Due to an aging population and changes in the U.S. healthcare system, nurses are more valuable than ever before. They’re more in demand, too. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked nurse practitioner as the #1 best job in the U.S. and registered nurse (RN) was ranked in the top third.¹ Whether you’re already an RN or are just beginning to consider a nursing career, the right online nursing degree or certificate program can help you take full advantage of the growing opportunities for nurses. Here are some of the top nursing degrees and certificate programs that can help you achieve your goals.

PhD in Nursing

Focused primarily on research and interdisciplinary studies, a PhD in Nursing is designed for nurses who want to help guide the future of healthcare. If you want to conduct scientific research at the highest levels in your field, shape healthcare policies as a government policymaker or program director, or educate the next generation of nursing professionals, a PhD in Nursing can give you the advanced expertise you need to succeed.² This is a great nursing degree for any nurse who wants to make a difference in healthcare.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

As a terminal degree for clinical nurses, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is becoming an increasingly valued and sought-after credential. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has encouraged the medical community to make the DNP degree the expected degree for those who want to become nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists. Many online degree programs allow you to earn your DNP while continuing to work within the nursing profession. This option allows you to advance your career whether you’re just starting out or have worked as a nurse for many years.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

If you want to enter any of the advanced nursing professions, you’ll want to earn your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Although it’s a postgraduate degree, an MSN is considered the entry-level degree for such nursing careers as nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, and nurse anesthetist. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these advanced nursing careers are expected to grow by 35% between 2024 and 2034.³ A number of nonclinical careers such as nurse educator and nurse manager also require an MSN—so earning your master’s through an online nursing degree program can open numerous professional doors.

When earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, you can select from a wide variety of specializations in both clinical and nonclinical fields. Your choice of specialization will depend on your personal passions, strengths, and preferences. If you’re looking at nonclinical work, your online nursing degree program could allow you to specialize in such fields as leadership and management, nursing education, and nursing informatics. If you prefer to work directly with patients, you can select from specializations that put you on the path toward such nursing careers as pediatric nurse practitioner, public health nursing, psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, and family nurse practitioner.²

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

For years, the Institute of Medicine has called for nurses to take the lead in improving the healthcare system, by recommending that the majority of nursing workforce hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The recommendation came from research demonstrating that nurses who have earned a bachelor’s degree score higher on quality-of-care indicators.⁴ Thankfully, 2022 was the first year the bachelor’s was the most common degree for nurses seeking initial licensure as an RN. The latest data show that 45.4% of RNs entered the workforce with a bachelor’s degree. More than two-thirds of the RN 1 workforce (69%) are prepared at the baccalaureate and graduate degree level.⁵

With these changes in hiring practices, a BSN degree is a great choice. If you are already an RN but don’t hold a bachelor’s degree, you may want to consider earning a BSN through an RN-BSN completion program to help advance your career and maximize your ability to have a positive impact on patient care.

Post-Master’s Certificates in Nursing

Professional nurses who wish to enhance their skills for the sake of improved patient care or professional advancement may wish to consider Post-Master’s Certificates in Nursing. Some particular areas of focus include nursing education, nursing informatics, and nursing leadership and management.

For-Credit Courses and Professional Development

For nurses who wish to explore a new area of focus, gain a new skill, earn contact hours, or enroll in a course with credits that may be applied toward a future degree, Walden University’s School of Lifelong Learning has some great options. Courses such as Advanced Pharmacology, Information Management and Patient Care Technology, and Meeting the Leadership Challenge provide a flexible online learning path where you can pursue your interests, broaden your perspectives, and sharpen your skills.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering online degree programs and non-degree learning options for nursing professionals. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

¹Source: https://careers.usnews.com/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs

²Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.

³Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm

⁴Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24983041/

⁵Source: www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Fact-Sheets/Education-Impact-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.