a nurse who specializes in the prevention of diseases. More often than not, these nurses work in the public and educate people on how they can improve their health and prevent themselves from developing nasty diseases. These nurses typically don’t work in a clinical setting, which gives them a lot more freedom and control over the direction of their careers. It is worth noting that they are also paid very well.

A public health nurse master’s degree will cover a variety of different things, from diagnosis to community treatment. They sometimes work for non-profits, community health centers, and government agencies.

Nurse Educator

A nurse educator is a nurse who works in nursing schools and colleges, teaching young people and shaping the future generation of doctors and nurses. In order to become a nurse educator, a master’s degree in nursing is required, as well as experience in teaching.  Some universities will also want nurses to have achieved their PhDs, too.

Nurse educators can earn a lot of money, however, there is not a lot of room for career development. The reason for this is that there is only so high one can typically go in a school or college setting.

Nurse Administrator

A nurse administrator will typically work in a physician’s surgery or in a hospital. They will need to hold a master’s degree in nursing and administration. Individuals working as nurse administrators are required to deal with finance, patients, and also policy.

In healthcare settings, nurse administrators have a lot of responsibility. Because of this, they are always required to have master’s degrees. They can command very high salaries. Nurse administrators are able to earn a lot of money by working for government agencies, but can still command high salaries when working in hospitals.

Diabetes Nurse

Diabetes is a condition that affects the lives of millions of American citizens. Because of how prevalent diabetes is in the United States, there is a specific job title, ‘diabetes nurse’ and a specific master’s degree dedicated to the subject.

If you want to become a diabetes nurse, then you should expect to study diabetes extensively, including things like diagnosis and treatment. Diabetes nurses are paid very highly, which makes working as one a very lucrative career. You will be working exclusively with people suffering from diabetes in a hospital or health care setting. You may also be able to find work with nonprofits and community groups.

Nursing is a very broad field of medicine. There’s far more to nursing than just triaging patients in the hospital. If you are interested in becoming a nurse, then a master’s degree might come in handy. There are many more types of master’s degrees in nursing than those listed here; the ones here are just the tip of the iceberg.

Have a soft spot for nursing industry or a strong urge to pursue this field? Do not skip other good reads on our College Application corner.

Charlotte Antalia

Charlotte decided to become a full-time freelancer, and she has a strong urge to polish her style and pursuit a content-based career path. In her writing career, she adopts her years of experience in education and financial institution to create far-out reads from job interviews' tips, work, and business strategies. Better yet, her personal experience navigating career switching and tactics to deal with the work environment hurdles will bring practical, precious expertise and command to all readers. Off we go and get the vibe!