Now that you’ve decided to get your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), you can choose a specialty area to take your nursing career to the next level.

An MSN specialization gives you the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge to advance your nursing career in leadership, care coordination, education or informatics. 

Discover your options for MSN tracks, what to consider when choosing a specialization, financial aid opportunities, career advancement possibilities and how to balance graduate school in this guide to an MSN education.

Choosing the Right MSN Program to Advance Your Nursing Career

As you’re preparing to apply to graduate school, you’ll find various MSN degree tracks. Each specialty area allows you to develop expertise in advanced nursing.

You may have an idea of the MSN degree pathway you want to pursue. But if you’re unsure of where you’d like to take your nursing career, consider the following as you’re selecting an MSN specialty:

• Your career goals.
• Whether you want to provide direct patient care.
• Job opportunities within your organization or in your community.
• Salary potential.
• The education requirements.
• Financial aid or tuition assistance opportunities.

Understanding Different MSN Specializations

At Nebraska Methodist College (NMC), you have four advanced nursing education options. Each one is unique, but no matter which track you choose, you’ll be able to advance your nursing career.

MSN leadership tracks are:

• Care Coordinator
• Nurse Educator
• Nurse Executive
• Nursing Informatics

MSN in Care Coordination: Improving Health Outcomes

Navigating the healthcare system can be challenging for patients and their families. But having a compassionate and knowledgeable advocate makes the process more manageable.

Care coordinators, also known as patient navigators or patient care facilitators, collaborate with healthcare teams to help facilitate the trajectory of patients’ conditions and provide support.

“An MSN in care coordination prepares nurses to navigate diverse healthcare environments and adapt to various patient needs. This degree demonstrates readiness for an advanced role as a leader with the capability to impact healthcare positively across multiple settings,” Jill Scott, associate professor and coordinator of the MSN Care Coordinator track.

NMC’s MSN Care Coordinator track details:

• 100% online with flexible coursework that can be done on students’ own time.
• No GRE is required.
• The program starts in January and August.
• Courses are five to 10 weeks long, with one week off before the next course starts.
• Can be completed in 21-33 months.
• Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible for the Care Coordination and Transition Management (CCTM) certification exam.

MSN in Nursing Education: Shaping Future Nurses

Nurse educators are imperative to training the next generation of skilled and compassionate nurses.

"Our aging population and changes in healthcare continue to escalate the demand for more nurses. We need nurse faculty to provide that education," said Marla Kniewel, MSN, EdD, RN, director of the MSN program.

In the MSN Nursing Education track, you’ll learn to become a teacher and mentor to nurses-in-training, giving them their introduction to the clinical world making an impact on more patients than you would ever see providing direct care.

NMC’s MSN Nurse Educator program details:

• 100% online with flexible coursework that can be done on students’ own time.
• No GRE is required.
• Courses are five to 10 weeks long, with one week off before the next course starts.
• Can be completed in 21-33 months.
• Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible for the NLN Certified Nurse Educator exam.

MSN in Executive Leadership: Leading Healthcare Change

Chief nursing officers and other nursing executives are in demand, and nurses have an unprecedented opportunity to become leaders in healthcare.

If you’d like to take on executive leadership roles, the MSN Nurse Executive track provides you with management skills and business knowledge focused on the healthcare industry. 

If you become a manager, you get more say in the policies and strategies that impact the patient experience. Nurses make fantastic supervisors and executives precisely because they’ve been on the floor and witnessed firsthand how decisions at the executive level can trickle down to impact care.

NMC’s MSN Nurse Executive program details:

• 100% online with flexible coursework that can be done on students’ own time.
• No GRE is required.
• Courses are five to 10 weeks long, with one week off before the next course starts.
• Can be completed in 21-33 months.
• Students gain administrative experience through practicum and projects.
• Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible for executive certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Association for Nursing Leadership.

MSN in Nursing Informatics: Impacting Policy With Data

Healthcare is becoming increasingly data-driven, which means there’s a demand for professionals who understand how data can be used to improve outcomes.

A nurse informaticist is responsible for collecting and analyzing data, and implementing procedures based on that data.

The MSN Nursing Informatics track gives nurses the tools they need to use data and provide actionable insights for a healthcare system. You’ll be able to implement health system policies that optimize patient outcomes.

Your clinical care experience provides you with a unique understanding of how hospitals, clinics and healthcare systems work. 

NMC’s MSN Nursing Informatics program details:

• 100% online with flexible coursework that can be done on students’ own time.
• No GRE is required.
• Courses are five to 10 weeks long, with one week off before the next course starts.
• Can be completed in 21-33 months.
• Students receive a national and chapter membership to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).
• Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible for informatics certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Evaluating Online vs Traditional MSN Programs

At NMC, all MSN program tracks are 100% online and designed to be flexible for working professionals. 

Flexibility and Accessibility of Online MSN Programs

Choosing an online program means you’ll be able to access your courses at any time of day from anywhere. 

An online program allows you to balance your work schedule and personal responsibilities with your coursework. 

