The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of nursing jobs will increase 22% by the year 2018. This is faster than the average for all of the occupations tracked by the BLS. The rapid growth in technology is the major driving force behind the trend. However, the increase in the number of senior and elderly people is also contributing to the increased need for nurses. A person who enters the nursing profession can generally be guaranteed a job throughout the entirety of their career.

In addition to job security, nurses can also expect to be well paid for their work, especially if they hold advanced degrees. In 2008, the average salary for a registered nurse was $62,540. The top 10% earned $92,000 and the bottom 10% earned $43,000. However, people with master’s degrees in a specialization earned significantly more. Here is a breakdown of some of the popular specializations and average salary they earn:

* Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner $95,000

* Certified Nurse Midwife $84,000

* Clinical Nurse Specialist $76,000

* Home Health Nursing $49,000

* Orthopedic Nurse $81,000

* Neonatal Nurse $74,000

* Nurse Practitioner $78,000

* Certified Nurse Anesthetist $135,000

* Forensic Nursing $50,000

* Geriatric Nurse Practitioner $75,000

In addition to a base salary, nurses often earn bonuses that increase their yearly salary. They also enjoy benefits such as medical insurance, daycare, life insurance, and retirement savings.

The higher the level of education you have, the more money you will make. If you already have a Masters in Nursing degree, you can increase your salary by 10% to 25% by going further and earning a doctoral degree. A doctoral degree can also help you gain access to teaching jobs at colleges and universities which can provide some measure of job security and prestige.

Nurses will be in high demand for decades to come. It would be a good investment of your time, effort, and money to pursue a graduate level nursing degree. The Internet has made it easier than ever to earn a master’s or doctorate degree in a nursing specialization. There are hundreds of online schools that allow you to take classes in the comfort of your home and according to your schedule.

Finding these schools is fairly easy. Ask your nursing friends what schools they attended to earn their degree. Chances are pretty good that a few of them earned their advanced degree from an online school. An Internet search can uncover other schools that offer online nursing degrees.

It is important to thoroughly research a school to make sure they are able to provide you with a high quality education. The primary thing is to make sure they are accredited. This certification guarantees that the program adheres to and teaches industry-standard nursing practices, which is critical to your success as a nurse.

Another thing to consider is what options for financial aid are available to you. Unless you are able to pay for your degree fully in cash, you will like need assistance paying for your educational expenses. Some online schools will have internal funding sources that you can tap into to help you pay for your education. Once you have found a school that meets all of your requirements, work hard and achieve the career success you want.

Resources:

• http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm
• http://www.nurseuniverse.com/articles/Salary_Outlook.htm

1. Higher Salary – If you are not happy with the amount of money you are currently making in your nursing career, then you can remedy that by getting an advanced degree. It is a well-known fact that people with advanced degrees, like masters and doctorates, earn more money over the course of their career. You can increase your income by 10% to 25% simply by earning a graduate nursing degree.

2. Advancement Opportunities – Many nursing positions require nurses to have graduate degrees. If you want to advance in your nursing career, then you should seriously consider enrolling in graduate nursing school. With an advanced degree you can gain access to supervisory, managerial, and administrative positions.

3. Specialization – Graduate nursing programs allow you to branch off into a specialization like psychiatric nursing and geriatric nursing. If you want to get into a specific field of nursing then you have to earn a graduate degree in that concentration. In addition to allowing you access to the career of your dreams, you will earn more money with a specialty degree.

4. Increased Job Security – While there is a demand for nurses, some areas are cutting back and letting go of nurses. A graduate degree makes you more desirable to employers. This means that you are less likely to be let go, especially if you have a degree in something that is in high demand. If you do have the misfortune of losing your job, your advanced degree ensures you will be snatched up by another employer.

5. Personal Satisfaction – Although earning a degree can be challenging, you will feel a sense of accomplishment when you complete the program. This can increase your overall self-confidence and inspire you to tackle other challenges you may have been afraid to pursue. It takes about 1 to 2 years to complete an advanced degree and there are many useful lessons you will learn along the way that will help you in your career.

