10 Great Jobs with a Master’s in Nursing

The United States is in the middle of a notable shortage of qualified registered nurses. This shortage is expected to last well into the 2030’s, meaning that there may be no better time in history to pursue a career in nursing, according to The Atlantic. This shortage is expected to extend into all areas of nursing, including advanced practice fields that can only be obtained with a Master’s in Nursing. Here are 10 great jobs that you can pursue with a Master’s in Nursing.

1. Certified Nurse Midwife

While the shortage in nursing jobs is primarily relegated to the demand needed to care for the growing senior population, the facts are that babies are being born every day. That’s where a career as a certified nurse midwife comes in. Certified nurse midwives must hold a current Registered Nurse license, and receive additional training from a nurse-midwifery program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. In addition to working with women during pregnancy and delivery, nurse midwives perform a range of healthcare services, including gynecological exams, to family planning. Certified nurse midwives earned an average salary of $102,390 in 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2. Clinical Nurse Specialist

Clinical nurse specialists are registered nurses that have developed their education in both clinical theory and research-based nurse practice. These nurses work across the healthcare spectrum and may serve as consultants, researches, case managers, educators, and outcomes managers, according to Discover Nursing. Typically a clinical nurse specialist is part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team, which may include other professionals such as social workers, pharmacists, and physical therapists. Clinical nurse specialists can be expected to earn an average salary of about $80,000 and up to $120,000 per year.

3. Doctor of Nurse Practice

The Doctor of Nurse Practice is among the highest level of training available to registered nurses. A Doctor of Nurse Practice is trained in practice-based clinical applications of nursing, and may find employment in clinical, educational, and research settings. Completing a Doctor of Nurse Practice can take up to six years of study, and focuses specifically on areas such as leadership, data analysis, and advanced clinical skills. Factors that can impact a Doctor of Nursing Practice’s salary include geographic location, type of employment, and area of employment. It’s estimated that average salaries for Doctors of Nursing Practice with 10 years of experience will earn about $108,387 annually, according to PayScale.

4. Family Nurse Practitioner

Family nurse practitioners are a subset of advanced practice nurses who can work either collectively with other physicians and healthcare professionals, or autonomously to deliver family-driven care. Family nurse practitioners may provide routine health screenings and checkups to health promotion and disease prevention. Family nurse practitioners may work in health clinics, private practices, or hospitals and may even take on the role of hospital administration. Family nurse practitioners earned an average salary of $104,610 in 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

5. Health Policy Nurse

Health policy nurses are among the unsung heroes in the nursing profession. Unlike nurses working in an emergency room or physician’s office, you may not see a health policy nurse as frequently as others in the nursing field. Health policy nurses are typically employed by research firms, and in governmental and administrative offices at local, state, and federal levels. Some may even be appointed by elected officials or hold an elected office of their own. These nurses work to create public health policies that impact their entire area of constituents. While the specifics that the salaries of health policy nurses vary greatly, Nurse Journal estimates that these nurses earn an average salary of $95,000 annually.

6. Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Like the family nurse practitioners, mental health nurse practitioners are able to work in a wide variety of clinical and hospital settings, but focus their expertise on the treatment and care of patients suffering from depression, anxiety, and other forms of mental disorders. This may come in the form of prescribing psycho-pharmacological medications to treat their symptoms, and working collaboratively with psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and social workers on treatment teams. Mental health nurse practitioners are estimated to make about $97,800 annually.

7. Neonatal Nurses

Neonatal nursing is a specialty of nursing dedicated to working with newborn infants. In many cases, these nurses encounter numerous issues including premature births, low birth weight, infections, birth defects and malformations to name a few, according to the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Neonatal nurses provide care for these infants in both short-term, and long-term situations on an as needed bases, up to about two years of age for severe cases. Neonatal nurses may also pursue further education and earn the title of a neonatal nurse practitioner. Neonatal nurses earn an average of $59,116 a year, while neonatal nurse practitioners earn an average of $94,616 annually, according to PayScale.

8. Nurse Anesthetist

Certified registered nurse anesthetists are trained in advanced practice methods to deliver anesthetics to patients in preparation for surgeries and other medical procedures. Certified registered nurse anesthetics practice in almost every setting, and are the main providers of anesthesia in rural hospitals and for the U.S. Armed Services. These nurses may be employed by hospitals or clinics, or offer their services on an as-needed basis, giving them autonomy over where and how they will practice. The mean annual wage for certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2016 was $164,030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

9. Nurse Executives

Nurse executives work within management and administrative areas of hospitals and clinics to shape the role and practice of nursing practice, according to Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow. These nurses are dedicated to fostering relationships with their staff and patients, and promote policy change and innovation when needed. Nurse executives may see leadership roles in all areas of hospital administration and it is estimated that nurse executives earn an average of $124,000 annually.

10. Nurse Researcher

Research drives the medical and scientific communities. Without continued, meaningful research, these fields would become stagnant. Nurse researchers strive to create, design, and publish research studies with the goal of evaluating and improving the nursing profession, according to Nurse Journal. This research is used by hospital administration and policy makers to create, change, and enforce best-practices within the field. While the salary for nurse researchers is determined by a number of factors, these nurses are estimated to earn approximately $67,930 on average each year.

The nursing field offers numerous masters and graduate level opportunities for nurses to use to expand upon their knowledge and skill set. For many nurses, pursuing a Master’s in Nursing is a clear and concise way to advance their career and further their passion for helping others.