When you get an advanced degree in the nursing field, you become more marketable, which means that you’ll be more likely to get a job when you apply. To become a nurse practitioner, you need at least a Master of Science in nursing (MSN), which will allow you to specialize in one area of medicine, such as acute care nursing or adult nursing.

Across the country, there is a nursing shortage, and most hospitals and private practices are in need of nurses of all skill levels, including these with advanced degrees. However, in most rural areas and some part of the country, jobs are harder to find. If you’re looking for a job in nursing, start by applying with some of the top employers that hire the most nurses. In the United States, these types of employers are as follows, according to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 1,458,520 nurses hired in 2008
• Offices of Physicians: 218,110 nurses hired in 2008
• Home Health Care Services: 130,860 nurses hired in 2008
• Nursing Care Facilities: 124,590 nurses hired in 2008
• Employment Services: 91,980 nurses hired in 2008

Remember, with the nursing shortage, these numbers are actually higher – this data reflect the total number of nurses hired, without reporting on the jobs still open and unfilled.

Because you have an advanced degree in a field where workers are in demand, you may want to look for work in industries that pay the highest salaries. For nurses, the highest average salaries are found with the following types of employers:

• Motion Picture and Video Industries: $77,690
• Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations: $77,330
• Federal Executive Branch: $74,460
• Investment Pools and Funds: $73,380
• Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing: $70,970

Of course, in these fields, there are often fewer than 100 positions open across the entire country, which is a far cry from the nearly 1.5 million nursing jobs found in the hospitals for nurses.

A top employer isn’t necessarily just measured by the number of nurses they hire or the starting salary you’ll be offered. When job-hunting, other factors that you should consider include the following:

• What benefit packages are available to you?
• What is your desired location (the top states for nurses are South Dakota, Massachusetts, and Mississippi)?
• What will your hours be like? Will you be on call?
• What are you responsibilities in the position?
• Does the employer offer tuition reimbursement for nurses who want to get a doctorate degree?
• Are there options for advancement in your career with this employer?
• Is the work environment fast-paced (like in an emergency room) or more slow-paced (like in a nursing home)?

The top employer for you isn’t necessarily the top employer for every nurse. As you job-hurt with your master’s degree, apply to as many positions as possible so that you have your pick of positions, rather than having to take the only one you’re offered.

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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