Spotlight: Rise to the Master's Degree Challenge at Walden University School of Nursing

Specializations

• Education
• Nursing Informatics
• Leadership and Management

One of the things I really Like about Walden is that they don't want you to save up your education until you've walked across the stage. -- L. Skye Ryan, Nurse

Nursing is one of the fastest-growing professions in the health care field, and those with advanced degrees are in high demand. Nursing offers a variety of employment options, job security, and the prospect of meeting and helping new people every day. Working as a nurse is a challenging and dynamic career choice.

The Walden University School of Nursing Is a Top Choice

The School of Nursing at Walden University embraces that spirit of challenge and change by offering rigorous courses designed to prepare you for the next step in your career. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program was created for nurses, by nurses. The education provided by the School of Nursing will help enable you to make a valuable impact on the nursing profession, as well as foster a positive change in your own career.

When you begin your education at Walden University, you will join an elite group of individuals who attend what U.S. News & World Report ranked the second-largest online graduate nursing program by enrollment for the third year in a row in 2009. The MSN program is accredited by The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Plus, you can earn that degree entirely online, without ever setting foot on a campus.

But that does not mean you will be working alone. You can forge strong bonds with your fellow School of Nursing students and find support among those working towards the same educational goals. At Walden University, everyone is primed for success and ready to help you get there.

Master of Science in Nursing

Earning your master's degree in nursing gives you the opportunity to give even more to your profession and your work community. The Walden University M.S. in Nursing has two tracks, depending upon your previous education:

• R.N. Track. This is for registered nurses who already have a hospital diploma, a bachelor's degree in a major other than nursing, or an associate's degree in nursing. The course of study can be completed in about three years and includes foundation courses, core curriculum, specialization, and finally, capstone courses that ensure you are ready to put your new degree to the test. The R.N. track requires completion of 65 semester credit hours.
• BSN Track. This is designed for nurses who already have their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and are looking to further their education. With an estimated completion time of as little as two years, the BSN track includes core courses, specialization courses, and capstone courses, for a total of 41 semester credit hours.

Each track offers the following specializations:

Education

This specialization prepares you to teach others. Nurse educators are in high demand, and they offer the unique talents necessary to help their communities. When a patient or colleague has a question about a procedure or medical condition, a nurse educator must be ready with a clear, concise, and understandable answer.

Nursing Informatics

Patient care is streamlined and enhanced by technology, leading to a better experience for everyone involved. Informatics teaches you how to use information systems, create and use databases, and handle project management. Nurses trained in informatics keep the wheels of the health care system turning and are always at the forefront of new technology. Informatics is the perfect blend of sciences: nursing, computers, and information.

Leadership and Management

Honing your leadership abilities can open wide the doors to career advancement. Building superb management skills can make you not only a leader among your colleagues, but can put you at the front of the race up the proverbial ladder. If you're looking into administrative duties or want more responsibility in the job you already have, nursing leadership and management courses can help you reach those goals.

Top-Notch Faculty and Important Partnerships Abound

The faculty at the Walden University School of Nursing are nationally renowned experts. Not only will you have their constant support, but you will also find a supportive group among your fellow students. You can also look forward to taking advantage of Walden University's extensive educational alliances with fine health facilities, including the Florida Hospital System, St. Joseph's School of Nursing, Valley Health, and the Elliot Health System, among others.

An Online Nursing Degree Can Change Your Life

Susan Sonnier, class of 2008, has encouraging words for those who want to change the trajectory of their career. She's living proof that it's never too late to make that leap: "Just before graduation, I accepted a position as a patient education coordinator. It's a total career change for me. I've been a nurse for 28 years, and now I'm shifting gears and becoming an educator."

L. Skye Ryan, a nurse at Anne Arundel Medical Center, appreciates the fact that the information taught at Walden University is meant to be applied--not just learned. "One of the things I really like about Walden is that they don't want you to save up your education until you've walked across the stage," she says. "They want you to use your education the minute you learn it." When you seek your M.S. in Nursing, you are using your training every single day--and enhancing the lives of those you encounter.

Want to Go Further? Earn Your Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing

These certificates are designed for nurses who already hold their master's degree and now want to reach higher levels in their career. It is also helpful to those who have been out of the educational environment for a while and want to enhance their employment opportunities. Obtaining these certificates can enhance your career prospects by improving your chances of higher compensation, opening new doors to advancement, and giving you the advanced skills necessary to lead your organization on to bigger, better things.

Moving forward with an online nursing degree from Walden University is not only a good career move, it can be a higher calling. Just ask Susan Sonnier: "No matter how sophisticated medical technology becomes, there always has to be a human touch," she says. "Nurses are talented enough to be able to deliver both the skill and the compassion to impact a human life."