Master's in Nursing???

[RNsharkinaj]

I would like to find out from other fellow nurses if getting a master's degree is worth it? Online would be the route I would likely have to go being my family situation. How much do most cost, and for those who have done it, how is the school work, and have you felt the degree was well worth it, please let me know............

[llg, PhD, RN]

Only you can answer that question. How much value do you place on the additional opportunities that become available to you with a Master's Degree?

The finanical compensation with a Master's Degree may or may not be better than that of a staff nurse. That depends on what career path you follow. For example, if you become a top administrator, the pay is a lot higher than if you become an undergraduate clinical instructor. The amount of compensation varies greatly, depending on the type of job you have. Some jobs requiring graduate degrees pay very well: others do not.

You can make a lot of money as a staff nurse, working overtime, off-shifts, etc. If you like doing that, you can often make as much or more money than someone with a graduate degree. However, the person with the graduate degree may have a work schedule that suits your long-term goals better. Some people don't have to work weekends, nights, holidays, etc. Some people don't have to be on their feet much, do heavy lifting, get yelled at by patients or physician's, etc. For some people, the quality of the worklife is valued more than the money -- and a Master's Degree qualifies you for some jobs that might give you a work environment that you prefer. How much is that worth to you? Only you can say.