• Posted on 15th May, 2024

Why Should Nurses Consider Doing an Advanced Nursing Degree?

Whether you’re a young nurse hoping to advance your career or an experienced professional wishing to establish a future-proof skill set in the nursing field, an Advanced Nursing degree may equip you with the skills you need to get ahead in your career and truly make a difference. In this blog, we will discuss how an Advanced Nursing program might boost your career.

What benefits do you stand to gain with an advanced nursing program?

Develop particular expertise

There are a multitude of skilled, in-demand and well-rewarded professional options within the field of nursing, and an Advanced Nursing degree or Diploma can open these doors.

Gain a cutting-edge skill set to adapt to complicated healthcare demands

Australians are confronting enormous health problems with limited resources, legislative reform, an aging population and rising complicated health conditions. They need well-equipped healthcare workers who are ready to stand up and thrive under demanding situations. With an Advanced Nursing degree, you will be ready to achieve precisely that, gaining modern skills for the healthcare setting of the future.

Shape the future of a high-impact industry

Between increased compensation, national policy change and shifting role duties, the healthcare sector is undergoing substantial upheaval – and it requires specialists to lead it. Advanced degree holders are well qualified to play a vital role in establishing new healthcare policies to enhance the sector and outcomes for both patients and industry professionals alike.

Increase your earning potential

With specialist skills and advanced knowledge, highly skilled nurses are more likely to get better-paying professions. They’re also better equipped to lobby for greater compensation in their existing employment.

In Australia, some of the best paying nurse occupations are:

• Director of Nursing with a national average income of $135,000+ to $155,000
• Clinical Nurse Manager with a national average salary of $120,576
• Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist with a national average salary of $104,000

Stay abreast of evolving technology in healthcare jobs

Increasingly, nurses are utilising digital health initiatives to offer patient care and enhance health outcomes. These technologies – and their uses – are growing swiftly and require flexible and well-equipped workers to make the most use of them. An Advanced Nursing degree will guarantee students are ready to not only understand current digital health technology but tackle the improvements to come.

What responsibilities may I take up with a postgraduate nursing degree?

A postgraduate nursing degree can open a variety of professional possibilities. Whether you’re a current nurse wishing to progress, specialise or flip jobs, or a junior nurse looking to accelerate your career trajectory, there are numerous options on offer if you possess a Master of Nursing, graduate Certificate in Advanced Nursing (various Specialisations), Australian Nursing Practice – (Graduate Certificate in Advanced Nursing) among others.

Here are some of the positions an advanced nursing certification might lead to:

Clinical Nurse Specialist

With entry-level employment starting at over $102,400 a year and more experienced professionals earning over $132,394, a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is one of the highest paid occupations in the nursing sector. A CNS is an advanced practice nurse who focuses on a given field of nursing, such as paediatrics, eating disorders, women’s health or emergency care.

Because of the difference in specialisation settings, the specific responsibilities of the role will vary but often include providing direct patient care through clinical practice, consulting with healthcare staff on treatment plans, developing or revising relevant policies, and providing education and training to the team. You may become a CNS with a graduate certificate certification.

Clinical Nurse Educator

A Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) plays a vital role in training and development for both present and future nursing professionals. The position entails extensive collaboration between different healthcare experts, nursing faculty personnel and students.

In addition to instructing and assessing nursing students, a CNE will plan, administer and analyse student training programs – therefore a strategic awareness of the industry and healthcare sector is particularly useful.

In Australia, entry-level CNE employment start at over $103,700 a year and more experienced personnel make over $131,146 (https://au.talent.com). These positions can be acquired with a graduate certificate certification.

Clinical Nurse Consultant

With entry-level earnings starting at over $114,921 per year and experienced Clinical Nurse Consultants (CNC) earning over $134,217 (https://au.talent.com), CNCs are among the top paid nursing professionals. Like CNSs and many CNEs, CNCs are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who specialise in a single field of nursing. They give professional clinical advice to patients and implement and assess novel clinical practice models that may incorporate new therapies, therapeutic techniques and technology.

Nurse Unit Manager

A Nurse Unit Manager is responsible for overseeing and managing a nursing staff in their chosen healthcare environment. They’re most typically found in hospitals, outpatient clinics and elderly care institutions and their duty encompasses everything from organising work schedules, to making budgeting choices, to supervising patient care. In Australia, entry-level employment starts at around $107,925 and experienced Nurse Unit Managers make over $132,902 (https://au.talent.com.)

The need for advanced nurses has never been stronger, and these are only a few of the opportunities in advanced nursing a postgraduate diploma may open up. Australia’s post-pandemic healthcare landscape is loaded with potential for present and aspiring nurses who want to make a difference.

The Institute of Health and Management (IHM) provides a variety of programs tailored to your specific area of expertise and career goals, such as:

• Master of Nursing
• Master of Nursing (Online)
• Graduate Certificate in Advanced Nursing (12 Specialisations)
• Graduate Certificate in Advanced Nursing – Australian Nursing Practice