Nursing career advancement can include earning a higher degree, exploring specialties and preparing for leadership or advanced practice roles. Learn how education, networking, mentorship and lifelong learning can support your nursing career goals, starting with Marquette University’s Direct Entry MSN program.
Nursing can be a long and rewarding career, with opportunities across nearly every practice area or work environment imaginable. Registered nurses (RNs) work with patients across the lifespan in hospitals, clinics, homes, schools, offices and public health settings. After gaining experience and possibly additional education, nurses can establish themselves in a specific practice area, a leadership role, or an advanced practice career path.
Nursing career advancement is not limited to earning a new title. It may mean developing deeper clinical expertise, engaging with different patient populations, earning certifications or taking on greater responsibility. Understanding the educational and career pathways available to you can help you make choices that support your long-term goals. Marquette University’s Second Degree Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DE-MSN) program can be completed in five or eight semesters depending on program format, allowing students to graduate and enter nursing practice on a more accelerated timeline.
Explore what nursing career advancement means, different nursing degrees and the career path options they open up, and advice across the spectrum of nursing careers.
What Is Nursing Career Advancement?
Nursing career advancement is the process of building the knowledge, experience and credentials needed to reach a professional goal. Growth can be vertical, such as moving from staff nurse to nurse manager. It can also be lateral, such as transferring from medical-surgical nursing to a different practice area like oncology, pediatrics or public health.
Effective nurse career advancement starts with a clear picture of the work you want to do. Consider which patients you hope to serve, what environment suits you and the type of responsibilities you are interested in. Then research the education, experience, certification and licensure required for that role.
Nursing Degrees and Associated Career Path Options
Several degree pathways can prepare students to enter nursing or help nurses pursue new roles. Graduates of an approved prelicensure program must pass the NCLEX-RN and meet state requirements to become licensed registered nurses.
ADN
An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is commonly offered by community colleges and usually includes about two years of nursing study after any required prerequisites. ADN programs teach essential nursing knowledge and include supervised clinical learning. Graduates can take the NCLEX-RN and apply for RN licensure.
An ADN can be an accessible way to enter nursing, but employers increasingly prefer or require a BSN for certain positions. ADN-prepared nurses may later complete an RN-to-BSN or RN-to-MSN program. Prospective ADN students should compare local hiring expectations and transfer options before committing.
BSN
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) combines prelicensure preparation with broader study in evidence-based practice, health promotion, leadership, population health and research. A traditional BSN degree typically takes four years to complete.
A BSN may help graduates qualify for positions, as this degree has become a more standard requirement in the field over time. It also provides an academic foundation for graduate education. New graduates still need time and practice to build their confidence and skills in clinical judgment and communication.
Hear from a Marquette DE-MSN graduate about her firsthand nursing school experience.
MSN
A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is a graduate degree that can serve different purposes depending on the program. Traditional MSN programs may prepare licensed nurses for roles in advanced practice, education, administration or another area after first gaining experience and certifications as a practicing RN.
A direct-entry MSN program like the one Marquette offers is designed for students with a non-nursing bachelor's degree who want to become registered nurses. Our curriculum delivers coursework, nursing skills and simulation labs, and clinical rotations to students, providing an excellent foundation for professional nursing practice.
For a career changer, earning a MSN at the start of a nursing career can provide graduate-level preparation in areas such as evidence-based practice, quality, leadership and health systems. After earning RN licensure and any necessary experience, the nurse may pursue a post-master's certificate, doctoral program or other specialty education that matches a chosen path.
DNP and PhD
Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing are terminal degrees with different purposes. A DNP is practice focused and can prepare nurses to apply evidence, improve systems and lead change. Some DNP programs also prepare students for an advanced practice role.
A PhD in nursing is often more research-oriented. Individuals with this degree type may design studies, build programs of research, publish findings or teach at universities. Nurses should choose between these degrees based on the work they want to do, not simply the title of the degree.
Why Choose a Direct-Entry MSN?
A Direct Entry MSN offers an accelerated path for someone who has a bachelor's degree in another field and wants to enter nursing. Students build on previous college education while completing graduate-level nursing coursework, skills labs, simulation and clinical learning. Graduates can take the NCLEX-RN and apply for RN licensure.
This pathway may appeal to career changers who want a strong foundation for future leadership or graduate education. Previous careers can provide useful strengths, including communication, teamwork, advocacy and organization. An MSN curriculum empowers students to apply those strengths within professional standards of care.
Completing a direct entry MSN program is demanding. Students must manage an intensive schedule while mastering nursing theory and hands-on skills. Before starting on the admissions process, compare accreditation, prerequisites, program format, clinical structure, outcomes, cost and time to completion. An MSN can support later nursing advancement opportunities, but specialty and advanced practice roles require additional preparation after beginning professional practice.
