Registered nurses who wish to enhance their skills in a specific area can choose from four clinical specializations, all of which require at minimum a master's degree. Clinical nurse specialists provide specialized care in areas such as cardiology, diabetes, oncology, pediatrics or psychology/mental health. Nurse practitioners manage patients' health in a manner similar to that of a primary care physician, such as conducting physical exams, ordering tests and diagnosing common illnesses. Concentrations for nurse practitioners include adult health, pediatrics, women's health and family health. Certified registered nurse anesthetists attend to surgical patients' needs with services similar to anesthesiologists. A certified nurse midwife provides gestational, postpartum, prenatal and gynecological care to women and their infants in low-risk birth settings.
The more education and certifications you have, the more jobs you will be able to pursue. Many employers require registered nurses to have a master's degree to progress past bedside nursing into lead clinical or administrative roles. Furthermore, in many states, nurse practitioners specifically have the option to operate their own clinical practices, according to the American College of Nurse Practitioners. Another professional opportunity for master's-prepared nurses includes teaching; regardless of their specialty, advanced nurses can teach at nursing schools at community colleges and universities.
The added responsibility and skills that come with master's nursing degrees typically come with a higher salary. The median yearly salary for a registered nurse is $62,450 as of 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Advanced practice nurses with master's degrees start at $66,000 and can increase to $90,000 and beyond, depending on the specialty. Master's-prepared nurses can also work as consultants, and nurse practitioners who own their own practice have the potential to earn more.
Nurses with master's degrees can participate in research studies and achieve full-time professor roles, but pursuing a doctoral nursing degree opens further opportunities. A master's-prepared nurse can continue education to obtain research-based (Ph.D.) or clinical-based (DNP) doctorate degrees. Nursing doctorates can assume more clinical responsibility, gain full-time faculty positions at academic and medical institutions and initiate independent study protocols.