better to get masters in clinical area or management?

JasonL · Dec 29, 2004

Is it better to get your masters in clinical area or management, if you want to work in research?

If you want to do research I'd say to pursue a clinically-based MS. Of course, the current position of the ANA is that Master's-prepared RNs are primarily consumers of research. If you really want to get into research a Ph.D. is the way to go.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 29, 2004

It depends on what field of nursing you want to do research in. If you are interested in doing research about phyisical conditions, diseases, nursing interventions for people with certain nursing problems ... then getting a clinical master's makes more sense. If you want to do research related to management issues, nursing careers, health care policy, etc., then a master's in management is the way to go.

In order to do research, it helps to have expertise in the area you are going to study. So, it's usually to your advantage to get your master's in the area you want to study.

It also might help you to decide if you think about the qualifications you will need for the jobs you will be applying for? Look at job postings, position descriptions, etc. of the types of jobs that you are aiming for in your community. What do those employers prefer?

Finally, as the previous poster said ... If you want to be a principle investigator for your own larger-scale nursing studies, you will probably need a PhD. With a Master's Degree, you are more likely to serve as a co-investigator or assistant on someone else's project..... Or ... you can get a job as CNS, educator, manager, etc. and do smaller studies of your own as part of a larger job.

llg

t2000JC · Dec 29, 2004

Thanks...I am actually looking into a masters of public health now, it seems versatile enough for me yet interesting too. t.