MSN vs. RN: Why Earn an Advanced Degree?
Written by:
University of Tulsa
• Jul 30, 2024
MSN vs. RN: Why Earn an Advanced Degree?
There are many reasons to get into the nursing profession. Some want to help people, some enjoy the fast-paced environment of health care delivery, and others want to pursue a career with stability and solid growth. Nursing can lead to many rewarding careers, and there are many different specializations and positions to pursue. It’s important for prospective and current registered nurses (RNs) to understand the available options for advancement and focusing your career path.
One of the ways RNs can advance their careers is through an advanced education, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. Nurses and nursing students can benefit from knowing the distinctions between the MSN vs. RN designations. Both of these credentials are worth considering, for general learning as well as for career advancement, yet their specific benefits vary in several important ways. Take a few moments to understand the nuances of nurse education and credentialing.
What Is an RN?
An RN is a nursing professional who works in the medical industry, has completed an accredited nursing program, and achieved licensure in the state where they practice. Becoming an RN certifies that a person has the training and knowledge required to be part of a patient’s medical team, assisting physicians while ensuring that the patient is comfortable and safe. RNs are tasked with administering care to patients based on their personalized treatment plans.
Becoming an RN
Importantly, RN doesn’t refer to a specific type of nursing degree, but rather a professional licensing designation, denoting that a nurse is approved by their state nursing board to perform basic nursing tasks.
Achieving this designation does require the completion of an undergraduate nursing degree or certificate. In some cases, this might mean earning a two-year Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) or a certificate from an approved nursing program, though many nurses obtain a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) . A BSN degree usually provides a combination of clinical training with coursework in health sciences, anatomy, social sciences, and liberal arts.
Upon completion of a program, an aspiring nurse may sit for the nurse licensure exam, which the state nursing board administers. This exam is known as the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and it includes questions pertaining to clinical care, nurse ethics, and legal compliance. Passing this exam certifies the nurse to practice legally within their state.
RN Job Description
Becoming certified as an RN can lead to working as a nurse within various settings, including local hospitals, community clinics, private practices, and even schools. The duties and responsibilities associated with RN positions vary, but typical job responsibilities include the following:
-
Talking with patients about their concerns, and then conducting physical assessments
-
Performing and interpreting diagnostic tests to better ascertain patient conditions
-
Consulting with other members of the patient care team, including doctors, about changes in the patient’s condition
-
Monitoring and recording vital signs
-
Counseling patients and their family members about diagnoses and treatment options
-
Maintaining safe, secure, private patient records in digital ecosystems
-
Educating patients about disease prevention and about healthy lifestyle choices
What Is an MSN?
An MSN is an advanced degree within the nursing profession. Generally speaking, an MSN builds on the foundation laid by the BSN degree, equipping nurses with additional knowledge and skills they can use to care for patients and further their own careers. While it is not a professional license like an RN, an MSN can be a useful tool for nurses who want to increase their knowledge and leadership skills and qualify for certain positions.
MSN Requirements
Compared with BSN programs, MSN programs usually have more rigorous admissions standards. Typically, entering an MSN program requires the student to have an RN and either a BSN or a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field. Additionally, MSN students are usually expected to have a certain number of years of clinical experience, meaning work as a nurse in a patient care setting. The exact requirements for nursing experience can vary from one program to the next.
MSN Careers
A notable reason to pursue an MSN is that it opens the door to numerous career possibilities beyond RN work. Earning an MSN makes it possible to pursue licensure for an advanced practice nursing position, such as chief officer, director, or administrator. These roles allow for greater autonomy in diagnosing and treating patients; in a majority of states, advanced practice nurses can legally prescribe medications.
More broadly, obtaining an MSN can be a meaningful stepping stone for those who work in the nursing profession but desire to become nurse leaders or nurse educators, or to pursue specialties in fields such as women’s health, psychiatric care, or anesthesia.
How Long Does It Take to Complete an MSN?
While completion of a BSN usually takes around four years, an MSN usually takes an additional two years. Some universities offer an RN to MSN pathway that makes it possible for RNs to earn an advanced degree in a shorter time frame.