6. Prestige – People who have advanced degrees are highly regarded in society. Although this shouldn’t be the only reason you go after a graduate nursing degree, it doesn’t hurt that people will regard you with a high level of respect because you achieved something significant.

7. Meet Great People – You will meet a lot of people in school and make connections that can help you in your career. For example, you may meet people who can provide leads to jobs that you are interested in obtaining. If they are in a field that you want to enter, they can be a source of information about that profession, which can assist you in determining if it is right for you.

There are many other specializations you can choose from. Most nursing professions pay at very good wage. Therefore, you should pursue specializations because you are interested in the profession rather than just pursuing money. You will be a lot happier working at a job that you find interesting than one that pays a lot of money but you find boring or overly stressful.

The Internet is a great place to find information on the difference nursing specialties you can get into. Another option is to talk to nurses who already do the job to find out the benefits and disadvantages to that line of work.

Resources:

• http://blogs.nursing.jhu.edu/five-great-reasons-to-do-the-accelerated-bsn-program-at-hopkins

1. Kaplan University Master of Science in Nursing – This degree will prepare nurses for positions in administration, informatics, staff development, and faculty. Students will work closely with a mentor in real-world settings for hands on training in select healthcare settings. Nurses can specialize in nurse administration, informatics, or nurse educator. Kaplan is accredited by multiple agencies depending on where the campus is located.

2. Grand Canyon University MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems – Students will learn the skills needed to be effective leaders in today’s health care system. GCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

3. Western Governors University MSN Leadership and Management – Nurses in this program will have the credentials needed to take the ANCC Nurse Executive Certificate exam. Students will learn about policy, organization, financing, leadership and management, nursing theory, research fundamentals, and other subjects needed to manage people and departments. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

4. University of Phoenix MSN Health Care Education – This program teaches nurses leadership skills and prepares them for their role as a faculty member. They learn how to develop, assess, and evaluate curriculum. The University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

5. Capella University MSN Nurse Educator – Nurses in this program learn advanced nursing theory and practice. They are also taught how to design, implement, and evaluate nurse education programs. Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

6. Gonzaga University MSN Health Systems Leadership – This degree is for RNs who want to enter administrative positions in outpatient, inpatient, academic, and community organizations. Students learn how to manage finances, work with human capital, and how to respond to legal and ethical issues. Gonzaga University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

7. Sacred Heart University MN Clinical Nurse Leader – Students who earn this degree will be prepared to take the American Association of Colleges of Nursing CNL Certificate exam. They will also know how to evaluate patient outcomes, asses patient risk, and work with other healthcare providers to ensure the best patient care. Sacred Heart University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

8. Lewis University MSN Nursing Administration – Graduates of this degree program will be able to lead their nursing teams, develop effective communication processes and systems, and design policies and processes to address a variety of economic, legal, and social issues. Lewis University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

9. Drexel University MSN Clinical Trials Research – This nursing degree prepares nurses to work on the clinical trials conducted by a variety of organizations including pharmaceutical companies and private practices. Drexel University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

There are many more nursing degrees you can earn online. When searching for a college, it is important to make sure the school is accredited. Accreditation ensures the program meets the minimum standard of quality set by the nursing association. Additionally, only courses from accredited colleges are transferable to other schools. Usually schools will list their accreditation on their website. However, you may need to call directly to get that information. Do your research and choose your school wisely.

1. @SafetyNurse – Barbara Olsen is the owner of this Twitter account. She is a nurse educator and project manager who tweets about patient safety in healthcare organizations.

2. @PhilBaumann – This lover of social media hosts #RNChat, a Twitter chat for nurses. Get involved in the conversation with other nurses on Twitter using this hashtag.

3. @NursingCenter – This Twitter feed is maintained by Lisa Morris Bonsall who is an MSN, RN, CRNP, and the editor of the website NursingCenter.com. She posts links to resources and information about industry developments.

