Master of Science in Nursing : MSN Degree

Acquiring a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree could give nurses an opportunity to specialize in unique fields within nursing. Most MSN programs require coursework focused on a unique specialty and supervised clinical experience in hospitals or other health care facilities.

The four most sought after specialties within a MSN program are certified nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, and clinical nurse specialist. Read on and get an overview of these unique specialties.

1. Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) – A CRNA’s job is to administer anesthesia to patients. The CRNA program could take three full-time years of study to complete, depending on school, program type, and course load. The CRNA college must be accredited by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetist’s (AANA) Council on Accreditation of Nurse Educational Programs.

2. Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) – Midwives work primarily with healthy women who need assistance with family planning, gynecological care, labor and delivery, and newborn care. Certified nurse midwives work at hospitals, birthing centers, medical clinics, and at home births.

3. Nurse Practitioner (NP) – A nurse practitioner provides healthcare in specialized areas that in the past were only performed by doctors. There are a number of areas that a nurse practitioner can choose to focus on including pediatrics, emergency medicine, or family practice, just to name a few. Upon completing the MSN degree program, students must pass a national board certification in the chosen area of specialization in order to gain their license.

4. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – Clinical nurse specialists care for patients who fit into a specific diagnostic range. For example, a CNS can focus on caring for patients with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, or who have psychiatric illnesses. Students who choose to pursue as career as a clinical nurse specialists must pass a certification exam upon graduation to gain certification.

There are a large number of colleges and universities that offer online and on campus MSN degree programs. Make sure that the college you choose is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accredited Commission (NLNAC). To get into a MSN program, most colleges and universities require either a GRE or GMAT test score, a solid GPA in past college coursework, and clinical experience as an RN.