MSN vs. RN: Clarifying the Distinctions
While the RN and MSN distinctions are meaningful ways of expressing a nurse’s level of training and credentialing, the two differ in many important respects.
Licensure vs. Degree
To begin with, an RN denotes the achievement of a professional license, equipping the licensee to practice nursing. It’s not a type of degree, though it does require the completion of an undergraduate degree or a certificate program in the nursing field.
By contrast, an MSN is a type of degree. It provides the educational bona fides for many advanced nursing roles, but it doesn’t in itself confer licensing or permit the degree holder to legally practice in a nursing profession.
Career Possibilities
Those who hold a basic nursing license may work as RNs at local hospitals, clinics, schools, or private practices. However, RNs may not be eligible for certain roles, such as many in nurse education or leadership, until they secure an advanced degree. The same holds true for advanced practice nursing roles.
By contrast, earning an MSN can provide a nurse with the educational background needed to pursue advanced practice nursing roles.
Consider some of the roles that BSN-educated RNs can pursue:
-
Charge nurse
-
Nurse case manager
-
Unit manager
-
Hospice nurse
By contrast, MSN graduates may pursue the following roles:
-
Medical Director, Community Health
-
Chief Nursing Officer
-
Chief Nursing Informatics Officer
-
Nursing Curriculum Developer
MSN vs. RN: Why Pursue an Advanced Degree?
Earning an MSN can yield many advantages. Consider some of the top reasons for nurses to earn an advanced nursing degree.
Increased Salary
Higher salary potential is one of the reasons students may choose an advanced degree. Generally speaking, the roles that MSN graduates are able to pursue yield higher salaries than those of an RN. This is because MSN nurses typically possess a higher level of specialization, medical expertise, and patient care experience.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for RNs was $86,070 in 2023. Many factors affect the salary, including years of experience as well as geographic location.
The BLS reports that the median annual salary for advanced practice nursing roles (including MSN-level positions, such as nurse midwife and nurse anesthetist) was $129,480 in 2023.
Potential for Better Hours and Working Conditions
While working as an RN can be immensely rewarding, it can also be physically rigorous and demanding. Shift nurses may need to work at odd hours, including night shifts, and their work frequently has them on their feet for long stretches.
By contrast, many advanced practice nursing roles offer the option to work regular hours and in positions that allow some time spent at a desk. While this isn’t true for all APRNs, earning an MSN can open up a more flexible range of options.
Opportunities to Specialize
For nurses who wish to focus their practice on a particular type of care, earning an MSN may present a valuable opportunity to specialize.
To be sure, RNs often devote their careers to particular units or nursing fields, such as the emergency room or postnatal care. However, earning an MSN allows nurses to develop their clinical specialties further, pursuing advanced certification in a field such as family care, women’s health or psychiatric mental health care.
Some MSN programs offer concentrations or tracks that students can choose to focus their studies for potential career specialization. The University of Tulsa’s online MSN and RN to MSN pathway programs offers tracks in:
-
Leadership and Innovation. This track builds competencies in communication, staffing, and budgeting.
-
Education and Elevation. This track covers nursing pedagogy, assessment and evaluation, and curriculum development.
-
Public Health Global Vision. This track fosters a deeper understanding of population health, disease prevention, and health promotion.
-
Information and Analytics. This track guides students in data information management, health care informatics, and project management.
Scholarship Opportunities
For nurses who love learning and enjoy academia, the benefit of pursuing an advanced degree is clear. Furthermore, while pursuing an MSN does require an economic investment, many universities and medical organizations will offer considerable scholarship opportunities for nurses who wish to continue their education. Employers may offer further financial assistance for nurses who wish to invest in ongoing professional development opportunities.
Leadership Positions
One of the most significant distinctions between MSN and RN roles is the chance to assume leadership authority.
RNs may find limited opportunities to assume leadership positions, including roles leading a small team or nursing shift. However, more robust leadership opportunities are typically reserved for nurses who pursue advanced training, such as an MSN degree. These nurses may have options available to them to become nurse managers and, in some cases to pursue roles as a directors of nursing. Naturally, these roles come with more autonomy, more opportunities to shape nursing policy and higher salaries.
