MSN vs. RN: Why Earn an Advanced Degree?
Written by:
University of Tulsa
• Aug 6, 2026
There are many reasons to get into the nursing profession. Some want to help people, some enjoy the fast-paced environment of health care delivery, and others want to pursue a career with stability and solid growth. If you’re a registered nurse (RN) and want to advance your nursing career, there are many options available to consider.
One way to move up is through earning an advanced degree, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. If you’re interested in advancing as an RN with an MSN, explore what earning a graduate nursing degree can do for your career.
What Is an RN?
Registered nurses are professionals who provide patient care. They are part of patients’ medical teams, assisting physicians while ensuring patients are comfortable and safe. They administer care to patients based on their personalized treatment plans.
Becoming an RN
An RN must have a state-issued license that requires foundational nursing education and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). In some cases, this might mean earning a two-year Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) or a certificate from an approved nursing program, though many nurses obtain a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A BSN degree usually provides a combination of clinical training with coursework in health sciences, anatomy, social sciences, and liberal arts.
After completing a program, aspiring nurses may sit for the NCLEX-RN, which is administered by state nursing boards. The NCLEX-RN includes questions about clinical care, nurse ethics, and legal compliance. Passing this exam certifies nurses to practice legally within their states.
RN Job Description
Becoming certified as an RN can lead to work in various settings, including local hospitals, community clinics, private practices, and even schools. The duties and responsibilities associated with RN positions vary, but typical job responsibilities include the following:
-
Listening to patients’ concerns
-
Conducting physical assessments
-
Performing and interpreting diagnostic tests
-
Consulting with other members of the patient care team, including doctors, about changes in patients’ conditions
-
Monitoring and recording vital signs
-
Counseling patients and their family members about diagnoses and treatment options
-
Maintaining safe, secure, private patient records in digital ecosystems
-
Educating patients about disease prevention and healthy lifestyle choices
What Is an MSN?
An MSN is an advanced nursing degree. Generally speaking, MSN programs build on the foundation laid by the BSN degree, with opportunities to specialize in areas like leadership. While it is not a professional license like an RN, an MSN can be a useful tool for nurses who want to increase their knowledge and leadership skills and qualify for certain positions.
MSN Careers
An MSN can open the door to numerous career possibilities beyond RN work. Earning an MSN makes it possible to pursue management roles such as chief nursing officer (CNO), director of nursing (DON), or nurse administrator. These nursing leaders oversee and train nursing staff and ensure that all patients receive the same high quality of care according to established nursing standards.
Distinctions Between Nursing Practice With an RN vs. an MSN
While both an RN license and an MSN degree can prepare nurses for quality care delivery, earning an MSN can increase your career prospects and scope.
Licensure vs. Degree
To begin with, an RN denotes the achievement of a professional license, equipping the licensee to practice nursing. It’s not a type of degree, though it does require the completion of an undergraduate degree or a certificate program.
By contrast, an MSN is a type of degree. It provides the educational bona fides for many advanced nursing roles, but it doesn’t in itself confer licensing or permit the degree holder to practice legally.
Career Possibilities
Those who hold a basic nursing license may work as RNs at local hospitals, clinics, schools, or private practices. However, RNs may not be eligible for certain roles, such as many in nurse education or leadership, until they secure an advanced degree.
By contrast, earning an MSN can provide nurses with the educational background needed to pursue positions in leadership, public health, and education.
Consider some of the roles that BSN-educated RNs can pursue:
-
Charge nurse
-
Nurse case manager
-
Unit manager
-
Hospice nurse
MSN graduates may pursue the following roles:
-
Medical director, community health
-
Chief nursing officer
-
Chief nursing informatics officer
-
Nursing curriculum developer
Why Pursue an Advanced Degree?
Earning an MSN can yield many advantages. Consider some of the top reasons for nurses to earn an advanced nursing degree.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the number of positions for RNs to increase by 5%, which is slightly faster than the national average.
By contrast, leadership roles that require or prefer an MSN are projected to grow at faster rates. According to the BLS, positions for medical and health services managers, including nurse managers, are projected to increase by 23% between 2024 and 2034.
Increased Salary
Higher salary potential is one of the reasons students may choose an advanced degree. Many roles that MSN graduates pursue yield higher salaries than those of an RN.
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for RNs was $93,600 in 2024. Many factors affect salary, including years of experience as well as geographic location.
On the other hand, medical and health services managers, including leadership positions for nurses with MSN degrees, earned a median annual salary of $117,960 in 2024, according to the BLS.
Potential for Better Hours and Working Conditions
While working as an RN can be immensely rewarding, it can also be physically rigorous and demanding. Shift nurses may need to work at odd hours, including night shifts, and their work frequently has them on their feet for long stretches.
By contrast, many nursing management roles offer the option to work regular hours and in positions that allow some time spent at a desk. Earning an MSN can open up a more flexible range of options.
Opportunities to Specialize
For nurses who wish to focus their practice on a particular type of care, earning an MSN may present a valuable opportunity to specialize.
To be sure, RNs often devote their careers to particular units or nursing fields, such as the emergency room or postnatal care. However, earning an MSN allows nurses to develop their clinical specialties further.
Some MSN programs offer concentrations or tracks that students can choose to focus their studies for potential career specialization. The University of Tulsa’s online MSN offers tracks in:
-
Leadership and Innovation: This track builds competencies in communication, staffing, and budgeting.
-
Education and Elevation: This track covers nursing pedagogy, assessment and evaluation, and curriculum development.
-
Public Health Global Vision: This track fosters a deeper understanding of population health, disease prevention, and health promotion.
Leadership Positions
Advancing your nursing education can prepare you to assume leadership authority in higher level roles. MSN graduates are generally prepared to pursue nurse management careers, even up to the executive level, such as chief nursing officer. These roles come with more autonomy, more opportunities to shape nursing policy, and higher salaries.
Opportunities in Nurse Education
Earning an MSN can also prepare you to educate the next generation of nurses. An advanced degree certifies a higher level of knowledge and understanding in the nursing field and makes it possible to pursue a position as a nurse educator.
Nurse education is a field of significant opportunity for current nurses looking to enter the field. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), 80,162 applications were rejected from nursing programs in 2024, largely due to a shortage of nurse education faculty. Additionally, the BLS projects that postsecondary nursing educator roles will grow by 17% between 2024 and 2034.
Choosing the Right Path in Nursing
There are many paths to advancement in nursing. Deciding if you are ready to earn an MSN can be a crucial fork in the road. You might find that earning an MSN can help you achieve certain career goals. These may include positions in nurse leadership or nurse education, better salaries, or simply stronger clinical skills.
If you’re ready to move into one of these areas, consider the online MSN program at The University of Tulsa. In our program, students build on their existing nursing skills, cultivating greater clinical competencies and also developing their leadership potential.
With three specialty tracks in Leadership and Innovation, Education and Elevation, and Public Health Global Vision, you can learn about the latest innovations in the nursing field, cultivate the soft skills needed to serve in managerial roles, and gain a vision for public health.
Deciding to move up from RN with an MSN is an important choice. Explore TU’s online MSN today, and take a step forward in your nursing career.
Recommended Readings
Clinic vs. Hospital Nursing: Which One Should You Choose?
Change Theory in Nursing: How It’s Evolving the Profession
Jessika Evans’ Story of Transformation at TU: From BSN to MSN
Sources:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Nursing Faculty Shortage Fact Sheet
Indeed, “BSN vs. MSN: What’s the Difference? (Plus Jobs You Can Get With Them?”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical and Health Services Managers
