Master's Degree In Nursing

Healthcare systems and the way safe, quality health care is delivered are continually changing to better serve patients and communities. Professional nursing practice is a large component in the healthcare system today. Back in the 1960s, professional nursing leaders tried to adopt the bachelor degree programs as the only educational track to become a registered nurse (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). Due to nursing shortages and demands this motive did not hold fast. Individuals entering the nursing profession today must first decide which educational pathway to take to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

The Baccalaureate Essentials are educational tools that are utilized to prepare the graduating Baccalaureate Generalist nurse to practice at the professional level delivering safe, top-quality, competent care to an ever-changing diverse patient population. “Baccalaureate-prepared nurses provide patient-centered care that identifies, respects, and addresses patients’ differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs” (AACN, 2008). The Essentials expand on previous learned skills and knowledge of sciences and humanities to promote enhanced communication, critical thinking/reasoning and encourage the continuation of life-long learning.

What is the benefits master’s-prepared nurse in health care are the specialized fields such as Care Management, informatics, and Nurse Practitioner. These areas effectively improve patient care outcomes

With an ever-increasing body of knowledge in the field of nursing, more education is being required to enter the field of nursing. Many healthcare institutions are raising the educational requirements in order to become employed or maintain employment in their facilities. Healthcare organizations are transitioning to hiring registered nurses (RN) who have a higher level of education, such as, a graduate from a Baccalaureate Degree Nursing (BSN) program. The goal of these institutions is to have nurses with a broader array of skills that can meet the growing demands of our patient population. BSN prepared nurses are recognized for their well-rounded skills in critical thinking, management, case management and health promotion versus Associate Degree nurses (ADN)/Diploma nurses that focus on direct patient care.

The purpose of doing an interview with a Mastered prepared Nurse here is to look for new awareness about a role, much desired by the interviewer and increase insight into the relationship between career path, education and opportunities. The goal is to recognize the interviewer’s current view of the MSN role with that someone presently occupied in that role, and develop a new apprehension. In a face to face interview, we discussed the personal experience, educational preparation and achievements. B.G describes her journey from BSN through master’s degree in Education and post master’s degree in FNP. Getting real role information will aid the interviewer to gain an insight in to the career advancement and is an eye opener to the new opportunities lies ahead of a Master’s prepared Nurse.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2011).  The essentials of Master’s Education for Advance Practice Nursing. Retrieved July 09. 2015.

Some of the dilemmas associated with today’s nursing force are: Many are under-educated and task-oriented, unaware of their patient’s plan of care, medical histories, or pertinent results. Too many rely on clinical coordinators and team leaders, when it comes to critical thinking, therefore, miss out on the vital fundamentals, which make nursing such an honorable profession (Grietens, 2007, p. 10). In order to create a stronger, more knowledgeable nursing workforce, entry-level requirements for RNs, as well as APRNs, need to be uniform. In addition, research shows bachelors and masters prepared nurses, result in better patient outcomes. An example of a proposed solution includes:

Nurses must achieve a higher level of education in order to meet the demands of evolving health care and the changing needs of patients (Rosseter, 2012). Nurses will need to be prepared for a broader scope of practice and to maintain quality within the health care setting. Associate degrees are still valuable tools when used as stepping stones to baccalaureate programs and performing the technical aspects of nursing. BSN-educated nurses are equipped with a more diverse skill set that assists them in leading and reacting appropriately in critical situations. In addition, they have the opportunity to pursue advanced practices. Baccalaureate programs can help develop a good or adequate associate degree nurse, into an outstanding nurse.

Due to the demands of an evolving health care system and an emphasis in health and wellness, Master’s prepared nurses are in demand. What does a Master’s prepared nurse entails? According to the American Association College of Nursing, Master’s prepared nurses obtain a higher level of learning as well as key competencies and skills. The ultimate goal is to achieve positive patient outcomes resulting in an overall improved health care system. The purpose of this paper is to provide insight on a Master’s prepared nurse conducted through an interview. My interviewee has obtained an MSN

To reflect on the recommendation by the IOM and the consensus by American Association of Colleges of Nursing (ANCN) to elevate the educational level for the advanced practice nurses to increase patient healthcare quality, safety, and positive health outcomes are the DNP essentials with healthcare policy and competencies that are relevant to advocacy (Melnyk, 2013). According to Potempa (2011), the DNP essentials are relevant to DNP graduates, as well as the DNP students to be prepared to involve proactively in the healthcare policy preparations and implementation in all system levels. In addition, it prepares the DNP nurses to lead and provide a critical boundary between the research, policy, and practice (Melnyk, B. M. (2013). Therefore, the

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) published several recommendations on how best to meet the challenges of an rising patient population while the number of available nurses decreases Among these are to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80% by 2020, double the number of nurses with a doctorate by 2020, and ensure that nurses engage in lifelong learning (IOM Report, 2011). This paper will identify how I see myself coinciding with these suggestions, and will point out how heightening my education will help me complete in the current job market and how it will affect my role in the future of nursing.

I believe that higher education in nursing, in terms of obtaining a bachelor’s degree or higher, does have a positive effect on patient care. I think that an advanced degree would provide nurses with added communication skills that could be used to facilitate more effective work interactions and thereby increasing patient safety. Another benefit of an advanced degree could also be learning additional critical thinking techniques that could help nurses anticipate and plan for the needs of their patients earlier, as well as improving their ability to make appropriate diagnoses.

“Throughout the last decade, policymakers and practice leaders have recognized that education makes a difference” (Impact of Education, n.d.). Hospitals are also trending towards preferred hiring of bachelors prepared nurses for their workforce. Even national organizations are jumping on the bandwagon requiring “all nurse managers and nurse leaders to hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing by 2013” (Impact of Education, n.d.), likewise the Institute of Medicine has also recommended that all hospitals have at least 80% of their nursing staff with a BSN or higher by the year 2020 (Impact of Education, n.d.).

Although, obtaining a bachelor’s degree is more time consuming, and more expensive; it also leads to greater opportunities, job advancement, better paying jobs, and the ability to obtain an entry level management position ("Different Paths to Becoming a Nurse," 2015).

I am striving to achieve professionalism and growth in roles and values while going through the bachelor’s degree in nursing program. I plan on taking each class one at a time, try to do my best, and gain the knowledge needed to grow in the nursing profession. By October 2010, I should obtain my bachelor’s degree in nursing, which will provide new opportunities, such as management, and educator positions. A bachelor’s degree in nursing will provide the opportunity to further my education to a master’s degree level.