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Article #97: Advanced Nursing Degrees

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There is a general feeling that nursing educational institutes require a master's
as a profession needs more of hands-on degree. When you pursue a master's
experience than pure academic knowledge. degree, you typically learn to focus on
There is a reason or two there. We are management and / or clinical specialties
known to laud the role of nurses who have and if you so choose, you may prepare to
excellent practical abilities and teach nursing courses upon completion.
management supervision skills. Nursing educators are much sought-after
But apart from the too-obvious hospital in US, so teaching can very well enhance
care jobs, nurses have definitive roles your career to help shape the future of
to play in many other healthcare nursing.
functions, and even in stellar roles in 3. Nurses as "doctors" As discussed
healthcare industry. It needs no telling above, the top echelon in advanced
that higher education in nursing is nursing degrees belongs to PhD and now
imperative for nurses to work in senior the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP).
positions, many of which are suitable for In recent years, more nurses are
none else than nurses themselves. proceeding to go for a doctorate degree
In practice however, there is lukewarm in nursing, and accordingly, many
response among nursing students to pursue institutions too are expanding their
higher degrees, perhaps for reasons of basket of course offerings to appeal to
convenience and cost. For example, though more students and also to meet this
numbers of nurses having a BSN degree has growing demand. In fact, about a dozen
increased during the last four decades, institutes have added a DNP program in
yet only about 44% of 2.7 million nurses their curriculum, according to the
currently hold a bachelor's degree or American Association of Colleges of
higher. Nursing, and more plan to start in near
Given the advent of advanced medical future. A doctorate degree in nursing is
treatment and progressively longer helpful to teach at university level,
lifespan of people, there is no denying conduct research, and even work in
that the nursing practice is set to clinical settings or hospital management.
undergo many changes in sync with 4. Other options Among other careers
technology and need. Keeping this in pursuable for advanced nursing degree
perspective, in October 2004, the holders while remaining in a nursing
American Association of Colleges of discipline, nurse practitioner and nurse
Nursing (AACN) agreed in a resolution to anesthetist must come first. In case of
support the doctor of nursing practice nurse practitioner, it is usually an
(DNP) as a terminal practice degree. The offering of master's degree, whereupon
DNP will be different from the PhD in you will qualify to take the national
that while the PhD has wider acceptance nurse practitioner certification exam. A
as being research-focused to supplant the qualified nurse practitioner is able to
master's degree, the DNP is proposed to diagnose and treat many common illnesses
be for those nurses who want an advanced as well as to prescribe medications.
practice role, such as nurse practitioner On the other hand, after attaining a
or nurse anesthetist. However, perhaps master's degree, if you are interested in
very few schools like University of becoming a nurse anesthetist, you need to
Kentucky have embarked on this new pass a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse
educational path to offer the DNP degree. Anesthetists) certification program. A
A brief round-up of various advanced qualified CRNA can be expected to work
nursing degrees is provided below: independently or in association with
1. RN to BSN If you commenced your career other anesthesiologists to provide
in nursing with an associate degree or a anesthesia services in case of both
diploma, you may consider attaining your surgical and obstetrical patients. A
bachelor's degree. Many advanced nursing CRNA's work may be patient-intensive
positions today are increasingly looking during preoperative, intra-operative and
for a minimum of bachelor's degree. The postoperative periods.
good news is that a number of distance As can be seen from above discussions,
learning courses has made this a viable there is no dearth of career
option for quite a few of you who are opportunities for advanced nursing degree
working professionals. Besides, there are holders. In fact, as experts opine, the
flexible programs in addition to distance advancement of medical technology will
learning that can be suitably timed continue to enrich and enhance the
around your work schedule. In some cases, requirement of nursing personnel who are
universities are known to consider your equipped with one or more advanced
work experience toward academic credit, nursing degrees.
which means your cost and time to Linda Raye is an accomplished writer and
complete your degree reduce editor of website. Her main interest lies
substantially. in the healthcare field with one of her
2. RN to MSN and beyond Positions in passions being nursing.
higher management, clinical positions and






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