Registered Nurse – Masters & PhD Career & Jobs: Training, Salary & Certification Requirements

If you walk into any hospital or urgent care clinic in this country, the chances are that you will be interviewed, examined and/or treated by a registered nurse. Without enough doctors to go around to every patient, the registered nurse is a vital link in the health care chain. Although in some cases they do not demand the same authority as a doctor, the registered nurse that has achieved the master’s or PhD level of education is responsible for almost all aspects of an ill or injured patient’s care. In most facilities, the registered nurses are required to oversee the operations of the nursing staff, which might include certified nurses and nurses’ aides. When they have achieved this high level of post-graduate study, nurses are normally recruited to teach or work in an instructional capacity within the hospital setting.

Salary Outlook

Average Annual Salary
$70,900
Salary Range
$45,200 - $148,500

Work Environment

Registered nurses are needed anywhere that people can come to seek treatment for their bodily illnesses or injuries. This means that registered nurses are regularly employed at hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, correctional facilities, schools and universities. Those that pursue teaching should have some experience planning and running a classroom environment.

High School Preparation

Those individuals that think they would enjoy the responsibilities of a registered nurse at the master’s or PhD level are encouraged to spend their high school career increasing their knowledge of biology, psychology, and emergency medicine. Supporting courses for this line of work include chemistry, sociology, first aid, foods and nutrition, physical education, computer skills, and foreign languages.

Requirements

Following high school graduation, students interested in pursuing a career as a registered nurse at the master’s or PhD level is first required to enroll in bachelor of nursing science degree. These programs are usually available at traditional universities and colleges, and can be completed in four years. After reaching the baccalaureate level it is common for registered nurses to choose a specialty which they will focus on in their graduate work. Following completion of all training and educational requirements, it is necessary for students to take and pass the national exam to become a licensed registered nurse.

Career Outlook

Although it might surprise you, the occupation of registered nurse is that largest health care occupation in the entire country. This means that hospitals and other medical facilities are struggling to find enough qualified registered nurses to fill the positions that they have open for them. The current job market for qualified nurses is excellent and the number of available jobs is expected to increase by at least twenty percent over the next ten years.

Professional Organizations

American Nurses Association
600 Maryland Avenue, SW,
Suite 100 W.
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 651-7000
www.nursingworld.org