Is it Easier To Find a Job With Your MSN?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU, Surgical, LTAC.

I will soon be enrolling in an MSN program and I am just wondering for those of you who have or recently got your MSN, has it improved your job opportunities? If you were working prior to getting your MSN were you able to get promoted to an administrative role? Were you able to get into management with no problem? If you are an advanced practice nurse were you able to go into your specialty right away? I know that new grads in general have a hard time getting their first nursing job, but I am just wondering for those of you who got your MSN to either get promoted or go into advanced practice nursing or teaching, if you had a hard time getting the job you wanted. I am not sure how the demand for MSNs corresponds with how many nurses out there have their MSN. I would hate to spend more years and money to end up working as the same staff nurse I was before i advanced my education.

Thanks for your input!

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Specializes in ER OR LTC Code Blue Trauma Dog.

The reality behind promotional opportunities hasn't changed much over the years and I recall it goes something like this:

"It's not what you know, it's who you know."

Promotional doors of opportunity will not automatically swing open in front of you because of your level of education alone.

Yes your MSN education is important, but no it's not the final conclusion because there's also a real world reality component involving people who are responsible for appointing these promotional position opportunities in this equation.

Hope that helps.

My Best.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

The degree makes you eligible for jobs you would not otherwise be eligible to accept. However, what is available depends on your own interests and the local market. The staff nurses in our hospital who have MSN do not earn more because of their degree, but because they were eligible to become clinical educators or managers.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Having an MSN gives you an ADVANTAGE over those without...

however...

no clinical hours behind that MSN will not make you very marketable...

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU, Surgical, LTAC.

By the time I finish my msn I will have 5 yrs experience as a staff nurse. Now whether I am able to work my way up to charge nurse or some other leadership role is still unknown. I am wondering if I should change my specialty to education instead of Administration. Is there less politics involved in being able to obtain a position as a nurse educated in a hospital? Or I could be eligable to teach an adn program also right?

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Specializes in ER, ARNP, MSN, FNP-BC.

First of all, you would need to choose a track for your MSN. Are you going into nurse educator, leadership, nurse practitioner (family, adult, pediatric)? It will certainly help your opportunities if you narrow down your MSN to a targeted skill set.

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU, Surgical, LTAC.

i did chooae a track. I chose nursing administration. However i am just looking for general feedback from those who have their MSN in ANY specialty and whether or not they were able to obtain the job they wanted in their specialty fairly easily. I am interested in both administration and education but if i am unable to find a job in those specialties when i graduate then i will most likely add on a post master's certificate either in FNP or CNS. all i know is i don't want to do bedside nursing forever so i would like to advance my education early so that I am able to do a higher level nursing job later. those of you that have given feedback do you have your MSN? if so what specialty and what has been your PERSONAL experience with obtaining a job in you field of choice? this is the sort of feedback i'm looking for please.

Thanks in advance, and thanks to everyone that has responded thus far.

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Specializes in ER, ARNP, MSN, FNP-BC.

I am finishing my MSN / FNP in May. I have job offers as a hospitalist in the hospital I work, an NP position in the ER I work in, and an offer to work in private practice with my personal primary care doc. There are lots of opportunities for MSN in administration. Don't forget to check with places such as the VA and other government service jobs. Look on USAjobs.com. If you ever thought of a career in the military, the Air Force would LOVE to have someone with your education and training :)

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU, Surgical, LTAC.

llltap, wow i didn't realize that NPs were able to be hospitalists. I know there is a huge demand for hospitalists. I'll have to keep that in mind.

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