What is an MSN Degree?

What is an MSN Degree?

What is an MSN degree, and how useful is it for professional nurses? A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is the master’s-level postgraduate degree in nursing. Nurses who pursue an MSN degree will already have completed their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and will often already have practiced as an RN.

Types of MSN Degrees

What is an MSN in nursing? While an MSN program is the only master’s-level degree in nursing, there are many different program specialty tracks that are offered. These tracks allow nurses to specialize in different leadership areas of nursing, including advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). They also provide education that is specific to a certain nursing career path.

Some of the specialty tracks offered with an MSN degree include:

• Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

• Family Nurse Practitioner

• Healthcare Policy

• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

• Nurse Educator

• Nurse Executive

• Nursing Informatics

• Population Health

• Clinical Nursing Leadership, with the accelerated RN-MSN option

If you’re unsure of which specialty track is right for you, you can partner with our admissions team to discuss your career goals.

Options With an MSN Degree

Nurses that pursue an MSN degree normally do so because of the variety of specialty *options that this degree offers. An MSN degree is a pathway to leadership areas in nursing and can give nurses the opportunity to pursue advanced practice nurse credentials. The expanded scope of practice can include ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing medications, and providing treatments that are not otherwise in the scope of an RN.
 There are several other paths to choose from when pursuing this degree . These include leadership, research, and other areas outside of bedside nursing.

The MSN degree program prepares nurses to serve at one of the highest levels of nursing and enables them to help develop new roles or serve in niche healthcare roles that RNs who have only completed their baccalaureate education would not be suited for.

Master’s in Nursing Requirements

The MSN requirements for entry vary depending on the MSN program. Chamberlain’s MSN requirements include:

• A degree in nursing at the bachelor’s level or higher from an institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

• A minimum undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree

• Current, active, unrestricted RN license in the U.S. or in a jurisdiction that is an associate member of the NCSBN. Before entering any clinical/practicum courses, students must provide proof of current, active, unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state where the student will conduct the clinical(s). Students who fail to maintain an active, unrestricted license throughout their clinical/practicum course do not meet the clinical/practicum requirements and cannot progress. Students are expected to maintain RN licensure throughout the entire program of study as a professional best-practice.

Our admissions representatives are available to answer your questions about admission requirements for graduate nursing programs and walk you through the application process.

MSN Opportunities with Chamberlain

Chamberlain has been providing high-quality nursing education for over a century and offers top-tier nursing programs. We offer online and accelerated MSN options with schedules for RNs who want to further their education while continuing to practice as a nurse. We invite you to explore our MSN degree options and to contact our team with any questions on how to earn a master’s in nursing.

Want to know more? We’re here to help. Request more information now.

By Bria Wright