Nursing offers students many opportunities to further their education after becoming a Registered Nurse (RN). These educational opportunities can open doors for advancement in their nursing career. Obtaining a graduate nursing degree allows you to explore new career paths that include specializing in a specific area of nursing, getting into research, joining academia, and much more.
If you’re considering a graduate nursing program but have questions about where to begin, read on to find the answers.
Graduate Degree Types
No matter your undergraduate education background, you’ll find that there is a track available to enter graduate-level nursing.
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – The next step above a bachelor’s degree in nursing is an MSN. Whether you have an RN or BSN, there are multiple options for diving into an MSN.
- Master’s for non-nurses with bachelor’s degrees – These degrees admit nursing students with bachelor's degrees in other disciplines and no previous nursing education. They are generally completed within 2-3 years.
- MSN – A standard master’s degree is for students who already have a BSN. These two-year degrees prepare you for additional responsibilities in your current role or for more advanced roles within nursing.
- RN to MSN – These degrees are for RNs without a bachelor’s degree in nursing and fast-tracks them to completing an advanced MSN degree.
- Doctoral Degrees – These programs are terminal degrees, meaning they are the highest level of education you can achieve in the nursing field. The different doctoral degree types prepare students for various areas of practice.
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – These programs prepare graduates for advanced clinical practice in nursing. Students have the option to obtain either a post-bachelor’s or a post-master’s DNP.
- PhD – These degrees prepare you for research, academia, or other roles within nursing and are less focused on working in a clinical setting. Like DNP programs, PhD programs have post-bachelor’s and post-master’s degree options.
- Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) – These programs admit students with either a bachelor’s or master’s degree to specialize in anesthesia.
Applying to Graduate School
If you’ve applied to nursing school before, you may be aware of the overall process, but graduate school applications are typically more extensive than undergraduate applications.
How do I apply to graduate school?
Similar to undergraduate programs, you can apply to graduate school through NursingCAS. Beginning your application is easy—just visit the NursingCAS application, select your start term, and create an account. From there, you can explore graduate nursing programs from across the country, view all their admission requirements, and submit a single application for all programs of interest.
How does applying to graduate school differ from undergraduate?
The graduate admission process will usually include more vigorous requirements than undergraduate admission. Keep in mind that all programs are different, and application requirements will vary between schools and nursing programs.
Pay close attention to what is asked for and when it is needed from each individual program of interest; failure to follow their instructions may lead to your application being denied. Standard application materials often include:
- Official transcripts
- Personal statements
- Writing samples
- Letters of recommendation
- Certifications/licenses
In addition, some schools may conduct an interview as part of their admissions process.
What kind of work experience is required for admission?
Graduate programs don’t always ask that you have work experience in nursing prior to admission—it all depends on the program! Those that do may look for a certain number of hours of professional experience in a clinical setting and proof of your RN license or any other certifications.
Graduate School and Beyond
What can I expect during graduate school?
What you’ll do during graduate school varies between programs, but can include a combination of lectures, clinical experience, research, and more. It is best practice to get to know the program closely before applying to make sure it is a good fit for you. You can do this by either meeting with an admissions advisor, talking with someone who has been in the program before, or attending an information session.
What can I specialize in during graduate school?
Some graduate programs give students the option to specialize in a particular field of nursing. There are many options to choose from, such as Family Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care Nurse, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Nurse, and many more. Review program options in NursingCAS to find out what is available. If you’re still trying to decide on a specialty, Johnson & Johnson Nursing has a great resource for exploring these options.
What kind of opportunities can graduate school open for me?
Advanced roles in nursing are in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioner openings are projected to grow 35 percent from 2024 to 2034, and the median annual wage for these positions was listed as $132,050 in May 2024.
Other career paths include nurse researchers, nurse educators, public health nurses, and nurse informatics. The American Association for Colleges of Nursing (AACN) describes some of these professions in detail. It is also helpful to meet with advisors at your school to discuss the options available to you.
No matter what kind of graduate degree you are looking for or your nursing career goals, it all begins with starting your NursingCAS application! Log in to NursingCAS, explore programs, and complete your application to advance your career.