The idea of earning a MBA degree is often overlooked by nursing students – but it can be a very valuable way for a nurse to advance in their profession.

Understanding the motivations behind financial decisions made by hospital CEO’s and CFO’s is crucial to getting a seat at the table in the decision-making process. Working towards a master’s degree in business administration can put you in a position to advance professionally on the business side of healthcare. Learn more about why nurses should consider getting an MBA.

However, hospitals looking for a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) or Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) will most often prefer candidates with an MSN in Nursing Leadership. They will certainly consider a RN with an MBA, but the Master’s of Science Degree in Nursing is the top-tier credential most employers will be looking for.

A master’s degree may not always be required, but you will very likely need to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or be currently enrolled in a postgraduate program.

Attaining a master’s degree best qualifies you to apply for the Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC) and help you find the position you desire.

There are many different types of nursing leadership styles with varying levels of effectiveness depending on the working environment, including:

• Democratic
• Transformational
• Authoritarian (or "autocratic")
• Transactional
• Laissez-faire

...among several others. There are many unique theories of nursing leadership you’ll want to become familiar with throughout your development as a nurse leader. Understanding the right leadership techniques for you and your colleagues is crucial to keep morale high, ensure lines of communication are clear, maximize productivity and improve patient care.

A nurse leader sees the big picture without losing sight of the day-to-day. They are active in helping organizations move forward in response to an evolving healthcare industry.

Leaders in nursing have the administrative understanding and business expertise to make educated decisions and achieve the optimal balance between what’s best for the organization and what’s best for the patient(s). The importance of nursing leadership is highly evident when organizations struggle to find this balance.

Read more about the most important qualities and characteristics of leadership in nursing and what it takes to earn a higher level of roles and responsibilities as a nurse.

There are many MSN programs out there through a variety of accredited nursing schools for RNs looking to step up to the next level in their specialty.

Herzing University offers MSN programs in the following specialties:

• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Nursing Education
• Nursing Leadership and Administration 
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
• Public Health
• Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

...all delivered online! If you are interested in a career in patient care, teaching, or on the administrative/business side of nursing, you may be interested in pursuing these emphases.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the need for nurse educators will grow 18% from 2023-2033, and reports the average annual salary at $87,090.*

Education is extremely important in healthcare on an ongoing basis. Your credentials and ability to educate the current and future generations of nurses will keep you very competitive in the job market.

At the very least you’ll need to become a licensed registered nurse (RN) with several years of work experience and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Most of the time you’ll need a MSN in nursing education, especially for teaching at a university or college in an academic environment.

What degree you need depends on what you want to teach and where you teach it. Generally if you earn your master’s degree and earn your certificate as a Certified Nurse Educator, you’ll be qualified for a position as a clinical nurse educator.

You’ll need a great education, plenty of clinical experience, excellent communication skills, a passion for healthcare and a real desire to make a difference—and an eagerness to share your experiences with others. The best teachers are those who are truly passionate and pass that along to their students. A great teacher goes a lot further than the essentials.

Perhaps most important is a commitment to a life of learning. If you possess these crucial skills for a nurse educator, this might be the career you’re looking for.

Life as a clinical nurse educator can be unpredictable—between managing a department’s educational and staffing needs and supporting students on an individual basis, it can be challenging to stick to a routine. However, helping patients and nursing students alike is extremely rewarding.

Take it from a real teacher in nursing who offers us a glimpse into a day in the life of a nurse educator.

Nurse educators are qualified at the master’s or doctoral level and could work in teaching roles in both clinical and academic settings.

Academic educators teach and work with nursing students, and may design, implement and revise programs for students and practicing nurses. Clinical nurse educators are uniquely positioned in the hospital system to provide education to nursing staff and other healthcare professionals, as well as providing education for patients.

Learn more about what a nurse educator is and what they do.