Graduating with MSN

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Graduating,

Congratulations! Your MSN qualifies you for many roles and opens many doors. Holding an advanced degree definitely adds credibility and confers expertise. There's management, nursing professional development, academic roles as a nursing professor, and more. Nursing professional development specialists work in acute care as educators.

But it can take time to find the right job. One nurse I precepted through her MSN program believed she'd easily get any high-level job she applied for as soon as she graduated. It doesn't work quite like that, as advancing in your career is a function of experience, credentials, and opportunity.

For example, if you've served as Charge Nurse and now have a master's degree in Leadership, you now have both the experience and credentials to apply for manager. If you've been a manager, you could apply for Director.

What is your previous experience, and what are your interests? Activate your network and let them know you are looking for a job in your identified field, and start searching job boards for opportunities. All things being equal, having your master's degree will make you more competitive.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I will add that if you are thinking of academic education positions, you are unlikely to qualify as most require significant course work in Nursing Education which most L&M programs do not contain. If you are truly interested in education, a post-master's Education certificate is what you'll need. 

[londonflo]

31 minutes ago, meanmaryjean said:

most require significant course work in Nursing Education which most L&M programs do not contain

I have to agree with this. We have seen many MSN faculty hired who don't meet tenure. Our college expects you to understand different methods of teaching, be able to conduct clinical practicums, evaluate students performance and be able to participate in program evaluation. While you will not be an expert  we do expect recognition of the processes in evaluating a curriculum.  In a meeting, I have had new faculty turn to me and say "I don't understand anything said here." Trying to acquaint a new faculty when they are developing their lectures and clinicals is a nightmare. They are overloaded as it is...just creates a mountain of stress on the faculty member.

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

It is interesting- I have a colleague who graduated with her Masters in Education but wasn't taught how to write objectives