4 Nursing Career Advancement Tips
A degree provides a foundation, but career growth also depends on the choices nurses make during school and in practice. These four strategies can help you identify opportunities and prepare for new responsibilities.
Explore Nursing Specialties
Nurses work in practice areas across all aspects of patient care, such as:
- Critical care
- Emergency care
- Home health
- Labor and delivery
- Mental health
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- Public health
During our DE-MSN program, clinical rotations expose students to a variety of practice areas, though working in any specific practice area is not guaranteed.
Use the experience of clinical rotations to observe the pace, patient needs and teamwork in different care settings. Ask nurses what they value about their specialty and what preparation helped them enter it. After graduation, research the experience and credentials employers expect. A specialty should fit your interests, communication style, emotional strengths and preferred work environment.
Build Your Professional Network
Your professional network can include classmates, faculty members, clinical instructors, preceptors and nurses you meet during clinical rotations. Build genuine relationships by being prepared, dependable and respectful. Ask thoughtful questions, follow through on commitments and show interest in other people's work.
Professional nursing organizations, conferences, volunteer projects and workplace committees can broaden your connections. A strong network may help you learn about specialties, certification programs and opportunities for advancement that may not be clear from a job description.
Find a Nursing Mentor
Experienced mentors can make a significant difference in helping you achieve your career goals. Build connections with veteran nurses willing to support you in your journey. Ask them questions about what path they took. Looking back, would they have done anything differently? What changes have they observed or experienced since they began? Which approaches do they recommend for you to obtain your career goals?
Not only will this insight help you avoid the wrong paths, but these professionals can support and encourage you to achieve your dreams. Each nurse has a “why” that keeps them going when things get difficult. Their knowledge and experience will be unique and can help you become a more well-rounded nurse.
Commit to Lifelong Learning
Research, technology, patient needs and treatment standards continue to change. Lifelong learning helps nurses maintain competence and prepare for new responsibilities. It can include continuing education, employer training, professional workshops, specialty certification and formal degree programs.
Choose learning activities that connect to a specific goal, review your goals regularly, and document new skills and contributions for your resume.
Career Growth in Nursing: Roles to Consider
Career growth in nursing can lead to advanced clinical practice, teaching, leadership and system improvement. Education and licensure requirements vary by role, state and employer.
Nurse Educator
Nurse educators teach students, new graduates and experienced nurses. Academic educators may work in classrooms, laboratories and clinical environments. Clinical educators may lead orientation, continuing education, competency assessment and professional development for health care organizations.
Many positions expect RN licensure, clinical experience and a higher level of nursing education than the level being taught. An MSN is a common nurse educator degree. Colleges and universities may require a doctorate for some full-time faculty roles. Nurses can begin developing teaching experience by precepting, presenting an in-service or helping create patient education materials.
Learn more about what a nurse practitioner career looks like, and see how to progress in this career path.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners are APRNs who provide primary or specialty care within their authorized scope. The prescriptive authority and autonomy of nurse practitioners varies depending on state law, but their work may include assessing patients, diagnosing conditions, ordering tests, developing treatment plans and prescribing medications.
NPs complete an accredited post-master's certificate program for a specific role and population focus, such as family, adult-gerontology, pediatrics or psychiatric-mental health. They must also pass a national certification examination and obtain state licensure or recognition. Requirements vary by state.
Nurse Midwife
Certified nurse-midwives are APRNs who provide pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, family planning and gynecologic care. They may also provide primary care and care for healthy newborns during the first weeks of life.
To enter the role, an RN completes graduate education in nurse-midwifery, passes the national certification examination and meets state licensure requirements. Nurse-midwifery may appeal to nurses who value patient education, relationship-based care and reproductive health.
Nurse Leader or Administrator
Nurse leaders and administrators help teams and organizations provide safe, efficient care. Roles include charge nurse, nurse manager, director of nursing and chief nursing officer. Responsibilities may involve staffing, budgeting, employee development, patient safety, policy and quality improvement.
Leadership often begins before a nurse earns a management title. Coordinating care, mentoring colleagues and helping improve unit processes can build relevant experience. Employers commonly seek substantial nursing experience and may prefer graduate education for higher-level positions.
Advance Your Nursing Career at Marquette University
With a better idea of what nursing career advancement might look like across a spectrum of career path options, take the next step to pursue your goals. Marquette University's Second Degree Direct Entry MSN program is designed for students who hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree and want to become registered nurses. Students can choose predominantly in-person study at our main Milwaukee campus or predominantly online nursing theory coursework through the Pleasant Prairie site. Clinical rotations, skills labs, simulation and exams require in-person participation.
If our DE-MSN program aligns with your education and goals, request information to learn more about prerequisites, program formats and the application process.