What can you do with an msn in nursing leadership?
April 30, 2024
Unlocking What You Can Do with an MSN in Leadership
If you are passionate about advancing your nursing career into leadership and management positions, an MSN in Leadership may be right for you. Explore the program details, certifications, and career options to make an informed decision about your educational and professional journey.
What Is an MSN in Nursing Leadership?
A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a focus in Leadership is an advanced degree program designed to prepare registered nurses (RNs) for leadership roles in health care settings. These degree programs, which can have names such as Nursing Leadership or Healthcare Systems Leadership, focus on developing management, administration, and strategic decision-making skills within the nursing field.
If you are passionate about advancing your nursing career into leadership and management positions, an MSN in Leadership may be right for you. Explore the program details, certifications, and career options to make an informed decision about your educational and professional journey.
What Is the Difference Between a Clinical Nurse Leader and a Nurse Practitioner?
While both clinical nurse leaders (CNL) and nurse practitioners (NP) hold advanced nursing degrees, their roles differ. CNLs focus on improving patient care at the unit level, implementing evidence-based practices, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams. NPs, on the other hand, primarily diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and may work independently in certain settings.
What is the Role of Leadership in Nursing?
Nurse leaders play a crucial role in guiding and influencing health care delivery. Their responsibilities include overseeing nursing staff, implementing policies, managing budgets, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care. Nurse leaders may work in various settings, such as hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, or community health organizations.
If you pursue an MSN in Leadership, you will have access to more diverse employment opportunities and additional access to roles in health care administration.
The roles of nurse leaders span from managing a specific team, department, or clinical area to providing leadership to all aspects of a general health care facility. Depending on the role, day-to-day duties may include:
- Developing the goals and objectives of your team or facility.
- Recruiting, training, coaching, and supervising your team of health care workers.
- Managing office budgets and purchasing.
- Developing and implementing practices, procedures, and technology to run your team or office more effectively and efficiently.
Healthcare Systems and Nursing Leadership Career Options
Many graduates of nursing and health systems leadership programs pursue nurse leader roles. Here are some of the most common:
- Nurse Manager/Supervisor: Manages a single group of nursing staff, focusing on the day-to-day operations, staffing, and professional development in clinical settings such as hospitals or long-term care facilities. The median national salary for this role is $83,777.1
- Nurse Administrator: Oversees nursing departments, manages budgets, and implements policies in clinical settings such as hospitals or outpatient clinics. The median national salary for this role is $89,000 per year.2
- Nurse Educator: Teaches and mentors aspiring nurses in academic or clinical settings such as nursing schools or hospitals. The median national salary for this role is $75,831.3
- Nurse Consultant: Provides expertise to healthcare organizations, advising on best practices and improvements in clinical settings such as hospitals or private practices. The median national salary for this role is $78,063.4
- Clinical Nurse Leader: Facilitates patient care improvements at the unit level in clinical settings such as hospitals or outpatient clinics. The median national salary for this role is $85,107.5
- Nurse Practitioner: Provides comprehensive medical care to patients, including diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications, and managing chronic conditions in clinical settings such as hospitals, clinics, or private practices. The median national salary for this role is $110,030.6
- Director/Assistant Director of Nursing: Manages the entire nursing staff and collaborates with other healthcare leaders to deliver safe, quality care in clinical settings such as hospitals or long-term care facilities. The median national salary for this role is $91,000.7
- Chief Nursing Officer/Vice President of Nursing: Engages in executive nursing practice through strategy, finance, and resource management with the ultimate accountability for high-quality, cost-effective patient care in clinical settings such as hospitals or healthcare systems. The median national salary for this role is $162,900.8
- Teaching Opportunities: Individuals with an MSN in leadership often can teach in clinical settings such as nursing schools or hospitals. The median national salary for nursing instructors and teachers is $74,600.9
What Is the Job Outlook for Nursing Leaders?
The job outlook for nursing and healthcare systems leadership roles is expected to grow in response to the increasing demand for quality health care services.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has released a fact sheet10 sharing the statistics behind the shortage of nurses in America. With the RN workforce expected to grow from 3.1 million in 2021 to 3.3 million in 2031, an increase of 195,400 nurses, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics also projects 203,200 openings for RNs each year through 2031, when nurse retirements and workforce exits are factored into the number of nurses needed in the U.S.11
Should I Get My MSN in Leadership?
The decision to pursue an MSN in Leadership depends on your career goals. If you aspire to take on leadership roles, influence health care policies, and contribute to organizational success, this advanced degree can open doors to diverse and rewarding opportunities.
An MSN in Healthcare Systems Leadership curriculum can prepare graduates to sit for national nurse practitioner certification examinations or earn national certification as nurse executives or nurse educators. These programs typically take 18-24 months to complete, and credits may range from 36 to 48, depending on the institution.
Attaining this degree and gaining leadership experience gives you a wide range of opportunities to pursue where you can really make a difference. If you are interested in pursuing an MSN in Healthcare Systems Leadership from Norwich University, you can learn more about the educational requirements by speaking with an admissions representative. Request information here.