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 masters of science in nursing (MSN), which will allow you to specialize in one area of medicine, such as geriatrics or cardiology.

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 advance 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 - Nurse Practitioner 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 - Clinical Nursing MSN - Adult Nursing MSN - Family Nursing MSN - Women's Health More...	University of Cincinnati — The MS in nursing degree program with a specialization in women's health practition offered online by the University of Cincinnati is geared toward nursing students wanting to receive expert training on women's health issues. Graduates of this program will be qualified as nurse practitioners with a valuable niche skillset. Cincinnati also offers many other nurse practitioner degree programs, as listed on the left.
MS in Nursing 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 - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Leadership RN to MSN - Nurse Practitioner	Gonzaga University — Gonzaga's Master of Science in nursing degree with a specialization in health systems leadership 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MSN for Nurse Practitioners	Kaplan University — The MSN nurse practitioner degree program from Kaplan allows nurses with bachelor's degrees to take their careers to the next level. Students of this program will learn advanced nursing theory, health policy, evidence-based decision making, financing, and more.
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 BSN in nursing education is geared toward nurses with a BSN under their belts. They also offer an MSN bridge to nursing education that is designed for bachelor's degree holders in other subjects not related to nursing.
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