NR 500 Week 1 Discussion – The Value of a Masters Prepared Nurse
Lifelong learning should be at the core of all nurses’ careers. We all know that knowledge is powerful, and for most, it impacts our lives in many ways; how we perceive and translate those experiences. In the 20th century, the value of continued education through advanced degrees was not an area that was encouraged for the nursing profession. When I began my nursing career almost 35 years ago, very few advanced practice nursing programs existed, and no one encouraged that progression as we were the bedside caregivers & the physicians were the team who impacted patient outcomes. Over half of the nursing staff I work with are obtaining advanced degrees today. The actual value of master’s degrees & higher in nursing is now seen as exceptionally advantageous for providing quality outcomes in the ever-changing healthcare industry in the 21st century.
Master’s-prepared nurses achieve knowledge through management research, clinical practice applied from advanced theories, leadership roles, emerging technologies, and applied sciences. Emerging research is beginning to show the direct correlation between advanced nursing degrees & patient outcomes and improved quality throughout our expanding healthcare systems today. The growing need for healthcare has increased the need for master’s level prepared nurses to address the gaps between bachelor’s-level nurses. (“Essentials of Master’s Education,” 2011). The governing bodies of our profession, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), ANA & the National League for Nursing (NLN) have collaborated to improve patient care through safety & quality initiatives that are achieved with highly educated professional nurses.
NR 500 Week 1 Discussion – The Value of a Masters Prepared Nurse
Interprofessional Education that is required for master’s prepared nurses focuses on the interdisciplinary models to improve health outcomes & healthcare delivery systems (Gerard, Kazer, &, 2014). The interprofessional behaviors taught in master’s level curriculums encourage engaging other professionals to complement one’s expertise, patient-centered problem-solving, and collaborative communication between all care providers, the patient, & their support system to impact quality patient outcomes.
Going back to my initial statement that knowledge is power. Obtaining an advanced degree in nursing will allow me to collaborate at a much higher level & continue impacting my patient’s outcomes.
References
Gerard, S. O., &Kazer, M. W. (2014, July-August). Past, present, & future trends of master’s education in nursing. Journal of Professional Nursing, 30, 326-332. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2014.01.005
(“Essentials of Master’s Education,” 2011) The essentials of master’s education in nursing. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/Publications/MastersEssentials11.pdf
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Question 
NR 500 Week 1 Discussion – The Value of a Masters Prepared Nurse
Consider the current healthcare delivery models & practice settings. Reflect on how nursing practice is transforming in response to the current demands of the healthcare system & answer the following questions:
What differentiates a master’s-prepared nurse’s practice from a baccalaureate-prepared nurse?
2. What is the value of a master’s degree in nursing?
What do you consider to … the most essential professional competency for a master’s-prepared nurse practicing in the 21st century? Refer to AACN Essentials, NLN competencies, & CCN Nursing Conceptual Framework. Use at least one outside scholarly article to support your position. Provide an example to illustrate an application to a professional.