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Congratulations on completing your healthcare degree and becoming a competent professional in your field! But did you know that there’s more to explore on your professional journey? In particular, nurses have numerous opportunities to further their education and propel their careers forward.
Continuing education is highly encouraged by employers, as it ensures that nurses stay updated with the latest knowledge and practices, ultimately benefiting patient care. In addition, engaging in ongoing learning satisfies personal aspirations for growth and advancement. While some states mandate continuing education for RNs, it is often left to the individual nurse to take the initiative and expand their skill set.
By embracing specialized and evidence-based continuing education opportunities, nurses can stay abreast of cutting-edge healthcare technologies and treatments, enhancing their ability to deliver high-quality care. It’s a pathway towards professional excellence and a fulfilling career.
Why nurses should consider furthering their education
In the ever-evolving field of healthcare, nurses have countless opportunities to expand their skills and expertise through continuous education. By taking the initiative to obtain additional professional qualifications, nurses can unlock a myriad of benefits and open new doors in their careers.
Let’s look at some of the most compelling reasons why nurses should consider furthering their education and branching out into specialized areas:
Evade burnout and explore alternative roles
Nursing burnout is a prevalent concern among RNs, prompting many to seek career advancement or pursue additional qualifications such as an MBA.
If you’ve ever found yourself contemplating the toll that bedside nursing takes on your body or desiring to apply your clinical skills in a different capacity, it may be time to consider acquiring new skills and specializations. Higher education is often a prerequisite for escaping the bedside and expanding your employment opportunities.
Many hospitals also require advanced degrees for promotion into administrative roles, making additional qualifications essential.
Venture into the business side of healthcare
For nurses aspiring to transition to the business side of healthcare or climb the ladder into leadership positions, acquiring additional specializations is crucial.
By obtaining an extra credential alongside a BSN degree, you can position yourself for a career where you can leverage your business acumen and clinical nursing skills. This combination will make you a top contender for any interesting administrative positions that arise. Opportunities exist in diverse areas, such as medical device or pharmaceutical sales, nursing informatics and hospital administration.
Infuse the patient-care perspective into business
Nurses possess a unique understanding of how to apply the patient-care perspective to the business arena.
With their extensive experience working directly with patients, nurses excel at effective communication and devising patient-centric solutions. In contrast, some individuals on the business side of healthcare may view patients merely as numbers.
By combining medical care training with a business or administration degree, nurses have the power to reshape this perspective, advocating for patient-centered care and driving real change.
Access to management and leadership opportunities
While an advanced degree may not always be mandatory for all nurse administrator roles, larger hospital systems increasingly require nurses to hold at least a master’s degree for promotion into administrative positions. By pursuing additional qualifications, you become a more competitive candidate, signaling your commitment to higher-level management and leadership roles.
Enhanced salary potential
If a higher salary is among your goals, earning further professional qualifications is a logical step.
While the median pay for registered nurses in the US stands at $77,600 per year, nursing administrators enjoy significantly higher salaries. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health services managers earned a median pay of $101,340 per year in 2021, which is a considerable increase.
The job outlook in this field is also promising, with a projected growth rate of 28% from 2021 to 2031, exceeding the average for all professions.
Expanded job opportunities
Nurses who further their education significantly expand their job prospects and marketability.
Pursuing advanced degrees opens doors to executive positions, including roles such as chief nursing officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and chief executive officer. Additionally, obtaining further professional qualifications benefits high-level positions such as that of nurse manager, nurse administrator, healthcare manager and director of nursing.
The formal education pathways provided by advanced training pave the way to coveted roles within the C-suite and beyond.
Carve your unique career path
Not every nurse wishes to follow a traditional career trajectory. By earning additional qualifications, you distinguish yourself as a leader among business professionals who value your medical expertise. In addition, nurses with advanced credentials possess a different perspective and approach, making them invaluable assets to the healthcare industry.
By furthering their careers through advanced training, nurses contribute not only to their own growth but also to the overall advancement of the healthcare field.
Dual major degrees: Expanding opportunities for nurses’ education
While nursing offers immense opportunities, some individuals possess exceptional skills and interests that extend beyond the realm of healthcare.
Recognizing this, many colleges and universities now provide dual degree programs, enabling nurses to pursue a nursing double major and pair their nursing degree with another field such as public health, law or business, ultimately allowing students to earn two degrees. With a dual major in nursing, individuals can cultivate a diverse skill set that is vital for remaining relevant in the fiercely competitive healthcare industry.
These programs seamlessly blend two distinct academic disciplines, typically nursing and another field, empowering students to acquire comprehensive knowledge in a shorter timeframe than pursuing the degrees separately. For instance, a dual degree program in nursing and business may enable students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Business Administration in as little as five years.
The curriculum of dual degree nursing programs seamlessly integrates courses from both disciplines, offering a well-rounded educational experience. Additionally, students may embark on clinical rotations in both nursing and their complementary field, gaining practical insights and fostering a deeper understanding of their chosen professions. To further enhance their learning, students may be required to complete internships or externships in both nursing and the secondary field, providing invaluable hands-on experiences.
