MSN Career Outlook - A Healthy Career Change is Within Reach

Nurses with advanced degrees are in great demand. And as the health care industry continues to diversify, the need for capable nursing professionals will only increase.

1. Nurse Educator Profile
   
2. Health Systems Leader Profile

Here are some of the exciting professional prospects in store:

Nurse Educator

A nursing professional in this practice would typically gain employment in one of the following settings:

• Senior colleges and universities
• Junior or community colleges
• Hospital-based schools of nursing
• Technical colleges
• Hospitals
• Community health agencies
• Home care agencies
• Long-term care facilities
• Online using distance learning technology.

Nurse educators working in academic settings are on a nine-month appointment, with opportunities to teach during summer months often available. Salaries vary greatly depending on rank, education and institution type.

In 2002, full-time nurse educators with a nine-month appointment earned salaries ranging between $25,000 and $100,000+. On average, full-time nurse faculty with a doctoral degree earned $61,000 in 2002-2003 while faculty with a master's degree earned $49,000. In addition, nurse educators take advantage of the many benefits of teaching including autonomy, flexible schedule, and the intrinsic value of teaching future nurses.

Health Systems Leader Profile:

Care Management Nurse Manager with Aetna Specialty Pharmacy – $76,230 average beginning salary
Oversees the implementation of medical management services including but not limited to inpatient care coordination, discharge planning, case management, disease management, precertification, and monitoring of daily performance to ensure business goals are met.

Nurse Manager – $77,461 median national salary
Plans and implements the overall nursing policies, procedures, and services for a unit. Maintains nursing staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training clinical staff. Ensures that nurses are current in competency, assessments, licensure, certifications, and other annual training. May provide direct patient care and is responsible for assessing, planning, and evaluating patient care.

Chief Nursing Executive – $162,705 median national salary
Plans and directs all patient services. Develops and implements nursing policies, objectives, and initiatives. Reviews nursing department operations to ensure compliance with established standards. Ensures that all patients receive the highest quality care.

Median salary information listed above includes figures, factored from throughout the United States, for a range of nursing careers, according to data available from salary.com

Career and salary information listed above includes data available from http://www.nursesource.org/nurse_educator.html