The biggest advantage to a Master of Science in Nursing is more options when it comes to a higher-level career. MSN's can become Nurse Practitioners who can essentially diagnose and treat patients on their own. A doctor vets their prescriptions, but in many rural clinics this is how they deal with having fewer doctors while taking care of the population.
MSN's can become Nurse Anesthetists, those who handle anesthetics in operating rooms, dentist's offices or during childbirth. This allows for there to be one anesthesiologist taking care of multiple rooms while a nurse anesthetist individually deals with each patient.
A certified Nurse Midwife is also an MSN. This person can offer delivery services both at home and in the hospital. Patients sometimes prefer nurse midwives, as they usually have more one-on-one time with the person who will be delivering the baby. Midwives often take responsibility throughout the pregnancy and as a patient you do not see multiple doctors, since you do not know who will be on call at the exact moment you go into labor.
On the education side of things, MSN's can specialize in research, consulting, and case management. These are some of the more "behind the scenes" type jobs one can get, limiting patient contact yet still allowing you to help others. Case managers often still work in hospitals or with collectives to discern the best course of action for patients in the long term. So this position offers a happy middle ground of patient contact, but not on a daily basis.
Then there is the teaching aspect. With an MSN you can teach at nursing schools or universities. You can even decide to continue working as a nurse, but take on preceptor responsibilities. These positions often allow for a nurse to be stationed at a hospital and work with the students as they come through. Often programs will prefer you still come from a place of hands-on experience, so acquiring clinical time remains important.
All of these positions allow for higher pay and more autonomy. That being said, these are often preferable for those who do not like the straight floor atmosphere. A master's can also help you obtain managerial positions within a hospital such as charge nurse or Emergency Department Manager. These positions walk the line between being managerial and hands-on, depending on the size of the institution.
No matter what you wish to do with your degree, this development has been significant in the nursing profession because of the rising cost in health care. By allowing a greater scope of care to nurses, the facilities can utilize doctors for more specific purposes, bringing down the cost of patient care and helping hospitals and clinics stay solvent.
Your personality and how much patient contact you want to have might be a key factor in what you decide as far as your education. MSN's can still work in regular nursing jobs, so do not let it be the only factor in making the choice. With an MSN you have greater flexibility down the road, especially if you find working weekends or odd shifts is not as appealing to you. MSN can often keep more regular "office hours," which some find helpful in their personal lives.