Ideas for a non-nursing Master's Degree?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello All,

Not sure if I am posting in the right area but I was wondering if anybody has some suggestions for Master's Degrees aside from the MSN that go well with BSN RN. I want to get a Master's but want some more options other than an MSN. Wondering how much I can expand the career with a Master's Degree that marries well with a BSN. Thanks so much!!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 5,115 Posts

If you want to go on in nursing in some capacity you will find that a non-nursing master's will not be as valuable as an MN. You can take the MN and take other courses along with it to make yourself more marketable, though-- nursing informatics, education/curriculum design, law and medicine, management/budgeting, music therapy, genetic counseling, case management ... you pick 'em.

If you don't want to stay in nursing, take anything you like.

Most people do it the other way around, you know. They say, "Gee, I'd really like to learn more about X so I can do Y." They don't say, "Gee, I'd like a master's degree. I wonder in what and what to do with one?" HInt: when you go to interview for admission into a master's program, they're gonna ask you why you want one. Have an answer ready. :)

elkpark

14,633 Posts

I agree with GrnTea. Unless you want to use a Master's to get out of nursing, get an MSN. I also agree with the suggestion that you figure out first what you want to do with your career; once you've done that, it will be fairly straightforward to figure out what degree (or other education, certification, etc.) you need to get you where you want to go.

dishes, BSN, RN

3,950 Posts

Some non-nursing Masters degrees that can be a go well with a BSN RN are; Health Informatics, Business, Ethics, Law, Education, Public Health and Social Policy, Rehabilitation, and Library Sciences.

Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.

Have you thought of Medical Sociology? I chose this for a masters. I loved it and found I could apply it to health care, while at the same time it give me a lot of other things to think of that weren't related to work. This balance really broadened my outlook and 14 years later I have never regretted taking this option over a masters in nursing.

Ride19

3 Posts

GrnTea, ElkPark, dishes and DavidFR: thanks so much for your replies! Great suggestions. Dishes and DavidFR: I really love the ideas of Health Informatics or Medical Sociology! It's these types of other paths I was curious about and will definitely look into them and explore options!!! Thanks again! :-)

Ride19

3 Posts

And I'll also research Public Health as well! Thanks again!!

Have to agree with grntea as well. I guess you have to ask yourself why you want the Master's.

Do you like nursing?

If you do, then, what do you like in nursing? If you don't, then if you were not a nurse, what would you do?

Do you feel like you need a Master's? If so, why?

In the purpose statement, they do ask you why you want to get your Master's in that certain degree.

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