For years, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) was the standard for entry-level nursing. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is now a much more common expectation. But there is also a growing need for registered nurses (RNs) with advanced degrees, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
RNs with a BSN or higher have better patient outcomes, as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reports. Not surprisingly, nurses with a higher level of education are in demand, especially in Texas.
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) offers an online MSN in Nursing Administration that can help RNs meet this demand in as few as 10 months. TAMIU’s online program prepares graduates for high-demand roles in hospitals, clinics, community health centers and other practice settings.
What Is the Demand for RNs With an MSN?
In The Future of Nursing, the Institute of Medicine, or IOM, (now the National Academy of Medicine) called for nurses to achieve higher levels of education. Specifically, the report recommended that 80% of RNs be educated at the BSN level or higher by 2020.
Higher levels of education prepare RNs to meet the increasingly complicated healthcare challenges of today. Looking at progress toward this goal, the AACN reports that the percentage of RNs with a BSN or higher is at an all-time high. Nationally, 56% of RNs have met this goal.
A Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies report shows that 45.5% of the state’s RNs have a bachelor’s. By comparison, only 11.2% have earned a master’s degree.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 20% from 2016 to 2026. This BLS category includes nurse administrators. This rate is much faster than the average of 7% for all occupations.
Nurse administrators in Texas are likely to find many job opportunities:
- Texas is second only to California when it comes to states with the highest employment levels for medical and health services managers, which includes nurse administrators.
- The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land areas are among the top 10 metropolitan areas in the nation with the highest employment levels for this nursing specialty.
TAMIU’s MSN in Nursing Administration includes an emphasis on healthcare informatics, and this may open the door to even more opportunities.
A career in nursing administration typically leads to higher salaries. The BLS reports a median annual salary for nurse administrators of $99,730. At the high end, nursing administration positions may pay more than $182,600.
Like any occupation, pay may vary from one sector to another. The top industry for nurse administrators is government, with a median salary of $110,460. Hospitals take the second spot, with a median salary of $108,730.
The Code of Ethics for Nurses requires a commitment to professional growth and lifelong learning. Earning an advanced degree can be part of this professional growth. RNs who graduate from MSN programs are in an elite group of nursing professionals. Earning an MSN also puts RNs one step closer to earning their doctorate, the highest level of nursing education.
Learn more about TAMIU’s online Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Administration program.
Sources:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing: The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice
National Academy of Medicine: The Future of Nursing – Focus on Education
American Association of Colleges of Nursing: The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice
Texas Department of State Health Services: Nursing Workforce Reports
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical and Health Services Managers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical and Health Services Managers – Pay
American Nurses Association: Code of Ethics for Nurses With Interpretive Statements
