A rumor that’s been circulating for a long time involves the thought that the LPN is going to be phased out in the future in favor of more advanced nursing degrees.
Although we won’t speculate on whether that rumor is true or not–we still staff a lot of LPNs on a regular basis–one thing that is certainly true is that there’s a growing need for Nurse Practitioners in the United States. A shortage of primary care physicians is only increasing that need, and we don’t expect that trend to slow down any time soon.
Here at RTG Medical, we staff Nurse Practitioners and other advanced nurses on occasion. If you like your career in nursing but are looking to advance it further, a graduate degree in nursing may be a good idea.
Here are 4 things that you should know about getting a graduate degree in nursing:
- There is a growing need for Nurse Practitioners: Nurse Practitioners, the largest segment of nurses with a master’s degree, are on the rise. It’s estimated that NP jobs will increase 94% by 2025, making an investment in a graduate degree a good choice for nurses who decide to do so.
- There are many scholarships available for nurses in graduate school: Scholarships aren’t just for undergraduate nurses. There are lots of scholarships available for graduate school nurses, meaning that you may not have to foot the entire bill if graduate school is something that interests you.
- A master’s in nursing greatly increases career flexibility: An advanced degree in nursing gives you a lot of options that you didn’t have as an LPN or RN. You have much greater career flexibility, with the ability to work as an NP, Certified Nurse Midwife, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, to name a few, and in all cases, income is increased.
- You can still work as a traveler, even with an advanced degree: If you want to continue working as a traveler for RTG, don’t worry–you can still do so after getting an advanced degree. Though there are many fewer positions available for positions like NPs and CNOs (Chief Nursing Officers), there are occasionally travel positions available. In some cases, traveling can even lead to a permanent job!
As you can see from what we said here, getting a graduate degree in nursing is a perfectly legitimate way to advance your career as a nurse. It can take time, and it will certainly be a lot of work, but we think that you’ll find the results worth it in the end.
No matter what type of nurse you are–LPN, RN, BSN, NP, or more–RTG is here to help you find the travel nursing position you’re looking for. If you’re interested in working as a medical traveler, let us know in the comments or on Twitter!
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photo credit: orangeacid via photopin cc
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