Attending in-person classes can be disruptive if you need to continue working full-time during graduate school. 

Networking and Interaction in Traditional MSN Programs

As an online learner, you don’t get the same connection to your peers as taking in-person classes. 

But at NMC, you will have opportunities to participate in online forums or complete group assignments. 

The more you actively participate in these opportunities, the more connection you will have to your peers and faculty.

Read more: Steps to Succeed in Online Learning as a Graduate Student

Balancing Work, Life and MSN Studies

Maintaining a healthy work-life-study balance can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and burned out during graduate school.

You most likely won’t feel perfectly balanced in all areas of your life while you're pursing your master's degree. You may have to re-prioritize parts of your life to accommodate your new class and study schedule. There might also be times when your coursework takes more time.

Practicing self-care and self-compassion will help you have the mental, emotional and physical energy to juggle your work, school and life.

Time Management Tips for MSN Students

Developing effective time management skills will help you balance your coursework with your other responsibilities. 

Many graduates of NMC's MSN program suggest scheduling the days and times you'll complete coursework. Otherwise, you may find yourself scrambling to meet deadlines. 

Other tips for time management include:

• Setting goals at the beginning of each course.
• Using a digital or physical planner to schedule time to complete coursework.
• Avoiding multitasking.
• Creating a dedicated space for studying.
• Blocking out distractions (put phone on silent, reduce the number of open tabs on your computer, etc.).

Support Systems for MSN Students

Having a support system will help you excel in your online courses.

Consider reaching out to other students in your class if you need study partners.

Faculty can also provide support if you’re struggling with course content or if you need guidance on assignments.

Financial Considerations and Planning for your MSN

Figuring out how to pay for graduate school may seem overwhelming, but there are many ways to make your MSN program more affordable.

First, you’ll want to know the estimated cost of attendance. The cost per credit hour is listed on each program’s webpage. You can also find the estimated cost of attendance for an academic year on your college’s financial aid webpages or from the Financial Aid Department.

You may want to consider tuition discount opportunities. Qualifying Methodist Health System (MHS) employees may be eligible for a 20% tuition discount for the Master of Science in Nursing program at NMC. 

Once you know how much graduate school will cost, you can start researching financial aid opportunities.

Read more: How to Pay for Grad School

Scholarships and Grants for MSN Students

There are many scholarships and grants available for graduate students in an MSN program. 

At NMC, scholarships and grants for graduate students include:

• NMC Legacy Grant - This scholarship is for students who graduated from another NMC program and are continuing into a graduate program. 
• Ruth Freed Leadership Scholarship - This $9,000 scholarship is for students who are employees at MHS and seeking a master’s or doctorate degree. 
• Carolyn Scott “Spirit of Excellence” Scholarship - This $8,000 scholarship is for students who are employees at MHS and seeking a master’s or doctorate degree.
• Employee Development Grant - The Employee Development Grant provides up to $1,600 per academic year for eligible Methodist Health System employees enrolled in a degree program at NMC.
• Academy Programs - The MHS Academy Program provides tuition coverage for Methodist Health System employees enrolled in master’s degree programs for nurse educators, nurse executives and nursing informatics. 
• External Scholarships - There are many scholarships available for graduate students studying healthcare professions. You may want to explore these opportunities through your employer, your parent’s or spouse’s employer, your church, local civic organizations and area foundations. 

You may also want to consider employer tuition assistance programs. 

Employees of MHS may be eligible for the Tuition Assistance Program if you attend NMC. You could receive up to $3,500 a year in tuition assistance.

Tuition Assistance for Future Nurse Educators

The Nurse Faculty Loan Program provides students studying nurse education with financial assistance.

To qualify for this loan cancellation, you must begin work as a full-time faculty member at an accredited nursing college within 12 months following graduation.

However long you work full-time directly impacts how much of the loan is canceled. For example, if you work for four years, 85% of your loan will be forgiven.

Read more: Top Three Myths About the Nurse Faculty Loan Program

Career Advancement Opportunities Post-MSN

Your MSN will help you reach a higher degree of specialization or get the chance to lead within healthcare.

“An MSN signifies a commitment to the nursing field and equips nurses with the skills necessary for critical decision-making, team leadership, and strategic planning,” said Scott. “This degree demonstrates readiness for advanced roles as well as the capability to impact healthcare positively across multiple settings.”

You may be able to find career advancement opportunities with your current employer. Let your supervisor know that you’re getting your master’s in nursing, so they can keep you informed about job openings. 

Networking with your classmates may also be a valuable resource for learning about jobs, especially if you’re open to relocating. 

NMC also offers career counseling to students who need resources during their job search.

Taking the Next Step in Your Nursing Career

Ready to take your nursing career to the next level? Explore our diverse MSN programs tailored to your professional aspirations.

Reach out to an admission coordinator to learn more about NMC’s MSN programs by contacting admissions@methodistcollege.edu or 402-354-7200.

If you’re ready to apply, fill out an online application to start your journey towards advanced nursing expertise!