Types of Master’s in Nursing (MSN) Degrees and Specializations
Many registered nurses choose to further their education and pursue Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees. There are two main types of MSN degrees. The first are advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) master’s degrees, which prepare nurses for advanced clinical roles. The others are non-APRN master’s degrees, which prepare nurses for non-clinical roles, such as education, administration, research, informatics, and more.
APRN Master’s Degrees in Nursing
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
A nurse practitioner provides advanced care to different patient populations in a variety of healthcare settings. They are considered medical providers and can independently assess, diagnose, and prescribe treatments and medications. The specific scope of practice guidelines and physician oversight requirements vary by state.
There are several different NP specialties to choose from when applying to an MSN program, including:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP or A-GPCNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GACNP)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
- Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP)
Obtaining an MSN with an NP focus usually takes around 3 years, depending on the program and the nursing degree you start with. Most programs require at least one year of bedside nursing experience, ideally in the same specialty you wish to practice as an NP. After graduation, students must pass either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) exam or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) exam in their respective specialty in order to become licensed to practice as an NP.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
A certified registered nurse anesthetist provides anesthesia during certain procedures and during surgery. They also monitor the patient closely while under anesthesia and while recovering. The specific scope of practice and physician oversight requirements vary by state and employer.
Obtaining an MSN with a CRNA focus usually takes around 3 years, depending on the program and the nursing degree you start with. Most programs require at least one year of critical care experience prior to application. After graduation, students must pass the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) exam in order to become licensed to practice as a CRNA.
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
A certified nurse-midwife specializes in family planning, labor, delivery, and newborn care. They provide prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal care to women and their partners, usually in hospitals, birthing centers, clinics, or at home. Their specific scope of practice guidelines and physician oversight requirements vary by state.
An MSN with a nurse-midwifery track usually takes around three years to complete. Most programs highly prefer, or even require, candidates to have labor and delivery experience. After graduation, students must pass the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) exam in order to become licensed to practice as a CNM.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
A clinical nurse specialist is a unique type of APRN. They typically have a certification in a nursing specialty and are responsible for assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients. However, CNSs can also work as educators, researchers, and managers. The scope of practice for a CNS varies by state.
CNSs usually choose their specialty area based on one of the following criteria:
- Setting (such as emergency department, long-term care, specialty clinic)
- Disease (such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease)
- Population (such as children, women, adults)
- Type of problem (such as stress, pain, wounds)
- Type of care (such as rehabilitation, hospice, psychiatric)
An MSN with a CNS concentration takes around 3 years to complete. After graduation, students must take a certification exam in their specialty. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) both certify CNSs on the national level.
Non-APRN Master’s Degrees in Nursing
Nursing Education
A nurse educator is a registered nurse who provides didactic, laboratory, and/or clinical instruction to students in a nursing program. Nurse educators can also work in the hospital setting as clinical educators. In this capacity, they are responsible for coordinating continuing education and learning opportunities for staff nurses.
An MSN with a nursing education emphasis usually takes between 2-3 years to complete. Students are not required to take any additional certification examinations upon graduation in order to work as an educator. However, after gaining experience as a nurse educator, students may wish to pursue the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certification offered by the National League of Nursing (NLN).
Nursing Informatics
A nurse informaticist functions as the bridge between clinical practice and information technology (IT). Nurse informaticists analyze and interpret healthcare data in order to improve patient and clinician experiences and outcomes. They often work to improve electronic medical records and other technology systems used in the healthcare setting.
An MSN with a nursing informatics concentration typically takes between 2-3 years to complete. After graduation, students are not required to take any additional certification examinations in order to work as a nurse informaticist. However, they may wish to pursue certification offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) after obtaining practice hours in nursing informatics.
Nursing Administration
A nurse administrator works in a leadership capacity in a hospital or other healthcare facility. They may function under other titles, such as a director of nursing, a chief nursing officer (CNO), or a nursing manager. Nurse administrators are often responsible for the operational business aspects of the facility or unit, including budgeting and legal compliance. They also interview potential employees, conduct staff performance evaluations, and advocate for facility and staff needs with system-wide executives.
An MSN with a nursing administration focus usually takes between 2-3 years to complete. Students are not required to take any additional certification exams in order to work as a nurse administrator. However, there are a few different certifications available for those who are interested in pursuing them, including:
- Nurse Executive (from the ANCC)
- Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (from the American Organization of Nursing Leadership (AONL)
- Certified Executive Nursing Practice (from the AONL)
Public Health
A public health nurse focuses specifically on improving the health of a community or population. Public health nurses utilize epidemiology, data analysis, and their clinical knowledge to promote the health and safety of the community. They are often responsible for assessing the needs of a specific population and creating health promotion programs. Public health nurses often work for local health departments, hospitals, and government facilities.
An MSN with a public health focus typically takes between 2-3 years to complete. After graduation, students are not required to take any additional certification exams in order to work as a public health nurse. However, a certification in public health (CPH) is available from the National Board of Public Health Examiners, should the student wish to pursue it.
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
A clinical nurse leader is a relatively new nursing specialty that focuses on improving the quality of care and safety within the healthcare setting through evidence-based change. CNLs are responsible for collaborating with the multi-disciplinary team to analyze data and advocate for patient outcome improvement.
An MSN with a CNL concentration takes between 2-3 years to complete. CNL certification from the AACN is highly encouraged after graduation.
Dual Master’s Degrees
MSN/MBA
The MSN/MBA track is a type of dual master’s program where you can earn both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Master of Business Administration within the same program. This path is ideal for registered nurses who wish to combine nursing with business in some way, such as becoming an entrepreneur. An MBA has a broader business curriculum as opposed to a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), which is healthcare-specific.
MSN/MPH
The MSN/MPH track is a type of dual master’s program where you can earn both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Master of Public Health within the same program. This path is great for registered nurses who want to focus their careers on the public health sector, including dedicating themselves to health promotion strategies and epidemiology.
MSN/MHA
The MSN/MHA track is a type of dual master’s program where you can earn both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Master of Healthcare Administration within the same program. This path is suitable for registered nurses who wish to pursue a future in healthcare administration, including becoming a hospital executive or chief nursing officer (CNO).
