What can you do with a Master's in Healthcare Management?

[curioustwo]

How much do these nurses make and what can you do with it? I am also wondering why people go into it? When I first started nursing it seems like not much was required to be a nurse manager on a unit -- maybe just a BSN, but now things have changed and Master programs have become a minimum requirement in some hospitals - not to mention the program itself seems to be a bit lengthier then when I last looked at it. I am beginning to wonder if Master degrees are a dime a dozen.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Good question. The trend is for requiring higher levels of education for many nursing positions -- particularly for anything in a advanced role or leadership role. The new Magnet criteria require a BSN for all department managers and Master's Degress (not necessarily in nursing) for CNO's. So, while I wouldn't say they are "a dime a dozen" yet, anyone interested in upward mobility is going to at least be thinking about getting a Master's.

The pay-off for graduate education is not always in dollars. Not all positions pay significantly more than a nurse can earn with a BSN by working off shifts, a few extra shifts, etc. The pay-off often comes in jobs that offer a little more autonomy, have slightly better working conditions, etc. (Note that I said "a little" and "slightly more". Life is not perfect in those advanced roles, either.

[curioustwo]

llg: thanks for your post. does anyone else have any insights into this?

i guess i am wondering what most people's goals are that intend to go for this degree. is it to be a nurse manager of a nursing unit? how far can the degree take you?