Bedside nurses work long, 12-hour shifts that often include weekends. They tirelessly provide care to patients while also keeping up with family obligations at home. If you are an experienced registered nurse (RN) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), you may be ready to move away from direct patient care into a leadership position. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Nursing Administration from Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) can help you achieve that goal.
What Is an MSN?
An MSN is a graduate degree that nurses can complete after earning a BSN. The MSN is also the degree nurses need before they can pursue a doctoral degree — Ph.D. or DNP. Typically, it takes two years to complete an MSN.
The master’s curriculum builds on the knowledge and nursing experience a BSN-prepared nurse has acquired. Students in an MSN program can focus on one area of nursing such as clinical practice, education and leadership
What Is an MSN in Nursing Administration?
An MSN in Nursing Administration prepares nurses for advanced leadership roles in healthcare. Students in the program are introduced to the global healthcare environment and learn communication, interpersonal, business and leadership skills so they can effectively interact with coworkers, staff and other healthcare professionals.
Through such studies, nurse administrators can learn how to support staff, help staff develop professionally, build a healthy work environment and increase retention. These aspects of nursing leadership are essential for fostering resilience and continuity amidst disruptions and acute challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nurses in an MSN program may also explore how they can improve outcomes by integrating and applying organizational behavior and evidence-based practice into the delivery of patient care. Studies often focus on further nursing administration goals like improving patient safety, participating in community outreach and health education programs and working to achieve health equity.
Achieving health equity is a main component of major health initiatives like Healthy People 2030 and the National Academy of Medicine’s The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity report. This aspect of the intersection of health policy and social justice is a focal point of TAMIU’s MSN – Nursing Administration online program.
In addition, students in this program gain knowledge about administrative principles, fundamental concepts of economics, financial planning and conflict management while examining the importance of culturally sensitive healthcare.
What Courses Are Found in an MSN in Nursing Administration Program?
After completing the program, RNs will have the proficiencies needed to pursue executive roles in a variety of healthcare settings. Here are some of the topics students in an MSN in Nursing Administration program may study:
- Finance for nurse executives
- Healthcare policy and social justice issues
- Healthcare informatics
- Organizational behavior
- Research methods
- Statistical analysis
- Transformational leadership
- Population and community health
Are There Accelerated MSN in Nursing Administration Programs?
TAMIU offers an accelerated program that may take as few as 10 months to complete. The TAMIU MSN – Nursing Administration is 100% online, which gives nurses the flexibility to continue working while completing the program.
What Is the Salary for BSN- and MSN-Prepared Nurses?
According to September 2022 data from ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for RNs in general is $76,289. BSN-prepared nurses make an average of $99,287 per year. The average annual salary of MSN-prepared nurses is $116,630, commensurate with their higher levels of education, experience and qualification.
What Kind of Jobs Can Nurses Seek With an MSN?
A nurse administrator is a clinically trained RN who holds a leadership position in a healthcare organization. Titles and leadership roles for a nurse administrator vary and may include:
- Charge nurse
- Head nurse
- Nurse manager
- Unit manager
- Chief nursing officer
- Director of nursing operations
An MSN in Nursing Administration can help nurses of any age expand their nursing career to include leadership roles. They can leave the physical and emotional demands of direct patient care behind. Nurses in administrative positions usually work normal business hours and spend most of their time behind a desk, monitoring and managing nursing operations. With an MSN, nurses can earn higher salaries and qualify for a greater number of jobs. A 100% online program like TAMIU’s can be a particularly good option for working nurses who are ready to advance in their careers.
Learn more about Texas A&M International University’s online MSN – Nursing Administration program.
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