Where Can You Find an RN to MSN Program?
Lamar University (LU) offers an online RN to MSN program with administration or education options. An online program is ideal for nurses who need a flexible school schedule that allows them to still have room for their work and personal commitments.
What Are the Admission Requirements?
Admission requirements may vary depending on the school. To apply to the Lamar University online RN to MSN program, you must be a practicing RN with an associate degree from an accredited institution and have at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA).
What Can You Expect in the LU Program?
The courses in the LU RN to MSN program are the same for each track until you start studying your chosen specialization. For example, students will complete the following coursework for the administration and education tracks:
- General education courses.
- Electives.
- BSN completion core courses.
- RN to MSN transition courses.
- MSN core courses.
Once you complete the undergraduate coursework, you may acquire your BSN before continuing with the remaining graduate classes. Both tracks — administration and education — include a practicum. The entire program can be completed in approximately 36 months with either track. After you complete the RN to MSN transition coursework, the program diverges into the administration and education tracks.
What Are You Taught in the MSN Nursing Administration?
In the MSN Nursing Administration track, you will learn skills and gain knowledge to qualify for upper management positions in healthcare organizations. The coursework focuses on the analysis of human resources and budgeting processes as well as how to plan and organize healthcare delivery. The administration track also covers the concepts of marketing and accounting.
How Does the MSN in Nursing Education Prepare You?
You will develop the expertise necessary to teach nursing students, newly hired nurses and the community. An emphasis is placed on the role of the nurse as a faculty member. You will examine learning theories and teaching strategies to incorporate in classroom and clinical instruction in academic settings. Additionally, you will explore the principles of advanced pharmacology and pathophysiology as well as investigate procedures for analyzing and synthesizing clinical concepts.
What Are the Benefits of Completing an RN to MSN Program?
With an MSN in Nursing Administration or MSN in Nursing Education, you are prepared for more advanced positions that pay higher salaries. Another advantage is that most jobs in administration and education allow you to work during regular business hours instead of the long shifts that start early in the morning or late at night.
What Is Your Salary Potential?
Your income will rise when you find employment as a nurse administrator or nurse educator. As of June 2018, an ADN nurse’s median annual salary is $58,932. A nurse administrator earns $81,650, while a nurse educator makes $72,696, as of June 2018. All salary information is from PayScale.com.
The Lamar University online RN to MSN program is a convenient way for nurses in the workforce to expand their professional development. Instead of completing a BSN and an MSN separately, you can finish your coursework in a shorter amount of time through the bridge program. Doing so will enable you to move up in your career and receive a heftier paycheck.
Learn more about the Lamar University online RN to MSN program.
Sources:
Nurse Journal: 5 Best Paying MSN Jobs in Nursing
PayScale: Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Average Salary
RNtoMSNedu.org: How to Become a Nurse Administrator
PayScale: Nurse Administrator Salary
ExploreHealthCareers.org: Nurse Educator
GraduateNursingEDU.org: Nurse Educator Job Description
PayScale: Nurse Educator Salary
RegisteredNursing.org: RN to MSN Programs
Best Master of Science in Nursing Degrees: What Can I Do With a Master’s in Nursing Education?
Grad School Hub: What Types of Jobs are Available with a Master’s in Nursing?
