A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) opens the door to advanced practice roles, including acute care leadership opportunities and specialized career paths across healthcare, providing numerous career opportunities. Depending on your chosen concentration, you can move into clinical care, education, informatics, administration or population-focused practice.
You may be wondering, then: What can you do with an MSN degree, exactly? This guide explores jobs with an MSN degree and the promising career outlook that you could pursue to help you identify the career pathway best suited to your goals.
How an MSN Expands Your Nursing Career Options
A graduate-level education in nursing is becoming increasingly essential to advancing in the nursing profession. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), MSN-prepared nurses are in high demand, as this credential equips nurses with the critical thinking, clinical judgment and technical skills required to navigate an evolving landscape. The MSN degree weaves the latest nursing research into the curriculum, preparing nurses to apply the latest findings in their clinical practice. This graduate degree program ultimately helps pave the path toward a range of MSN career paths, many of which offer higher earning potential; MSN-prepared nurses are often qualified to pursue roles that earn upwards of $100,000 per year.
Essentially, the MSN degree is now considered the gateway credential for leadership and specialized roles, making it a sound investment in yourself and in your career, especially as this advanced degree allows for more opportunities. Not to mention, MSN students can choose targeted tracks that allow them to align their graduate degree program with their professional goals.
Nurse Educator
Nurses who want to take their career in a new direction and begin to inspire the next generation of nurse leaders may take interest in a career as a nurse educator. The online MSN: Nurse Educator program is an academic and professional training track designed for nurses striving to develop an advanced understanding of teaching learning principles, curriculum design and evaluation methods in a healthcare environment.
What This Specialization Prepares You For
With an emphasis on curriculum design, teaching methods and assessment, this specialization prepares nurses to continue providing bedside care or step into leadership roles in which they can train future nurses and improve care delivery. Graduates from this program are able to effectively design training programs, create professional development experiences and teach aspiring nurses in classroom environments.
“I found the program to be affordable, convenient and flexible,” said Kelly K. MSN, RN, who works as a clinical nurse educator in professional development at Cooper University Health Care. “I was able to use tuition reimbursement from Cooper to assist with payment. As a full-time night shift nurse and mother of three young children, online learning allowed me to balance my work and family life while earning my degree. My degree allowed me the opportunity to advance my career and transition into a Clinical Nurse Educator role at Cooper.”
Top Jobs You Can Pursue
You can find nurse educator jobs in clinical settings, educational institutions and corporate environments. These are examples of nursing master’s degree jobs you might pursue in this specialty area:
- Nurse educator (college or university)
- Clinical instructor
- Staff development specialist or clinical educator
- Corporate healthcare trainer
- Simulation lab instructor
Where Nurse Educators Work
Allowing them to carve out a tailored career path, nurse educators commonly work in:
- Nursing schools
- Hospitals
- Workforce development organizations
- Simulation centers
Nurse Executive / Leadership
Nurse leaders serve as a guiding light in the profession — offering registered nurses (RNs) the guidance, structure and support they need to care for patients safely and effectively while simultaneously advocating for positive change within the nursing realm. The online MSN: Nurse Executive program is a nursing administration track that prepares experienced nurses for nursing leadership roles where they can make a significant impact.
What This Specialization Prepares You For
This specialization focuses on organizational leadership, quality improvement in healthcare, budgeting, nursing staff management and executive decision-making. Graduates emerge from the program with the ability to manage advances in healthcare technology, understand and apply healthcare reform legislation and address the rising costs of healthcare services.
Top Jobs You Can Pursue
The leadership positions for which you are eligible will vary and are based on your clinical experience and previous leadership roles in nursing. Some of the nursing leadership roles graduates may be able to pursue include:
- Director of nursing (DON)
- Clinical operations manager
- Nursing supervisor
Where Nurse Leaders Work
Nurse leaders work wherever there are nurses, such as:
- Hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- Ambulatory centers
- Community agencies
- Nonprofit organizations
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
The online MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program prepares nurses for this clinical advanced practice role in which they provide empathetic, compassionate care to patients in a primary care setting. This specialty track appeals to those passionate about developing long-term patient relationships and delivering personalized care.
What This Specialization Prepares You For
Focused on comprehensive patient care in primary care settings, nurses learn to assess, diagnose and treat patients of all ages as well as explore the importance of health promotion throughout patients’ lives. This specialization emphasizes the importance of preventative care.
