MSN: Nurse Leadership Degree Programs & Career

As the nursing profession becomes more complex, it has become common for bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in nursing to spend more time training students in areas such as communication, critical thinking, and leadership. Each of these becomes important should an individual wish to advance their nursing career into an administrative or managerial position. While a nurse leader may not necessarily have a formal management role, he/she is looked upon as someone who has good interpersonal and risk management skills. Closely related subjects include nurse administration and nurse management, for which nurse leaders may often times be ready to advance into quickly.

How to Become a Nurse Leader

To become a nurse leader, sometimes referred to as nurse manager, students typically complete the following steps:

Complete an Associate’s Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program
Earn a Registered Nurse Certification
Meet the professional experience conditions
Enroll and complete an MSN degree with a specialization in nurse leadership and management

Nurse leader Salary and Career Information

The expected salary, career growth, and work environment for a nurse leader might include:

Median Expected Salary: $51,862 – $100,016, according to Payscale.com’s most recent report
Job Prospects: Very good to excellent
Job Setting: Private practices, nursing homes, hospitals, home health care agencies

Nurse Leader Qualifications

To become a nurse leader, students are typically required to meet the following job qualifications:

Professional training in human resources, business management, or a leadership role in a clinical setting
Possess strong leaderships and management skills and be an effective communicator
Experience in a specialized area of nursing practice

Nurse Leader Job Description

A nurse leader is typically responsible for the following job duties:

Provide leadership and direction to the nursing staff and other members of the patient care team
Delegate responsibilities to staff members and monitor performance
Implement medical management programs and ensure timely reporting
Assist with interviewing, evaluating, and counseling of nurse employees

MSN Degrees for Aspiring Nurse Leaders

Top Masters in Nursing Schools

A master’s degree in nursing can be the first step to becoming a nurse practitioner, nurse educator, or clinical nurse leader (CNL). Several accredited online MSN programs are listed below. Fill out any school’s form to quickly receive additional information and application materials.

MS in Family Nursing MS in Women’s Health	Georgetown University – Georgetown University has been educating nurses and helping improve healthcare since 1903. The programs are designed to help the next generation of nursing leaders with majors available in: Family Nurse Practitioner and Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. Request Information
MSN: Nurse Educator	Capella University – This masters in nursing program is designed specifically for nurses who wish to enter the teaching profession as nurse educators. With practical applications and engaging assignments, student can accomplish the assets required to be successful in leadership and educational positions with in the nursing industry. The Nurse Educator degree curriculum is centered around the industry’s best practices and standards and is constantly updated to reflect the latest developments. Request Information
RN to MS in Nursing MSN: Informatics MSN: Health Education	Kaplan University – Kaplan University offers a number of RN to MSN degrees for those seeking career advancement. Each program allows students to focus their curriculum on their particular career interest. In addition to the general program, specializations are also offered in informatics and health education. Request Information
MSN: Clinical Leader MSN: Nursing Education MSN: Patient Services Admin RN to MSN: Clinical Leader RN to MSN: Nursing Edu. RN to MSN: Patient Services	Sacred Heart University – Sacred Heart University offers accredited BSN to MSN and RN to MSN programs that prepare students for leadership or specialized positions, including clinical nurse leadership (RN to MSN option), nursing education (RN to MSN option), and patient care services administration (RN to MSN option). Request Information
MSN: Mgmt & Org Leadership MSN: Infection Prevention MSN: Case Management MSN: Informatics	American Sentinel University – American Sentinel University offers a wide variety of accredited online masters in nursing degrees, each with a specific focus designed to teach MSN students the exact skills they need for their particular career focus. By specializing in Management and Organizational Leadership, Infection Prevention, Case Management, or Nurse Informatics through online courses as opposed to campus programs, students can complete assignments at a time and place that is convenient. Request Information
Master’s In Nursing MSN Health Administration MSN Health Education MSN Informatics	University of Phoenix – University of Phoenix offers a number of online master’s in nursing programs. Their general MSN degree program gives students a well-rounded master’s in nursing education, while more specific degrees are available in health administration, health education, and nursing informatics. Request Information
MSN: Leadership	Drexel University – The Masters in Nursing Leadership program from Drexel is designed for students who want to take leadership positions in the health community, and involves leadership training and learning the skills needed to manage other nurses. Drexel University provides an affordable option through online courses which can cut down on many of the cost associated with on-ground programs. DU offers a Masters of Science in Nurse Leadership. Request Information
Masters in Nursing Education	Grand Canyon University – Grand Canyon University’s online masters in nursing programs focus on becoming a leader and an educator respectively. These accredited degrees are offered via a fully online curriculum. The Masters in Nursing Leadership prepares RNs for roles as leaders in a variety healthcare settings; the Masters in Nursing Education prepares RNs for teaching positions within the nursing profession. Request Information
RN to MSN: Educator MSN: Nurse Educator MSN: Health Leadership	Gonzaga University – Gonzaga University offers a wide range of Masters in Nursing degrees, allowing students to fulfill high level roles and leadership roles in Nursing. These MSN degrees, whose options include nursing education (MSN), nursing education (RN to MSN) and health systems leadership, can be completed at a relatively fast pace and provide more convenience to students with busy or inconsistent schedules. Request Information
RN to MS in Nursing RN to MSN: Education RN to MSN: Informatics RN to MSN: Leadership/Mgmt	Walden University – One of America’s leading online universities, Walden’s online Masters in Nursing (RN to MSN) program is a masters in nursing program designed for registered nurses. In addition to this general track, concentrated RN to MSN degrees are also offered in education, informatics, and leadership/management. While each program can be completed in just two years it does require a bachelor’s program for enrollment. Request Information