8 Best Master Degrees In Nursing Education

Whatever may be your reason for desiring to pursue a master’s degree in nursing, you will find MSN specialties to match your career goals and interests. For instance, some would like to manage their practice, while others wish to explore a nurse-midwifery path or a family nurse practitioner path.

Enjoy anything related to data and analytics. Nursing informatics will be a great MSN specialty, although it is also possible to use data and analytics in a more hands-on way by being a nurse administrator.

Similar to any graduate program, there will be a lot of hard work ahead. You can choose to stay disciplined by selecting an area of specialization. Peradventure, you are yet to decide where you wish to specialize, in this article are some of the most popular and in-demand concentrations for a master’s degree in nursing education.

8 Best Master Degrees In Nursing Education

Family Nurse Practitioner

Approximately 65% of nurse practitioners (NPs) work as family nurse practitioners. This is one of the best MSN options for those who wish to work in virtually any setting, including their practice, so far the state provides the full authority of practice.

Nurse practitioners are the fourth most rapidly growing occupation in the U.S., and demand keeps rising. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected a 40% job growth for all nurse practitioners between 2021 and 2031. Furthermore, according to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the average salary is $107,000 per year.

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

The people called adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners are those who care for older adults in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and private practices. As a result of the aging population in the U.S., this career is accompanied by tremendous growth potential.

Additionally, the BLS has included adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner occupational data with all nurse practitioners, along with a projected 40% increment in jobs between 2021 and 2031.

Nurse Midwifery

A nurse midwife closely works in association with OB/GYN physicians, assisting with the pregnancy, delivery, and care of both the mother and child. This can be a particularly joyous career, as it deals with bringing new life forth into the world.

Among the various options for a master’s degree in nursing education, nurse midwifery has a relatively slow growth rate which is 11%. According to the BLS, the 11% growth rate is still faster than average.

Nurse Administrator

If you desire to make a difference in nursing itself, whether as an alternative or after the experience with direct nursing care, this will probably be one of the best nursing specialties for you for a master’s degree. Nurse administrators typically work more predictable hours with little weekend or evening requirements. Nevertheless, the work comes with more responsibilities.

As a nurse administrator, you have to ensure effective nursing practices in a unit or organization. Nurse administrators are expected to be particularly good at motivating others, collaborating, and leading change.

Of all medical and health services managers, the BLS projects a 32% growth between 2020 and 2030. It also reports an average earning of $118,800 yearly.

Nursing Anesthesia

Based on the report by the BLS, with an average annual salary of $195,610, nurse anesthesia is the highest-paying option for a master’s degree in nursing. You can either work as the only anesthetist during less complicated procedures or as a team member on more challenging surgeries and care for patients during and after operations.

However, from 2025, in order to become a nurse anesthetist, you will require a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) rather than an MSN. This MSN specialty is one of the slowest-growing MSN specialties. It has a projected job growth rate of only 13% between 2020 and 2030.

Nursing Informatics

Nursing informatics may appear appealing to data specialists who wish to improve nursing while working predictable hours. In this MSN specialty, professionals make use of technology, statistics, and nursing knowledge to analyze data, design and run reports, and assist administrators and leaders in enhancing nursing practice.

Concerning the job growth rate for this specialty, the BLS has projected a 9% growth between 2020 and 2030.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

If you would rather go for the challenge of saving lives, acute care nursing can be a highly rewarding MSN specialty. Majority of acute care nurse practitioners work in hospitals and health systems, although they can also work in residential care and government facilities.

For nurse practitioners, this is the third most famous area of specialty. The BLS has projected job growth of 40% between 2021 and 2031 for all nurse practitioners, including acute care nurse practitioners. Additionally, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners has reported an average salary of $120,000 annually for this position.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Clinical nurse specialists offer pediatric, neonatal, or adult/gerontology care. These specialists generally work in medical centers where they teach students various ways to enhance evidence-based care.

If you are interested in specialty care and becoming a professional in a specific patient demographic, this is one of the more versatile specialties of a master’s degree in nursing.

Even though the pay is above the national average, it is still one of the lower-paying MSN specialties, with an average annual salary of $94,615, based on the data by Payscale. However, the BLS projected a 40% growth rate between 2021 and 2031 for all advanced practice registered nurses, including clinical nurse specialists.

Advance Your Nursing Career With an MSN

Bagging a master’s degree in nursing is a great way to invest in your future. Once you choose the type of MSN program best suited for you, you can then select your desired area of specialization based on your preferred job role and nursing field.

If you are overwhelmed by the various available choices, you can talk to an advisor to help you in the decision-making process.