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Earning a or  can make you a much more competitive candidate when applying for new positions. Hospitals have a growing need for deeper, more specialized skill sets, and many are required to employ a certain number of nurses with advanced degrees to earn , the gold standard of quality nursing. That means if you earn an advanced degree, you’ll have a clear competitive advantage in the workplace.

If you have an RN diploma or , the number of roles you’re able to fill can be somewhat limited. The skills you develop while pursuing a BSN or MSN, however, greatly open up your options—making it easier to pursue leadership roles, and making it possible to specialize in a field of nursing that interests you.

For example, while those with an RN or BSN both practice nursing in a healthcare setting, nurses with a BSN have more training in case management, critical thinking and leadership, and have more experience working in a diverse array of inpatient and outpatient settings. This means that those with a BSN degree are on track to work in leadership, management, and even research roles. Acquiring a MSN degree builds on these skills and advances this potential even more, positioning you to take on any number of specialized and leadership positions, such as a family or pediatric nurse practitioner, nurse manager, or clinical nurse specialist. 

While salary is influenced by many factors, such as years of experience, location, and specialization, getting an advanced degree in nursing can help you earn more. According to Payscale.com, the average salary for someone with an associate degree in nursing is  per year; but nurses who have a BSN earn  on average, and those with an MSN earn on average .

Online degrees have many benefits, but one of the biggest is affordability. You can avoid the extra fees associated with room, board, or student activities and there’s no commute to pay for. Class materials, such as textbooks, are sometimes even available as an Open Educational Resource, which is free classroom course content. That makes for a more affordable education.

Additionally, you'll find that will reward college credits for your professional experience, bringing you closer to earning your degree while requiring you to take less classes. Some colleges may even offer  with scholarship options to allow for a seamless and affordable transition between your RN and BSN degree. 

Pursuing an advanced degree while working as a nurse can be challenging. But offer you the ability to pursue education on your terms. You may view lectures whenever and wherever you’re available, such as in your living room or at a desk in your bedroom. And you can complete classwork as you have the time—during off-hours and weekends. Pursuing an advanced degree doesn’t have to upset your life. Instead, an online education can complement it.