Pennsylvania Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
You can choose the right master’s in nursing program with our resources and complete school listings. And with the increasing number of online programs, you can look beyond your home state for quality programs. To make sure you choose the right one, request information from multiple schools to compare the benefits of each program before reaching a decision.
Pennsylvania, like the rest of the country, is experiencing a nursing shortage in all specialties. Among the state’s initiatives to address this need is expanding the role of advanced practice nurses and increasing the number of these professionals practicing in rural areas. In Pennsylvania, NPs make up the majority of those with advanced practice degrees, followed by CNSs, CRNAs, and CNMs.
The Pennsylvania Rural Health Association reported that the state has one of the lowest ratios of nurse practitioners per capita in the nation. They earn a mean salary of about $88,741, according to a survey published by Advance for Nurse Practitioners in 2012. A 2009 study published in Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice discussed the fight for legislation reforms which would ensure that advanced practice nurses, along with other licensed professionals in Pennsylvania, would be able to practice within the full scope of their training. For more information, check out the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, and the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners.
Curriculum of Master’s in Nursing Programs
Pennsylvania has several universities with master’s level degrees in nursing that provide the student with the skills and advanced training to deliver the highest quality of care. The variety of specialized areas of training available in the state are numerous.
There are many universities that offer a number of certified nurse practitioner programs. If you are unsure what avenue of nursing you want to pursue, request information from several types of programs to be sure you choose the right one.
The focus of various programs can include:
- Adult Gerontology NPs or Clinical Specialist in adult primary and acute care
- Family Nurse Practitioners
- Pediatric Practitioners for acute, chronic, oncology, primary and critical care
- Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Psychiatric-Mental Health ARNP
- Streamlined Post-Masters Adult Gerontology Acute Care ARNP
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Women’s Health Care ARNP
- Nurse Anesthesia
- Nurse Midwifery
- Health Leadership
- Nursing and Health Care Administration Program
- Adult Home Care
Neonatal master’s level programs have core classes that focus on fetal and neonatal anomalies, advanced pediatric training and biophysical ecology.It is also possible to get a minor degree while pursuing an MSN program in a number of specialties. Some of these can include Forensic Nursing, Palliative Care and Global Nursing, and Integrated Nursing Care.
Careers for MSN Graduates in Pennsylvania
Graduating nurse practitioners and clinical specialist will find that jobs are expanding continually due to the coming changes in health care and the fact that the baby-boomers are reaching retirement age. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are often employed by family practice offices. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 26 percent growth for nursing by 2020.
There are various specialty nursing jobs to pursue in Pennsylvania. They can include the following:
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioners usually work along with a physician for newborn assessment. They can prescribe medication and provide care for newborns. In addition, they order, interpret and record clinical tests.
- Certified Nurse Anesthetists, like in many states, are typically one of the highest paid nursing professions. In Pennsylvania, nurses with this specialty can earn nearly $160,000 a year on average. Their responsibilities include preparation of prescribed solutions and administration of some anesthesia. They also assess and communicate with the patient during pre and post-op.
- Clinical Nurse Specialists have the responsibility of assessing the nursing practice of a health care facility and patient outcomes. They also provide clinical directions to the nursing staff regarding patient care delivery, which ensures clinical competency.
- Nursing Midwives have the primary objective of providing assistance during the birth of children. They also provide care for pregnant mothers prior to giving birth. These nurses earn more than $80,000 a year on average.
**Salary data is provided by the BLS and O*Net
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Pennsylvania Nursing Program Spotlight:
- Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA). Drexel offers a number of advanced practice specialties, as well as online/hybrid MSNs for nurses in advanced roles such as clinical research, education, and health systems management.
