How Graduate Nursing Programs Effectively Upskill and Foster Healthcare Leaders

Graduate programs are great but they are also time-consuming and expensive.

One doesn’t just jump thoughtlessly into taking out $50,000 in debt and in healthcare, it isn’t always necessary. If you are a nurse or administrator, you have options when it comes to continuing education.

Is enrolling in a graduate program the right move?

For some people, the answer will be no. Still, for those who want to upskill at the highest possible level while expanding their opportunities, graduate programs are an awesome fit.

In this article, we take a look at how graduate programs effectively upskill and foster leadership in healthcare.

What Do Graduate Nursing Degrees Qualify You to Do?

Usually, nurses enroll in graduate programs to become a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners basically occupy a space between nurses and general practitioners. They can write prescriptions and see patients. They can make a diagnosis and even see people regularly for preventative care.

To become an NP you will need to: • Complete the coursework. Graduate school generally takes 2-3 years. That said, most NPs are already working nurses which can complicate the completion timeline considerably. The good news is that there is no time limit for completing your graduate degree. If it takes seven years, it takes seven years. You’ll become an NP by the end regardless of how long it takes. • Pass certification requirements. This will involve a combination of gaining clinical experience and completing a standardized test not dissimilar to the NCLEX.

It’s not an easy path but it is worthwhile for many people. The personal benefits are pretty sweet. We mentioned already how becoming a nurse practitioner can do a lot to improve your autonomy. NPs also make more money—earning in the six-figure range—and they have the opportunity to effectively run their own practice.

Those aren’t the only benefits of getting a graduate degree. The skills that advanced programs equip their graduates with have true and significant benefits both for the patients, and the way hospitals themselves are run.

Upskilling and Leadership

First of all, virtually all healthcare workers are expected to meet continuing education requirements. Healthcare practices evolve constantly, and as digital technology continues to improve and change at a rapid pace, this will only be truer going forward.

There are also just evolving expectations for how to care for patients. Evidence-based practice prioritizes research-based responses to medical situations. What does research do if not evolve over time?

A nurse who graduated twenty years ago would be out of their depth in the current world of medicine without participating in continuing education.

Education (can) also help develop leadership hierarchies. People who have completed graduate programs may be better positioned to assume formal—or even informal—leadership roles within their place of work.

Some programs specifically prioritize developing leadership skills. These are a great option for people who are interested in becoming charge nurses or taking on other advanced positions.

However, most working nurses will also tell you that a less formal leadership hierarchy often forms in hospitals. One that puts a priority on knowledge, experience, and a willingness to nurture those who haven’t been around as long.

If you are interested in being a leader at your hospital, pursuing a graduate degree is a great route to take. Hospitals constantly lean on nurses with knowledge and experience to help shape the structure of their leadership.

I don’t want to become an NP. Is Graduate School Still for Me?

It definitely could be. Many people opt for the nurse practitioner route because it results in the highest compensation and the most freedom. However, it is just one direction you can take your graduate studies as a nurse.

Other paths include: • Education: Did you know that your college professors were never “teachers,” in the same sense that your k-12 instructors were? Most college professors are just people who used to do a job and now teach other people how to do it. If you have instructor ambitions, a graduate degree is your ticket in. • Speciality jobs: There are also various nursing specialties that require a graduate degree. Informatics nursing is a good example. These positions require data analysis and equip graduates with the ability to help their hospitals strategize both on operational efficiency and improved patient care.

In all cases, a well-chosen graduate program is your ticket to more opportunities. Career advancement. Higher salaries. Jobs that you find truly interesting.

Ok. I’m sold. But who’s paying for it? You?

No. Not us. Not necessarily you either. If you are working as a nurse already you will almost certainly be eligible for at least some employee-assisted tuition. Some hospitals will pay for their employees’ entire degrees.

Keep in mind that if you are a new hire you may need to log some time in the trenches before you begin sending tuition bills to your advisor. In many cases, tuition assistance eligibility doesn’t kick in until a year or two of employment.

If, for some reason, you can’t get help from your place of work, there are other ways to soothe the sting of high tuition payments.

Keep an eye out for grants and scholarships that are specific to nursing programs. No, you don’t need a lethal academic transcript to qualify. It will help to show grades closer to the beginning of the alphabet, but the point of employment-specific scholarships is to fill gaps. This makes them more common and easier to get.

Look also for conditional scholarship opportunities. For example, you will find grants and loans out there that provide money for people who are willing to commit to working in hospitals that are experiencing staffing shortages. If you don’t fulfill the criteria of the grant/scholarship it will become a loan instead.

The good (for you) news? Most hospitals are experiencing shortages. Grants like this are low-hanging fruit for people who want as much help as they can get.

If you are interested in getting a graduate degree in nursing, don’t let the costs deter you. There are loads of ways to finance your education.