4. @InfustionNurse – Cora Vizcarra is a veteran infusion nurse who founded #IVChat. She tweets about infusion therapy and vascular access.

5. @rdjfraser – Robert Franser is the tweeter behind this account. He is author of The Nurses Social Media Advantage, and he talk about integrating technology and social media into healthcare system to improve collaboration and communication.

6. @onlinenursing – Run by Terri Schmitt who has been in nursing for over 14 years, you will find information on and about nurse practitioners, nursing, and general life lessons.

7. @BarbaraPhillips – This nurse practitioner owns a private clinic in the Pacific Northwest and is the founder of Nurse Practitioners in Business. She tweets about physician shortages, healthcare security, and social media.

8. @EllenRichter – This legal nurse consultant talks about nursing and social media. She is also a regular host for #RNChat.

9. @MatthewBrowning – Matthew engages with patients and healthcare reform advocates on Twitter. He also is the founder of YourNurseIsOn.com which is a meeting place for physicians, nurses, and healthcare providers.

10. @StephenNP – This New York nurse practitioner tweets about the NP field, men’s health, college, and retail.

11. @RNConsult – Patricia A. Jackson tweets about everything health related. This 29-year nursing veteran generates newsletters that include content for physicians and caretakers.

12. @CandyDye – This Twitter feed is run by Candy who is a Nurse Practitioner. She tweets about a variety of topics and is an Apriori beauty founder.

13. @NursingPins – Critical care nurse Vernon Dutton tweets about hospital nursing, nursing shortages, and iPad apps for the medical community.

14. @JennyBizRN – Jennifer Ann Grisso is an RN who writes about mobile health, disease control, and health IT.

15. @Trempy – Laura is a Nurse Practitioner who tweets about free clinics and EMR.

These are only a few of the great nurses who have accounts on Twitter. If you are interested in finding other nurses or healthcare professionals who have Twitter accounts, there are a couple of ways you can go about it. The easiest way to find other people is to use a Twitter directory like Twellow or WeFollow. These directories are arranged by categories and you can people who tweet on the things that interest you by visiting the relevant category.

Another way is to use a third-party Twitter application like TweetAddr to help you search through the millions of Twitter accounts to find other nurses to follow. A last option is to mine through the followers list of the nurses you currently follow. Chances are pretty good that they follow other nurses too.

Twitter is an excellent way to stay on top of what is happening in the nursing industry. If you don’t already have a Twitter account, it would be very beneficial to start one and find a few nurse friends on this popular social networking site.

Resources:

• http://nursinglink.monster.com/lifestyle/articles/19729-nurses-to-follow-on-twitter
• http://www.navinet.net/blog/ten-nurses-follow-twitter
• http://onlinefnp.com/2010/25-twitter-accounts-every-nurse-practioner-should-follow/

1. ScribbleDoc – Doctors are notorious for having atrocious handwriting. If you are having difficulty deciphering a doctor’s orders, this app may be able to help. ScribbleDoc will scan the writing and convert it to text. It may not be a perfect translation, but you may have a better chance of interpreting what that chicken scratch means.

2. Netter’s Flash Cards – Whether you just graduated or you have been nursing for years, you can always use a refresher when it comes to key nursing concepts. The Netter’s applications are a group of flash cards that you can use to test your knowledge about a variety of topics including neuroscience, musculoskeletal, anatomy, and head and neck. Quiz yourself and your nurse friends.

3. Andrew Yee’s Eponyms App – This application contains over 1,700 medical eponyms and descriptions. Look up the names of diseases patients tell you about or click the random button to learn about the different medical conditions out there. With enough time and determination, you could become a walking medical reference book.

4. iMurmur and iMurmur 2– These applications contain a collection of heart sounds. Use them to increase your knowledge of the heart, or impress the children you come in contact with during the day. There is nothing like hearing a beating heart to distract a child enough to get the needle in their arm.

