As a nursing student, if you plan to study for a Master of Nursing, you’re more than likely prepared for the workload. A master’s level degree often involves copious amounts of research, studying, and writing as you prepare a thesis or dissertation. The world needs more healthcare professionals, so we want you to succeed when studying, so we want to give you a realistic idea of what to expect when studying for a master’s in nursing.
What Does a Master of Nursing Cover?
A Master of Nursing is a graduate-level degree that prepares registered nurses for advanced roles in the medical industry. This includes roles in clinical practice, leadership, education, and other aspects of the healthcare system. Most MSN programs focus on deepening your knowledge of patient care, expanding the scope of practice, and building skills in decision-making, leadership, policy, and research. Nurses who want to specialise are encouraged to do a Master of Nursing. Here are some of the topics that a Master of Nursing degree will cover:
- Advanced health assessment
- Pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
- Evidence-based practice
- Leadership and healthcare management
- Healthcare policy and ethics
- Population and Public Health
- Nursing research and statistics
- Informatics and healthcare technology
- Specialization-specific coursework
- Clinical practicum or residency
The Need for Nurses
If the 2019/2020 pandemic has taught us anything, we need more healthcare practitioners, especially nurses. While the doctors see to the significant healthcare needs of a patient, nurses are charged with their overall care and monitoring. In many ways, doctors and surgeons rely on the competence of professional nurses to care for their patients well.
According to the International Council of Nurses, an estimated 4 million nurses plan to retire by 2030. Based on these statistics, the International Council of Nurses estimates that the world will need around 13 million nurses to fill the gap. Essentially, this means that you’ll have decent job security as a nurse.
Benefits of Nursing
If you plan to do a Master of Nursing, you’re probably already in the medical industry, so you would know some of the potential benefits of doing your MSN. However, if you don’t hire, here are some of the benefits we found significant:
Highly Fulfilling Career and Ongoing Development
To say the least, a career in nursing is likely one of the most fulfilling careers a person can do, granted it’s the right person doing it. Day in and day out, you’ll spend your time helping people, being the smile that makes their day or the comforter that makes them feel hope. If you want to do a job that truly selflessly impacts the lives of others, then nursing is the career to go for.
As the world advances in technology, so does the medical industry, forcing all medical professionals to learn new techniques and methods to care for their patients. Studying an MSN allows nurses to level up their skills and improve their ability to care for patients, which is the main goal at the end of the day.
Nurses Are Needed Worldwide
As we’ve said already, nurses are in dire need all over the world. Fortunately, this presents an opportunity for you. As a nurse with an advanced degree, you could literally work anywhere in the world. From volunteering in Africa to working in some of the best hospitals in 1st world countries, you have the pick of the crop.
There’s a Variety of Nursing Fields To Choose From
Lastly, studying for a Master of Nursing allows you to specialise in a variety of medical fields. Here are some examples of nursing fields you may be able to enter with an MSN:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)
- Oncology Nurse
- Cardiac (Cardiovascular) Nurse
- Orthopedic Nurse
- Emergency Room (ER) Nurse
- Critical Care or ICU Nurse
- Medical-Surgical Nurse
- Infectious Disease Nurse
These are only the clinical speciality roles a nurse can pursue; there are still managerial and other leadership roles to consider.
Study Tips for Those Doing Their Masters
Studying for a Master of Nursing can be challenging, especially if you’re studying and working simultaneously. These tips should help you manage the load:
Manage Your Time Well
All right, first, we need to talk about time management. As an experienced nurse, time management should be a skill you’re fairly familiar with. Nurses must stick to time-based tasks and complete them within the given timeframe to move on to the next in many situations. In the same way, when you study for your Masters, you need to dedicate time to studying, time to doing assignments, and time for your social life. Procrastination will be your worst enemy while you do your degree.
Balance Work and Social Life Well
Secondly, you must also factor in time for your social life. It’s easy to get stuck in a pattern of work, study, eat, sleep, and repeat. Keeping your social life active can be refreshing and encouraging, and it ensures that you have a support system around you.
Keep a Healthy Lifestyle
Finally, don’t let a lack of time prevent you from maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Ideally, you should still exercise daily and eat a healthy diet.
Where Can You Study Your Masters in Nursing Online?
Don’t wait to start your Master of Nursing. If you’re considering taking your career to the next level and completing a master of nursing, here’s a helpful page from Victoria University. Here you’ll receive the guidance you need to understand what to expect when pursuing your master’s in nursing online, including everything from the entry requirements to how to use the platform. You’ll also be able to contact a student enrolment advisor to answer any questions you may have.
Final Thoughts
Nursing is a rewarding career that offers many opportunities for those who are ready to work hard and make a difference. By studying for a Master of Nursing degree, you could effectively position yourself to climb the ranks as a nurse and potentially make a difference in many lives. Consider the benefits of studying further and how they could impact your future. Studying for a Master of Nursing could be the best investment you can make.