TWU: Advanced degrees in nursing enhance opportunities
In any profession, education matters. And while an undergraduate degree may get your foot in the door, an advanced degree can kick it wide open.
For nurses, earning a master’s degree or Ph.D. creates many advantages, including the possibility of specialization, management opportunities, increased autonomy, a greater role on the health care team and the potential for more pay.
“A nurse can have a lifelong, fulfilling career as an RN who possesses a baccalaureate degree, but moving to the next level opens up more opportunities for nurses that they may not even realize are available until they start down that path,” said Ainslie Nibert, RN, Ph.D., FAAN and associate dean of Texas Woman’s University’s Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing in Houston.
For Kimberly Landrum, MS, RN, a TWU doctoral candidate and Jonas Scholar for Veteran Healthcare, the decision to go back for a higher degree has broadened her nursing goals.
“I decided to pursue an advanced degree because I wanted to be a part of teaching the next generation of nurses. Along the way, I have learned to advocate for better health outcomes for marginalized populations and promote the role of nursing toward those outcomes,” Landrum said.
According to Nibert, there are a number of specialized advanced degree programs available that help harness a nurse’s need to help others, including underserved populations.
“Our students are seeking master’s degrees in nursing health systems management, nursing education and as adult/gerontology acute care, family and adult/gerontology nurse practitioner roles,” Nibert said. “One of things we do exceptionally well here is work with our graduate students to motivate them to consider moving into doctoral degree programs including the DNP or Ph.D., which best fit their goals of refining their clinical expertise or research skills.”