Getting a nursing degree is an incredible achievement, offering the greatest deal of help on the frontlines to incoming patients or bedside manner for those in the throes of an illness. While becoming a registered nurse is no easy feat, there are opportunities beyond that degree. In fact, more nurses are finding themselves exploring their occupation further by pursuing a business degree.
1. You can explore the business side of health care.
A bachelor’s degree in business affords practical nurses and even students more than just standard care. Business degrees are actually becoming a highly desired credential by some employers across the health care industry. Through a business program, a nurse or nursing student can learn about the operations and management of everything from hospitals to companies that manufacture prescription medication.
A BSN program, or a bachelor of science program, also brings insight into the financials of the health care sector, helping you learn how to better use skills from nursing in the classroom and into critical thinking measures in the business world. This will also help you understand some of the job duties that may come with certain positions in this line of work.
2. You can find new job opportunities.
Nurses with an MBA can branch into job opportunities within the executive realm. Pursuing formal education pathways has helped lead to some practical nursing career opportunities to pursue full-time work within the C-suite. This includes higher roles within hospitals and private clinics, as well as physicians’ offices, nursing homes, and outpatient care centers. Opportunities can expand from the chief nursing manager of a hospital system to even the chief financial officer or chief operating officer for health care providers.
As equipped members of the health care team, nurses with a business degree can even go beyond a traditional nursing career path. Achieving an MBA is a less traveled road than getting certain accreditations within the nursing sector. Earning a bachelor’s degree in business science or an MBA can lead to an edge in the hiring process based on your medical expertise.
3. You can bring a unique perspective to the industry.
Basic nursing care is more than just checking vital signs and assisting patients. This perspective of 24/7/365 health care helps registered nurses extend their abilities to communicate effectively and engineer solutions for patients in a way that someone with a standard business degree and no health care background would never have thought possible.
Many practical nurses have felt that those on the business side of health care view patients as just statistics and don’t take into account the compassion that comes with care. With an MBA, nurses have the ability to change that perspective, bringing their work from the energy room into the boardroom or from a physician’s office to the executive suite. There are job openings that are seeking this unique spin.
4. You may be able to make more money.
Higher degrees and diplomas in just about any line of work can translate to more money in your paycheck. The median pay for registered nurses in the United States is around $75,000 per year, with nursing administrator pay getting significantly higher with the help of a Bachelor of Business Administration or an MBA. In some cases, administrators can get their diplomas from business schools and earn around $122,000 per year.
With more job opportunities popping up within the health care community for business administration, there’s more beyond just standard nursing practices. Be sure to learn what in-person or online programs can offer in terms of a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree that can take your career beyond the realm of your proud work as a registered nurse.
