NR 500 Week 1: The Value of a Master’s-Prepared Nurse
NR 500 Week 1: The Value of a Master’s-Prepared Nurse
Consider the current healthcare delivery models and practice settings. Reflect on how nursing practice is transforming in response to the current demands of the healthcare system and answer one of the following questions:
What differentiates the practice of a master’s-prepared nurse compared to that of a baccalaureate-prepared nurse?
What is the value of a master’s degree in nursing?
What do you consider to be the most essential professional competency for a master’s-prepared nurse practicing in the 21st century?
Refer to AACN Essentials, NLN competencies, and CCN Nursing Conceptual Framework. Use at least one outside scholarly article to support your position. Provide an example to illustrate an application to professional practice.
What is the value of a master’s degree in nursing?
Nursing practice is transforming in response to the current demands of the healthcare system with shortage of healthcare providers. With high cost of healthcare, advance nursing is reducing the cost of healthcare, nurse practitioners are managing some clinics and urgent care centers. (Bisognano (2010). Leadership and management have also witness these transformation.
This question is so important and mind searching, it helps to know and understand where a master’s degree in nursing is all about and leading the student. I do believe the every nurse going for MSN degree should and must know where the are heading.
There is evidence that nurses who acquire more nursing degree are more likely to improve in clinical judgement, better ability to make decisions, challenge poor practice with good leadership skills with advancement in clinical practice role. Clark et la (2015)
According to Clark et la (2015) the article stated that “there is increasing evidence that nurses who undertake degrees are more likely to have greater competence than non-graduates, and that learning experiences further develop these enhanced competencies” ( Clark, L., Casey, D., & Morris, S. page 328 (2015)
The article further stated that the value of master’s degree in nursing includes but not limited to
■ Economic
■ Changing organisation of health service delivery
■ Consumer demand and approval for nursing role development
■ Better educated workforce
■ Patients have increasingly complex healthcare needs
( Clark, L., Casey, D., & Morris, S. page 330 (2015)
In conclusion, There is some evidence that master’s degree improves patient outcomes but further research is still required. Evidence exists suggesting that critical thinking development, empowerment to challenge poor practice and improved decision making are outcomes of Master’s in nurses. Further work is needed to develop measurable criteria that demonstrate the value of master’s degree in nursing clinical outcomes.
References
Clark, L., Casey, D., & Morris, S. (2015). The value of Master’s degrees for registered nurses. British Journal Of Nursing, 24(6), 328-334. doi:10.12968/bjon.2015.24.6.328.
Bisognano, M. (2010). Nursing’s role in transforming healthcare. Nurses are rucial to closingquality-of-care gaps. Healthcare Executive, 25(2), 84.
Jan 3, 2018Jan 3 at 9:13am
Manage Discussion Entry
I completely agree with your conclusion statement regarding the value of master’s of science degrees in nursing (MSN) and that further research is needed. I have found in my own research for this assignment, that there is an underlying theme regarding lack of research on the value of MSN significance. It’s easy as nurses to see the value in a degree that not only furthers our expertise and knowledge, but our profession as a whole. It is the medical community, government, and public’s knowledge of MSN significance that needs to be raised. I believe that when a nurse is recognized as a valuable member of the healthcare community at the undergraduate and graduate level, then positive changes can and do occur. Advanced practice nurses ability to function to the full scope of their educated and science based practice is when the MSN’s value comes to light. Massimi, A., et al. (2017), suggests that master’s prepared nurses show improved confidence and cognitive abilities in their practice. Being able to attain advanced knowledge and critical thinking skills not only betters current practice but future practice as well. In my 20 years in the nursing profession, I know that my own confidence and ability to handle stressful situations at work has grown tremendously. The ability to problem solve, think outside of the box, and communicate clearly but effectively are valuable qualities that I believe an MSN can enhance for myself and nurses alike. MSN programs offer vital skill sets in education, administration, research, and advanced clinical practice at the nurse practitioner, midwife, and anesthetist level (Massimi, A., et al. 2017). I feel that this supports your discussion response that nurses with advanced degrees improve in clinical judgement with decision making and improvement of sometimes less than par current practices. Leadership skills introduced at the advanced academia level in nursing will continue to advance the profession as a whole.
Reference
Massimi, A., Marzuillo, C., Muzio, M., Vaccio, M., D’Andrea, E., Villari, P., De Vito, C. (2017). Quality and relevance of master degree education for the professional development of nurses and midwives. Nurse Education Today, 53(2017), 54-60. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2017.04.012
