Students in general nursing education programs aren’t always well-prepared to pursue careers after receiving their undergraduate degrees. A lot of nursing students are unaware of the ways they can further their education and careers as nurses.
Because they have valuable experience working directly in a variety of patient care areas, nurses have an advantage over many other healthcare business professionals. They have a knowledgeable vantage point that MBAs without a nursing degree do not.
If this describes you, as a nurse, getting an MBA and assuming an administrative position could be your best chance to influence healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes. To learn more about an MBA in nursing, read this article.
Burnout At The Bedside
Nursing burnout is among the most common causes for which RNs look to further their education in nursing or think about obtaining an MBA.
Have you ever had a thought like this:
- “I enjoy caring for patients, but the strain on my body is preventing me from working as a bedside nurse any longer.”
- “I adore the clinical side of nursing, but I want to help people in new ways.”
- “I have creative suggestions that could make our hospital or facility run more effectively than it does now.”
Consider getting an MBA if any of these ideas apply to you.
The fact is that in order to advance in your career as a nurse and move away from the bedside, you will need higher education. Without a graduate degree, many hospitals won’t advance nurses into administrative positions.
Explore The Business Side Of Healthcare
If you ever want to work in the business side of healthcare or advance into certain leadership positions, you should think about getting your MBA because you will need to understand how it operates.
By earning an MBA in addition to your BSN, you will be prepared for a career in which you can combine your clinical nursing expertise and business acumen to make a name for yourself in the healthcare industry.
You’ll be a top candidate when an exciting administrative position opens up!
Higher Salaries
Any graduate-level degree will typically increase your earning potential. Even if you were to pursue an MBA in nursing, your salary potential would increase. Furthermore, increasing your income is almost a sure thing if you get an MBA.
A major advantage of MBAs for nurses is higher pay. Having a business degree will help you become a more successful entrepreneur and changemaker wherever your career takes you, whether it is in the medical field or another industry, and clients and employers will value this value.
More Management And Leadership Opportunities
Most large hospital systems now require nurses to have a minimum of a master’s degree in order to be promoted into an administrative role, though having an advanced degree is not always necessary to get a job in all nurse administrator roles.
It will at the very least increase your chances of being chosen as a candidate and demonstrate your commitment to working in higher-level management and leadership positions.
Forge Your Own Unique Career Path
Not every nurse aspires to pursue a conventional nursing career. A CNS, NP, MSN, or DNP are the more popular degrees, while an MBA is less common. However, obtaining an MBA gives you the advantage to stand out among business professionals who require your leadership and medical knowledge.
More registered nurses should consider earning an MBA to advance their careers and the healthcare sector as a whole. RNs with an MBA think differently than MBAs without one.
Expand Your Job Opportunities
With an MBA, it can be much simpler to land a job in the C-Suite, such as:
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chief Executive Officer
An MBA is advantageous for several other high-level positions:
- Nurse manager
- Nurse administrator
- Healthcare Manager
- Director of Nursing
You Can Earn An MBA While Working As A Nurse
Gaining an MBA while working has never been simpler. The abundance of online resources makes finding a work-life balance easier to achieve.
Depending on how quickly you finish your classes, many universities also provide full- and part-time options. The length of time it takes to complete one of these programs ranges from one to three years.
Forge Your Own Unique Career Path
Not every nurse wants to follow a traditional nursing career path. A CNS, NP, MSN, or DNP are more common degrees than an MBA. However, having an MBA gives you the competitive edge you need to lead among business professionals who require your medical knowledge.
In order to advance their careers and the healthcare sector as a whole, more nurses should think about earning an MBA. RNs with an MBA think differently than MBAs without one.
Types Of Jobs Available To Nurses With MBAs
What can’t a nurse do with an MBA? Companies would be fortunate to have you in these positions given your particular skills, so look over the list below:
- Leadership: You can still work in the healthcare industry, but in positions that oversee clinical guidelines, health services, and patient care.
- Finance: You can work in hospital finance, manage the budgets of healthcare organizations, or locate employment in finance for any industry both inside and outside of hospitals.
- Human resources: No one has a better understanding of where to find, how to hire, and how to train medical professionals than someone who has experience doing so, especially when that experience is backed up by business administration training. With a nursing degree and an MBA, you’ll be useful to human resources departments.
- administering healthcare This business degree’s title includes the word “right” for a reason. With this degree, you can become a nursing administrator, director of nursing, or another type of medical or non-medical supervisor.
- Practice manager: You can take a break by transitioning to a more administrative role after years of being on your feet as a nurse. In this position, you’ll need to keep track of everything, including the practice calendar and patient needs.
- Legal consultant: You are a valuable asset to an insurance company as someone who has practical experience in a healthcare setting and may even have specialized. Your expertise adds depth.
- Advocate: Both a lot of heart and incredible organization are required of activists. To support a cause you believe in (and perhaps even change health policy), combine your enthusiasm for healthcare with strategic planning.