Upon successful completion of a dual major program, graduates often become eligible to sit for licensure exams in both nursing and their additional field of study. This dual licensure equips nurses with a distinct advantage, as they possess a comprehensive skillset and a deeper understanding of multiple domains within the healthcare industry. These programs provide a streamlined pathway to earning two degrees in a shorter timeframe, combining coursework, clinical rotations and practical experiences from both disciplines.
The dual major option in nursing not only expands educational horizons but also broadens career prospects for nurses. By combining their nursing expertise with knowledge and skills from another field, nurses can explore diverse career pathways and make a meaningful impact across various sectors.
Whether this means leveraging public health knowledge to drive community wellness initiatives, utilizing legal acumen to navigate healthcare regulations or applying business acumen to healthcare administration, nurses with dual major degrees possess a unique edge in a rapidly changing industry.
By embracing dual major degrees, nurses can position themselves as versatile professionals equipped to thrive in the dynamic and competitive healthcare landscape of today and tomorrow.
Common dual major degrees for nurses and their advantages
When it comes to pursuing a dual major degree alongside nursing, the options are diverse and accommodate individual aspirations and interests. Dual degree programs provide nurses with the opportunity to enhance their careers and delve into specialized fields. Let’s explore some popular dual degree options for nurses:
MSN/MPH: Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Public Health
Ideal for those interested in nursing and public health, this dual major equips individuals with the skills to develop, implement and evaluate public health policies and programs. Specializations in family nursing, women’s health nursing and pediatric nursing are available.
Graduates gain proficiency in clinical theory, community healthcare and population-based settings. This program prepares individuals to design, implement and evaluate healthcare programs for high-risk populations, promoting optimal health and disease prevention.
Possible roles that qualified nurses can take on within the public health field are public health nurse, community health educator, nurse consultant, clinical nursing researcher, advanced nurse specialist such as nurse practitioner or midwife and director of nursing.
MSN/MBA: Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration
Yes, you can double major in nursing and business!
The benefits of an MBA for nurses, such as the course offered by Spring Arbor University, include honing the healthcare professional’s entrepreneurial skills and utilizing them in healthcare-related businesses. Course topics include operations and management, business ethics, accounting, leadership, management and the healthcare environment. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of complex financial principles and business principles related to healthcare systems.
Possible careers for nurses holding an MBA degree include health services and medical managers, hospital administrators, medical and health services managers, directors of nursing (DON), health care market research analysts, health information manager and more business-oriented roles.
JD/MSN: Juris Doctorate/Master of Science in Nursing
Combining law and nursing, this dual degree program equips graduates to navigate legal challenges inherent in the healthcare profession. With regulatory changes and technological advancements, legal expertise alongside nursing skills is becoming increasingly important. Graduates can work as consultants, quality assurance officers or strategic managers, providing valuable insights into legal healthcare matters
The career paths open to nurses with legal training include nurse attorney, legal nurse consultant and nurse consultant, among others.
MSN/MPA: Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Public Administration
For nurses interested in managing non-profit or public sector organizations, this dual degree program provides the necessary skills. The curriculum covers areas such as government policy implementation, program management, institutional changes and public program evaluation. Students develop leadership, communication, human resource management and public sector law skills, preparing them for leadership roles in the public sector.
Possible careers available to nurses with an MPA include director of disaster preparedness public policy, hospital administrator, director of public health care administration and nurse consultant.
MSN/MHA: Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Health Administration
Ideal for those pursuing a healthcare administration career path alongside nursing, this dual degree program focuses on organizational behavior, operations, financial management and other essential health administration topics. Graduates gain a comprehensive understanding of healthcare management principles, preparing them for administrative roles in healthcare facilities.
Possible careers with this qualification include hospital administrators, directors of nursing, health information manager, clinical nurse managers, nursing home administrator, clinical manager and advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), among others.
These are just a few examples of the numerous dual major degree options available to nurses. Each program offers unique benefits, enabling nurses to expand their skillsets, explore new career paths and make a broader impact on the healthcare industry. By combining nursing expertise with knowledge from complementary fields, nurses gain a competitive edge, positioning themselves as versatile professionals capable of thriving in a dynamic healthcare landscape.
Remember, the choice of a dual major depends on personal interests, career goals and aspirations. By carefully selecting the right dual major program, nurses can unlock endless possibilities, shaping their careers according to their individual passions and making a significant contribution to the healthcare field.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the benefits of nurses obtaining additional professional qualifications are many and varied.
As nurses pursue advanced degrees and certifications, they acquire specialized knowledge and become true experts in their chosen fields. Acquiring additional formal education offers nurses a wide range of avenues to increase their expertise, enabling them to specialize in specific populations, diagnoses or roles within the nursing profession. Armed with their newfound expertise, nursing experts lead transformative changes and propel the profession forward, guaranteeing that exceptional care is provided by all nurses across the board.
Through ongoing education, nurses elevate their skills, advance their careers and make a lasting impact on the healthcare landscape. By embracing continuous education, nurses can combat burnout, explore diverse career paths, bring a patient-care perspective to the business side of healthcare, access management and leadership opportunities, improve their earning potential, expand their job prospects and forge their own unique career paths.
It’s time for nurses to seize the advantages of advanced training and make a lasting impact in their profession.