Opportunities in Nurse Education
Some nurses prefer to provide direct clinical care, while others may gravitate toward roles in nursing instruction.
For those interested in training the next generation of nurses, earning an MSN is essential. An advanced degree certifies a higher level of knowledge and understanding in the nursing field and makes it possible to pursue a position as a nurse educator.
Nurse education is a field of significant opportunity for current nurses looking to enter the field. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), nearly 10,000 applicants were rejected from nursing programs in 2023 due to a shortage of nurse education faculty. Additionally, the BLS projects that postsecondary nursing educators will experience a job growth of 18% between 2022 and 2032.
Further Academic Pursuits
For nurses who wish to pursue a terminal degree, earning an MSN can be a step toward applying to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program (although BSN to DNP programs do exist).
Earning a doctoral degree can lead to not only higher salaries but also positions of greater leadership and authority, including professorial work and chief nursing officer (CNO) positions.
Meeting Health Care Demands
Another important distinction between the MSN and RN paths is the role that MSN graduates can play in offering equitable care.
There is currently a physician shortage, particularly in rural areas of the United States. This shortage may grow more acute in years to come — the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects that this shortage could reach 86,000 physicians by 2036.
RNs can play a role in meeting some of the patient care demands, yet they can’t practice autonomously or prescribe medications. APRNs can work much more independently, even taking on some of the duties usually associated with primary care physicians in full-practice states. As such, those who obtain an MSN may be especially well-equipped to address shortfalls in patient coverage and care.
Greater Influence Over Health Policies
Many nurses desire to not only have a direct impact on patients’ lives but also affect institutional policies.
To enact change within a health organization, assuming a position of authority is necessary. APRNs are well-positioned to influence health policy and suggest changes to policies and procedures, all in an effort to make patient care more efficient, safe, and equitable. According to a recent article from The Nurse Practitioner, the influencing policy as an APRN is “a political process that involves a complex set of interactions among healthcare professionals, government agencies, policymakers, and the public.”
Enhanced Patient Outcomes
RNs play an important role in promoting patient outcomes, including before, during, and after surgical procedures. However, gaining more clinical knowledge and insight is always a good way to improve standards of care. Nurses who wish to hone their skills on their patients’ behalf may wish to further their education via an MSN degree program.
Choosing the Right Path in Nursing
Those who are drawn to the nursing profession will eventually need to make meaningful decisions about the level of education and certification they desire. Specifically, deciding if you want to earn an MSN can be a crucial fork in the road.
Nurses whose primary aim is to provide direct patient care may be perfectly content in an RN role. RNs are essential to the health care industry, and their work is impactful to patient outcomes and physician success. Earning a license to practice as an RN can lead to a rich and rewarding career.
Having said that, other nurses may decide that obtaining a more advanced degree, such as an MSN, is necessary for achieving certain career goals. These may include positions in nurse leadership or nurse education, better salaries, or simply stronger clinical skills.
Nurses interested in advancing their education should consider the online RN to MSN Pathway at The University of Tulsa . The program is a valuable opportunity for those who are already practicing as licensed nurses but wish to gain more advanced training. In TU’s program, students build on their existing nursing skills, cultivating greater clinical competencies and also honing their leadership potential.
Students will learn about the latest innovations in the nursing field, cultivate the soft skills needed to serve in managerial roles and gain a vision for public health. In addition, nurses in this MSN program will have the chance to familiarize themselves with nursing data and analytics, crucial concerns for ongoing success in the nursing world.
For nurses, deciding between the MSN vs. RN paths is an important choice. In considering the ways forward, be sure to learn more about the best online degree programs. Explore TU’s RN to MSN Pathway today, and take an ambitious step forward in your nursing career.
Recommended Readings
Becoming a Nurse Executive: How MSN Graduates Can Climb the Ladder
Sources:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Nursing Faculty Shortage Fact Sheet
Indeed, BSN vs. MSN: What’s the Difference? (Plus Jobs You Can Get With Them)
Indeed, 20 Benefits of Earning a Master’s Degree in Nursing
Indeed, What Is a Registered Nurse (RN)?
The Nurse Practitioner, “Influencing Health Policy: A Vital Aspect of the APRN Role”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
