If you’re interested in a nursing career, there are multiple routes you can go when it comes to education. As you pursue advanced education, you can eventually become a nurse practitioner. As a nurse practitioner, you’ll have many of the same duties as a registered nurse, but you’ll also be able to complete advanced tasks, which were once only done by doctors. In fact, in many states, nurse practitioners are allowed to practice without the supervision of a licensed doctor, and in all states, nurse practitioners can write prescriptions.

Is the extra time for the education really worth it, though, if you’re already happy in your job as a registered nurse?

In order to become a nurse practitioner, you must have at least a master’s degree. To enter into nursing in the first place, you need at least an associate’s degree or diploma for an accredited nursing program. These programs typically take two to three years to complete as a full-time student. There are many Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs also available. You can get this degree from the start, in a program that lasts about four years, or if you are already a registered nurse, you can complete an RN to BSN program, which typically lasts one to two additional years. So, in all, it usually takes at least four years to get a bachelor’s degree.

From there, you qualify for a Master of Science in nursing (BSN to MSN). These programs build on the education you’ve already received as a BSN candidate and last about two years, if you go to school as a full-time student. However, some students can instead choose to complete and accelerated MSN program. This is a great option for RNs who don’t yet have a BSN, but who know that they eventually want a master’s degree. Instead of completing a traditional RN to BSN program, they can join into an accelerated MSN program, which lasts about three years, for students who are going to school full time. Upon graduation of such a program, nurses are awarded both a BSN and MSN.

At the very least, therefore, you’ll spend at least five years of full-time education to get your MSN. The length from start to finish will actually likely be longer, since becoming a registered nurse requires you to gain experience in the workforce. Even if that wasn’t the case, many nurses opt to take breaks in the education to work as nurses.

You may also need a longer time to complete your degree if you don’t go to school full time, and at the MSN level, few students do. Completing your degree as you’re working is often the best option, not only because it allows you to have a source of income, but also because you can participate in tuition reimbursement programs through your employer. Most employers will offer you money to go back to school if you continue to work with them for a set amount of time after graduation, which means that you could get your MSN for free.

The time commitment is definitely not something to take lightly. However, with an MSN, you’ll qualify for better jobs that are both more fulfilling professionally and more lucrative in terms of salary, bonuses, and benefits. Before you discount this option as taking too much time, weight the advantages and disadvantages carefully.

Nowadays, earning an advanced nursing degree online from the comfort of your own home is quite simple. The following schools are tops in the nation in terms of delivering a quality, accredited online nursing practition education.

MSN - Clinical Nursing MSN - Family Nursing MSN - Nurse Admin MSN - Women's Health More...	University of Cincinnati — The MS in nursing degree program with a specialization in women's health practice offered online by the University of Cincinnati is geared toward nursing students wanting to receive expert training on women's health issues. Cincinnati also offers many other nurse practitioner degree programs, including MSN specialties in clinical nursing, nurse administration, family nursing, nurse midwifery, and mental health nursing.
MSN for Nurse Practitioners	South University — South University has built a reputation on class flexibility and affordability and their general MSN program for nurse practitioners is no exception. This program is ideal for busy working healthcare nurses and professionals looking for advancement in their respective careers.
MS in Nursing MSN / MBA Dual Degree MSN / MHA Dual Degree MSN - Health Education MSN - Health Informatics	University of Phoenix — The Master of Science in nursing for nurse practitioners from the University of Phoenix is a flexible online program from an accredited school. Students will learn advanced nursing skills, finance, change management, and evidence-based nursing research. Upon completion, graduates will be well prepared to advance their nursing careers. MSN specialties are offered in health education and health informatics. Dual degrees (MSN + MBA and MSN + MHA) are also available.
MSN for Nurse Practitioners - Acute Care	Liberty University — Liberty's Master of Science degree program in nursing is geared toward individuals interested in acute care nursing. Students of this program will be trained to become a clinical nursing specialist (CNS) in acute care. Liberty University is the largest online evangelical Christian university in the nation.
RN to MSN - Practitioner MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Leadership	Gonzaga University — Gonzaga's RN to MSN degree program will dutifully prepare anyone for a career as a nurse practitioner. Students of this program learn administrative, human capital management, financial, ethical, and legal skills. Other programs are offered in nurse education and health systems leadership.
MS in Nursing - RN Track RN to MSN - Informatics RN to MSN - Education RN to MSN - Leadership	Walden University — The Walden School of Nursing offers several unique master's in nursing degree programs for the aspiring nurse practitioner. For those RNs who have already obtained their BSN degrees, there are multiple fast-track MSN programs offered that will get you on the path to your degree as fast as possible. MSN specialty programs are available in subjects like informatics, education, and leadership.
MSN - Adult Acute Care MSN - Adult Psych Care MSN - Clinical Trials MSN - Nursing Leadership	Drexel University — Drexel's MSN - adult acute care nurse practitioner program is geared toward preparing students for professional nursing practice with acutely ill patients. Graduates of this program can find careers in several settings, including ICUs, clinics, emergency departments, medical research laboratories, and more. Programs are also available in adult psychiatric care, clinical trials, and nursing leadership.
MSN - Nurse Educator MSN - Nurse Educator Bridge	Capella University — The master's degree in nursing education is taught in two flavors by Capella University. The regular MSN in nursing education is geared toward nurses with a BSN under their belts. They also offer an MSN bridge degree in nursing education that is designed for bachelor's degree holders in other subjects not related to nursing.
MS in Nursing	Benedictine University — The online Master of Science degree in nursing program from Benedictine University prepares students to become nurse educators, leaders, administrators, case coordinators, managed care consultants, and more. This program is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
MSN - Nurse Admin MSN - Nurse Education	Kaplan University — The MSN nurse administration and nurse education degree programs from Kaplan allows nurses with bachelor's degrees to take their careers to the next level. Students of these programs will learn advanced nursing theory, health policy, evidence-based decision making, financing, and more.
MSN - Nurse Education MSN/MBA - Leadership MSN - Nursing Leadership	Grand Canyon University — Grand Canyon University is always worth a look for students seeking a well-rounded education that integrates the ideals of the Christian belief set. GCU is not only one of the most renowned Christian universities in the nation, but also offers a variety of graduate-level nursing degrees for students to choose from, including nursing education and nursing leadership (also with an MBA option).
RN to MSN Bridge MSN - Health Mgmt	Loyola University of New Orleans — Two online degree programs are offered at Loyola University of New Orleans for aspiring nurse practitioners. Their RN to MSN bridge program covers topics of leadership, community health, health promotion, and professional development to help prepare students for careers as nurse practitioners. Loyola also offers an online MSN degree in health care systems management.
MSN - Clinical Leadership	St. Xavier University — The online MSN program from St. Xavier University has a focus on clinical nurse leadership, ideal for any student who is looking for an advanced nursing role within the healthcare industry. Nurse leaders help identify, design, implement, and evaluate critical administrative processes to enhance patient care.
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