Top Jobs You Can Pursue
Among the leading nursing master’s degree jobs you could pursue in this area of concentration include:
- Family nurse practitioner (FNP)
- Primary care provider with a focus on mental health
- Community health practitioner
- Urgent care nurse practitioner
- Telehealth nurse practitioner
Where FNPs Commonly Work
Family nurse practitioners typically work in primary care settings, with some finding employment in:
- Outpatient clinics
- Family medicine practices
- Community health centers
- Retail health clinics
- Telehealth platforms
Nurse Informaticists
Nurse informatics or nursing informatics is a specialty area that combines nursing, data science and information technology to enhance patient care, clinical workflows and healthcare decision-making. An MSN in Nurse Informatics is a data, technology and healthcare systems track ideal for nurses who understand how unlocking data and strong clinical skills is key to improved healthcare delivery.
What This Specialization Prepares You For
This specialization merges clinical nursing knowledge with technology, data analytics and systems improvement — preparing nurses to serve as a bridge between the patient’s bedside and the vast healthcare data centers that power the modern healthcare system. According to recent information, the median annual salary for these specialized nursing roles can be quite competitive.
Top Jobs You Can Pursue
These are a few nurse informatics jobs for which MSN graduates may be eligible:
- Nursing informatics specialist
- Clinical systems analyst
- Electronic health record (EHR) specialist or trainer
- Health data analyst
- Clinical informatics coordinator
Where Informatics Nurses Work
The American Nursing Association (ANA) notes the need for informatics nurses in any setting where health information systems are used. As a result, informatics nurses may be able to seek out jobs in a variety of organizations, such as:
- Hospitals
- EHR software developers and vendors
- Health systems
- Clinical research organizations
- Telehealth companies
Nurse Leadership in Health Systems
An MSN in nurse leadership may offer specializations focused on community health, quality improvement and managing chronic illness alongside systems-level leadership in nursing. Designed for those who want to play a pivotal part in reducing the health equity gap, this graduate degree program prepares nurses for niche leadership opportunities.
What This Specialization Prepares You For
Developed specifically for nurses wanting to lead change across healthcare systems, public health networks and community organizations, this concentration prepares graduates to take on the complex challenges shaping the modern health landscape.
Top Jobs You Can Pursue
Some nursing leadership roles to consider when you choose this specialty track include:
- Public health nurse leader
- Population health manager
- Quality improvement coordinator
- Community health program director
- Health policy advocate
- Health services managers
Where These Leaders Work
Actively shaping the healthcare landscape and improving health outcomes for patients across demographics, these nurse leaders work in a wide range of settings, including:
- Health departments
- Nonprofits
- Hospital systems
- Policy offices
Which MSN Track Is Right for You?
Enrolling in an online MSN program is the first step — but next, you want to select the track that best aligns with your professional experience, personal interests in nursing and career goals. At Rowan University, for instance:
- The Nurse Educator track is ideal for those who feel called to inspire the next generation of nurses.
- The Nurse Executive track is preferred by nurses who want to assume high-level leadership roles along with a central role in shaping the health landscape for the future.
- The FNP track is an excellent option for nurses who want to provide comprehensive health services in primary care settings.
How Rowan University Supports Your MSN Career Path
Emphasizing flexibility and affordability, Rowan offers you a direct pathway to elevating your career with our engaging and rigorous online MSN program. Our accredited programs feature an employer-aligned curriculum and courses taught by experienced faculty members, ensuring that nurses receive the academic training and clinical support necessary to pursue nursing leadership roles. Taking anywhere from two to four years to complete, the timeline for earning your MSN degree may vary depending on the pathway you choose and the pace you set for your coursework.
Take the Next Step Toward Your Advanced Nursing Career
When you enroll in an online MSN program, you are taking the next critical step on your career path. The MSN degree is quickly becoming one of the preferred credentials in nursing, particularly for those holding an associate degree in specialized roles and leadership positions.
As the fastest-growing public research institution in the Northeast, and within the top 10 across the nation, Rowan University is proud to offer a flexible, affordable and high-quality online MSN program for nurses. Learn more about our online MSN specialty tracks, then request more information about Rowan Online and apply today.