So what can you do with a master's in nursing? A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) can prepare nurses for a range of clinical, leadership, education, and other advanced opportunities, depending on the program and area of specialization.
Just as important, MSN pathways are not limited to people already working as nurses. Direct-entry MSN programs offer a route for eligible students who hold a bachelor's degree outside nursing to enter the profession through graduate education. This guide previews the career paths an MSN can support, the different types of MSN programs, and how direct-entry options differ from traditional MSN pathways.
What Is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)?
An MSN is a graduate-level nursing degree. It builds on foundational nursing knowledge to prepare students for advanced roles, and the specific focus varies from program to program based on a student's education, nursing experience, and career goals.
MSN programs can serve students at different stages of their nursing careers. Many are designed for registered nurses who want to pursue advanced practice, specialty, or leadership roles. Direct-entry MSN programs, such as the George Washington School of Nursing (GWSON) Direct-Entry MSN, are designed for eligible students with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees who want to enter the nursing profession through graduate education.
What Can You Do With an MSN?
The answer to “what can a nurse do with a master’s degree?” is that it depends. Your options are shaped by the MSN program you complete, your specialization, your licensure and certification, and your prior nursing experience. Not every MSN graduate automatically qualifies for every role, but the degree can open the door to several broad directions.
Depending on your education, specialization, and licensure, an MSN may support careers in direct patient care, advanced practice nursing, nursing leadership, administration, education, and research.
Provide Direct Patient Care
Many nurses work in patient-facing roles across hospitals, outpatient clinics, community health settings, and other care environments. For career changers, this is often the starting point: direct-entry MSN graduates may begin their nursing careers in direct patient care after meeting the applicable RN licensure requirements. It's worth noting that advanced practice patient-care roles require specific graduate preparation, clinical experience, and certification and/or licensure beyond an entry-level MSN.
Pursue Advanced Practice Nursing
Some MSN programs are specifically designed to prepare registered nurses for advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) roles, such as nurse practitioner or nurse-midwife. These roles require specialized graduate preparation as well as applicable certification and state licensure.
A general or direct-entry MSN does not automatically qualify a graduate for an APRN role. For example, graduates of GW’s Direct-Entry MSN can enter practice as registered nurses after meeting licensure requirements and may later pursue an APRN certificate or other advanced education at GW Nursing.
Move Into Nursing Leadership and Administration
If you're drawn to the bigger-picture side of health care, an MSN can support opportunities in nursing leadership, health care operations, quality improvement, and administration. Graduate nursing education helps build skills in areas like evidence-based practice, collaboration, systems thinking, and leadership, which are the foundation of roles that shape how care is delivered across teams and organizations.
Explore Nursing Education and Research
An MSN can also point toward nursing education, clinical instruction, research, and evidence-based practice. Nurses in these roles help train the next generation and advance the knowledge base of the profession. Some teaching and research positions may require additional experience, credentials, or doctoral education, so it's worth confirming the requirements for the specific direction you have in mind.
For students who want to continue their education, GW’s direct-entry MSN can also provide a foundation for pursuing additional graduate education, including a graduate certificate, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or PhD at GW Nursing.
Where Can a Master's in Nursing Take You?
Beyond specific job titles, it helps to picture the range of settings where nurses work, including:
- Hospitals and health systems
- Outpatient and specialty practices
- Community and public health organizations
- Academic institutions
- Research organizations
- Government and health policy organizations
GW School of Nursing alumni are examples of graduates contributing to nursing and health care in many of these settings and in many different ways, from bedside care to leadership and beyond.
Choosing the Right MSN Path
The best way to answer “what can I do with a master's in nursing?” for yourself is to start with your current education and your long-term career goals.
If you're already a registered nurse, compare MSN specialties and advanced nursing pathways to find the focus that matches your ambitions. If you hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree, look specifically for entry-to-practice graduate programs designed for career changers, rather than traditional MSN programs built for nurses who already hold a license.
As you compare programs, weigh factors like admissions requirements, prerequisites, curriculum, clinical experiences, licensure preparation, program format, and time commitment, all against your career goals. Most importantly, confirm that any program you're considering aligns with the credentials required for the role you ultimately want.
Start Your Path to a Master's in Nursing With GW
An MSN can support many directions within nursing, but the right pathway depends on where you're starting from. For students who already hold a bachelor's degree outside nursing, GW's new direct-entry MSN offers a way to enter the profession through graduate nursing education.
Explore GW's direct-entry MSN and its broader MSN programs to see which path fits your goals. From there, review the application process or request information to take the next step.
Explore GW's Direct-Entry MSN Program
FAQs
- Is a master's in nursing worth it?
The value of an MSN depends on your starting point and your career goals. Consider the nursing role you want, the education that role requires, the time commitment involved, and the cost of the program. For someone whose target role calls for a graduate degree, an MSN can be a meaningful step, but it's a personal calculation rather than a guarantee of any particular job, advancement, or return on investment.
- What jobs can you get with a master's degree in nursing?
Wondering what jobs you can get with a nursing degree at the master's level? An MSN can support clinical, leadership, education, and research pathways, among others. The specific jobs you can pursue depend on your specialization, experience, certification, and licensure, so eligibility varies from graduate to graduate and role to role.
- How much can you earn with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)?
Earnings vary significantly by role, specialty, experience, employer, and location, so there's no single figure that represents all MSN graduates. The median annual wage for registered nurses is $97,550 per year in May 2025.