Georgia Master of Science in Nursing Programs
Finding MSN programs in Georgia can be easy with the help of BestNursingDegree.com. We have compiled a thorough list of all the nursing schools in Georgia that offer Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs to make your search less time consuming.
With the wide variety of masters programs available, along with the growth of reputable online programs, you can choose from several different options. Be sure to take your time and request information from all of the MSN nursing programs in Georgia, and beyond, to make the right decision about your nursing future.
Master’s-prepared nurses represent a vital segment of the nursing profession, however they account for only a small portion of Georgia’s nursing workforce at present. That number is expected to change, however, as both the state and Georgia’s nurses realize the important role that MSN nurses play in healthcare.
Like many states, Georgia is in the midst of a physician shortage that is only expected to worsen as the population ages and healthcare reform has increased demand for primary care services. Nurse practitioners (NPs) already provide essential primary care services to a number of the state’s residents, and by earning your graduate degree from one of the MSN programs in Georgia, you could join this growing profession.
Georgia also needs more MSN-prepared nurses to teach undergraduate nursing classes. While a doctorate is typically required to teach at the BSN level, MSN prepared nurses may teach LPN and ADN students. MSN nurses are also qualified to lead clinical rotations for BSN students. Nurse educators face the same age-related retirement cliff as many Georgia NPs, as the average age of Georgia nurse educators is 52, writes the HRSA.
Curriculum of Master’s in Nursing Programs
The Board of Nursing in Georgia sets the practice standards and authorization (APRNs) to work in their chosen field, which includes Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. A Master’s degree is the mandatory minimum education for all of these professions.
Nursing schools in Georgia offer three main routes to becoming MSN prepared. You can find traditional campus based programs for Baccalaureate prepared nurses, you can find online programs, and you can find bridge routes like Direct Entry MSN and RN to MSN programs in Georgia.
Regardless of the route, the main objectives of master’s degree nursing programs include synthesizing knowledge from conceptual models and nursing theories, using scientific inquiry to validate and develop knowledge and practice methodologies, and developing leadership and management skills in nursing.
Some common MSN programs offered at Georgia nursing schools include:
- Adult Acute Care Practitioner
- Child or Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist and Women’s Health
- Clinical Nurse Leader with a variety of specialties
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Innovations
- Nursing Informatics
- Nursing Administration
Master’s and Post-Master’s level nursing certificates are also offered, allowing you to specialize in the field you most enjoy. Some of these programs, including RN-MSN programs in Georgia are offered in a format using online courses with limited time spent on campus. There are also dual degrees for nurses including the MSN-MPH program, which prepares you as an advanced practice nurse in Public Health. There are several options for earning your graduate nursing degree in GA, and we encourage you to explore the nursing schools in Georgia that are listed on this page until you find the programs you want.
Careers for MSN Graduates in Georgia
The nursing profession is continuously growing more complex, and more nurses are needed to meet the current demand. Due to baby boomers aging and more chronic illnesses, nurses need to become leaders in education, health promotion and treatment. Increasingly, Master’s prepared nurses are serving as experienced front line providers, capable of meeting the needs of our nation’s diverse patient population.
Nurse practitioner salaries vary as they do in most states, since larger cities tend to have higher salaries. As a Georgia NP, you can expect to earn a median annual salary of $88,840. This type of practitioner independently examines and treats patients, with a focus on diagnosis, treatment and disease prevention, and can be found in clinics, health centers and private practice settings.
Nursing instructor salaries at most Georgia nursing schools average $62,230 according to BLS statistics from 2013. The salary would depend on the instructor’s education, your experience and the type of institution where you are employed. While this may be one of the lower paying MSN prepared nursing positions, it is also one of the most vital, and allows you the opportunity to shape the next generation of nurses as you educate them.
Nurse Administrator roles include nurse managers, directors and chief nursing officers, and the range of employment settings is quite broad for this type of employment. The median annual salary of a Nurse Manager/Administrator is $101,340. Again, the size of the employing establishment, the employment record of the administrator and your education are all components of the salary determination.
To find out more about earning your Master’s degree in nursing by attending one of the MSN programs in Georgia, contact the schools on this page for more information.
MSN programs for Georgia nurses include:
- Emory University. Nurses who are interested in public health can pursue a dual MSN-MPH degree at Emory, which is located near the headquarters of the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control. Emory also offers a wide range of master’s-level nurse practitioner programs, as well as graduate education in nurse midwifery and health systems leadership.
- Clayton State University. Clayton offers an online MSN degree in either nurse education or nurse leadership. The online coursework includes a number of real-time, virtual meetings with nursing instructors and students. Full or part-time attendance is an option, but students are required to complete the program within nine years.
