advanced degrees, its it making it harder to find a job.

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Specializes in ER.

recently I've completed my graduate education and will soon be awarded a masters degree in nursing the focus being on nursing administration, I'm currently looking for a full time position so that I can use the degree I worked so hard to get. After having applied to nearly two dozen locations or rather positions I still have been unable to find a position. So my question is if you are a staff nurse and you have obtained your advanced degree...is it making you less employable? Since I lack leadership experence and teaching experence no one wants to hire, everyone wants experenced folks...suggestions?

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

I’m sorry to hear that you’re going through this. I tell most everyone on the board who thinks about pursuing a graduate degree right after earning a BSN or those in direct entry MSN programs that although they have an earned MSN, they lack the required experience. Are you currently working at a facility? If so, are you running charge? Are you on any committees? If not, start. Generally, nurse manager positions require the candidates to demonstrate holding progressive positions of responsibility. Long Term Care facilities are requiring DON’s to have experience. Perhaps you can search at smaller hospital systems/facilities in order to get a foot in. I don’t think working as a floor nurse with an MSN will affect you. There are several already doing so.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Yes, sad but true fact in healthcare & other 'hands on' professions. Although an advanced degree or specialty certification may be "necessary", but not sufficient; you MUST have expertise (experience + superior competence) in order to advance into higher level positions. Just to make it even more difficult. . if the higher level position has a non-nursing focus (e.g., education, utilization and review, performance improvement, etc.) most jobs require expertise in that area as well because most organizations don't want newbies in these jobs. Many of the nurse executives I work with have MSNs in a clinical specialty (Clin spec, NP or CRNA)... admin was not their original goal.

Parker is absolutely right. If one of these jobs is your goal, start climbing that 'experience' ladder any way that you can.

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