That's a tricky question to answer. On the surface, one might assume that a degree as a nurse practitioner or maybe a nurse anesthetist would yield the highest salary per year (six figures). However, in the current climate, a nurse with a two-year degree or a bachelor's degree can make six figures a year as a travel/contract nurse. Where you live and what company you work for also effects salary.
As a certified nurse educator, I can tell you that you need a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. If you want to get into education or administration, you will need a Master’s of Science in Nursing. Now, most universities are asking for a Doctorate of Nursing Practice rather than a Doctorate of Education. Any of these degrees can be done while working full time. Just take a course per semester and you will be done in a short time. Hope this helps!
MSN and PhD degrees
BscN and MSN degrees
The more education you have, the more opportunities.
You can make a decent living climbing the ladder and getting into leadership roles. Positions require bachelors or masters.
Depends on what you are interested in doing. I started out in Critical Care as a new grad and loved it! But over the years realized ICU is not something I could do forever. Went back and got MSN, now I am a primary care provider working M-F, great pay for this area, w good benefits. You have to think ahead about what interests you and where you want to be in 10, 20 yrs… etc
Degree is great, but it tends to draw you from the bedside. Same with higher salary. Some places pay a couple of bucks an hour more for a degree. BSN/MSN. Same with specialty certifications.
a higher degree
In the Las Vegas area, hospitals are looking for BSN-educated nurses. In skilled nursing facilities, an LPN or RN training will earn more than a certified Nursing Assistant or CNA.