5. Human Body Advanced Encyclopedia 3D Anatomy – This app displays the different parts of the body in 3D. There are renderings of all 14 anatomical systems and you will be able to see the part from all sides and angles.

6. Reach MD CME – If you want or need continuing education, then this app is for you. You can download and listen to medical programs. Afterwards, you can take the certification test right there on your phone. This application is free, accredited, and will save you a lot of time.

7. iRadiology – This app is for new nurses and veterans. It contains over 500 images that help the user increase their ability to read film, MRI images, and CT scans. When you have an extra few minutes, you can improve your game and become a better nurse.

There are hundreds of other applications available that can help you with your nursing duties. It is simply a matter of sifting through them all to find the ones you think will be useful. The applications range in price from a $0.99 to a couple of hundred dollars depending on how specialized the information is and how advanced the application is.

You can purchase and download many of these apps from the Apple store. However, developers also sell them on their websites. A well defined Internet search can uncover some of the more interesting iPhone apps available for nurses and other medical staff.

One thing you have to be careful of when downloading and using apps is to keep an eye on your battery. Running too many applications can drain your battery quickly. When you are not using apps, be certain to close them to reduce the load on your phone. The last thing you want is to have your phone shut off at an inopportune moment because the battery has lost all of its juice.

Resources:

• http://scrubsmag.com/top-ten-iphone-apps-for-nurses/
• http://scrubsmag.com/10-more-great-iphone-apps-for-nurses/

Bachelor’s Degree

Before you can be admitted into a Masters of Nursing program, you have to complete a bachelor’s degree program. There are some programs that will accept you if you only have an associate’s degree, but those are rare and typically are the BSN to MSN programs where you earn your bachelor’s and master’s degree all in one program.

Most schools prefer that you have a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a nursing specialization from an accredited college or university. The knowledge you gain in the bachelor’s program forms the basis of your understanding of the information that will be taught during the master’s degree program. Having this foundation will make it easier to understand the information being taught.

However, some schools will still accept you even if you have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline as long as you have completed a few relevant courses. For example, Vanderbilt University will accept applicants with non-nursing degrees if they have completed 11 hours of natural science courses such as Human Anatomy, Nutrition, and Microbiology.

Licensure

If you are an RN, almost all programs require you to have a license to practice. Most schools prefer that you have a license in the state where the school resides. However, many will accept out-of-state licenses as long as it is valid. Your license cannot have been placed on probation or was suspended or revoked. Additionally, the license must be maintained during the entire time you are in the master’s degree program.

Those who are not RNs must be eligible to receive a license to practice nursing. The requirements for licensure vary state to state. In general, though, you must be able to pass a background check and you must obtain a passing score or higher on the relevant nursing licensing exam. It is best to check with the individual state for the specific licensing requirements.

High Grades and Test Scores

Schools want talented people who are committed to being great nurses. Because they are inundated with applications for entry, many schools set the bar with grades and test scores. In general, the minimum GPA you will need to enter a Master of Nursing program is 3.0. This will vary by school though and it is best to consult with the specific school you are interested in attending to find out what the minimum acceptable GPA.

The other critical thing you will need for admission to an MSN program is high scores on the GRE (Graduate Record Exam). The minimum score for many schools is 1000 on the verbal and quantitative sections and 4.5 on the analytical section. Again, this will vary from school to school. Some schools will waive the GRE requirement if you have a high GPA or you have already earned an advanced degree from another educational institution.

Nursing schools will typically have other requirements such as letters of recommendation from professional sources and the submission of a personal statement. Some schools also require you to participate in a personal interview. Most schools have their requirements listed on their websites, which makes it easy to find out if you qualify for admission. Research the different schools until you find one that will accept the qualifications you have.

Resources:

• http://nursing.duke.edu/modules/son_academic/index.php?id=191
• http://www.nursing.vanderbilt.edu/msn/admissions/admission_req.html
• http://nursing.uah.edu/programs/msn/admission-requirements