In the United States, many people think that nursing is a job anyone can do. In reality, nursing is a very specialized field with many specialty options available. This means that if you want to become a nurse but don't know what kind of nurse you'd like to be, there are plenty of opportunities for you to learn more about the profession and make sure it's right for you before committing your time and money.

What Percentage of Nurses Have a Master's Degree?

In 2020, 14.9% of the nation's registered nurses held master's degrees, and 2.2% held doctorate degrees as their highest educational preparation, according to the Nurse Workforce Survey. Currently, there is a lack of nurses with advanced degrees who are needed to fill roles such as advanced practice nurses, clinical specialties, teaching, and research.

That means that if you are considering pursuing your nursing career and going into management or administrative roles within the medical field, having that extra credential can help set you apart from other candidates. The benefits don't stop there, though. A Nursing Education Masters Degree can also help you advance within your hospital setting or facility faster than those without one. 

This is because many hospitals today are looking for individuals who demonstrate excellent leadership skills and can meet highly demanding standards through obtaining advanced degrees like MSN in Nurse Leadership or even Doctor of Nursing Practice.

An Inviting Profession

Nursing is an excellent choice if you're looking for a meaningful and rewarding career. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for nurses will grow by 40% over the next decade, which means plenty of opportunities available to those who want to enter the profession. Not only does this mean that you can find a job fairly quickly, but you'll also be able to positively impact your community and help people who need it most.

Moreover, the increasing demand also offers an opportunity to get a handy income. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that Nurse Anesthetics, Nurse Practitioners, and Nurse Midwives can earn around $195,610, $120,680, and $112,830, respectively.

Job Security

The fact that the nursing field is in such high demand means that you'll have no problem finding a job after graduating. In fact, there are more job openings than there are qualified applicants.

What's more, with so many people retiring from their careers in healthcare every day, even if you don't have previous experience as a nurse or medical technician, you can still get into the field thanks to its wide-open doors.

This means if you're looking to start your career in healthcare but not sure where to begin looking for jobs or which type of healthcare career will be right for you, you might want to consider pursuing a certification program through an online RN school or other accredited institution that offers both degree and certificate programs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing professionals can make a good salary of $118,040 per year.

The Job Offers Flexibility and Mobility

Nursing master's programs offer graduates flexibility and mobility. Based on findings from AACN's Fall 2020 survey, enrollment has increased by 4.1% in Master of Nursing Practice programs.

Nursing professionals can be found in all settings, hospitals, doctor's offices, clinics, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and even schools. They can work anywhere in the world.

The career prospects for a nurse are endless. There are many different roles to choose from and specialties that you can explore.

Improved Quality of Life for Patients

As a nurse, you will be able to take the time to get to know the patient on an individual level while also providing better care. Nurses can provide more one-on-one care than doctors and are often more empathetic and compassionate when dealing with patients.

Nurses spend more time with their patients than doctors do, which means they can address all of their concerns, not just those deemed urgent for medical attention by doctors. Nurses may also be better at listening to patients' needs and effectively addressing them.

Increased Opportunities for Growth and Specialization

Nursing is a high-growth profession, which means that nurses are in demand, especially those with the advanced skills and education of nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists. Nurses can even specialize in midwifery if they want to become nurse midwives.

Advanced practice nurses make up 11.5% of the nursing workforce. Of these, nurse practitioners make up 68.7% of advanced practice licenses, followed by clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse midwives at 19.6%, 9.3%, and 2.4%, respectively, as per the data compiled by NursingCenter.

If you want to grow as a professional and take advantage of these exciting career opportunities, enrolling in an online college's master's degree program may be just what you need.

There Are Many Good Reasons to Become a Nurse

There are many good reasons to become a nurse and pursue a master's degree to accelerate your career further. The master's can showcase your additional knowledge and deep understanding of the field. This can give you an edge over another nurse practitioner with a bachelor's degree.

The nursing profession is also changing quickly. With technologies like telemedicine and Artificial Intelligence entering the field, a nurse practitioner has to be more than just a caregiver. He or she should also be comfortable and skilled in using these technologies to advantage and enhance patient care.

A master's degree can help nurses understand the changing landscape and offer them the time to adapt to it. Moreover, it can also help them stand out from other nurse practitioners in a competitive career field.

Conclusion

Nursing might be the right choice if you're looking for a rewarding career. There are many benefits to training in this field, and more people must know about them. You can expect an exciting future if you go into nursing with the proper preparation. You can also expect a variety of work environments and the satisfaction of helping those in need.

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