What Are the Different Types of Advanced Nursing Degrees?

1. Nurse Practitioner (NP) 

A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has specialized training with a specific patient population. NPs can diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, interpret diagnostic tests, and manage patient care.

Different types of NP specialities include:

• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
• Aesthetic/Cosmetic Nurse Practitioner
• Cardiac Nurse Practitioner
• Emergency Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Oncology Nurse Practitioner
• Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

The median annual nurse practitioner salary is $129,210 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Specific salaries will vary based on the type of NP specialty and specific work location. 

Students can complete NP programs in two to five years, depending on various factors, including:

• Full-time vs. part-time attendance
• Total required academic credit hours
• Number of required clinical hours
• In-person on-campus requirements

2. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in a specific patient population. Their primary function is improving outcomes for patients, nurses, and system-wide organizations. A CNS also educates nursing staff as part of their primary job responsibilities. 

Different types of CNS specialities include:

• Adult-gerontological health
• Adult-gerontological critical care
• Adult gerontology
• Community-public health
• Home health
• Pediatric critical care
• Neonatal
• Pediatric primary care

The median annual salary for clinical nurse specialists is $94,545 or $45 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter. Clinical nurse specialists' salaries range between $55,000 and $162,500. Your income as a CNS may vary depending on your location, employer, and specialization.

You can complete a CNS program in two to three years, and students take similar classes to those NPs take.

3. Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)

A certified nurse-midwife (CNM) is an APRN who provides healthcare to women throughout the entire course of their lives. This care may include family planning, gynecological checkups, and prenatal care.

CNMs are trained to handle normal, low-risk pregnancies and births. They work collaboratively with obstetricians and other healthcare professionals to ensure patients receive appropriate care when complications arise.

The median certified nurse midwife salary is $128,790 per year, according to the BLS. At a minimum, CNMs must obtain a master’s degree in nursing, but most continue their education and earn a doctorate.

4. Nursing Education

A master's degree in nursing education prepares nurses to teach the next generation of nurses.  Nurse educators can work in the clinical or classroom settings, and their duties include:

Most MSN nurse educator programs take two years to complete and have in-person clinical requirements. While some programs tailor their curriculum specifically for those interested in working in the classroom, others require clinicals in hospital and academic settings.

5. Nurse Administrator

Nurse administrators are high-level executives in nursing leadership roles who work in hospitals and healthcare systems. They supervise and oversee nursing staff and create and administer clinical programs for the entire organization. Common nurse administrator duties include:

• Managing day-to-day operations for the entire nursing staff
• Budgeting and financial planning
• Creating operational strategies based on clinical and managerial experience and expertise

According to the BLS, nurse administrators fall into the category of Medical and Health Services Managers, and they earn an average salary of $117,960 per year, $56.71 per hour.

A master's-level advanced nursing program in administration takes two to three years. Unlike other MSN programs, these programs focus more on business, administration, and operational strategies vs. health assessment and pharmacology.

6. Nursing Informatics

Nursing informatics is a relatively newer branch of nursing education. An MSN in nursing informatics is ideal for those interested in combining nursing science with technology to improve communication and information transference within the field.

An advanced nursing degree in nursing informatics covers a broad range. Examples of nursing informatics include electronic medical records (EMR), computerized provider order entry (CPOE), and telemedicine.

Payscale reports the average annual salary for an informatics nurse is $86,844 or $37.97 per hour.

1. Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)

A DNAP is a terminal degree specifically for those practicing nurse anesthesia. Accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), this degree focuses on using research findings for evidence-based clinical practice, education, and/or administration/business management related to nursing anesthesia.

CRNAs are among the highest-paid nurses according to the BLS, as well as one of the top-ranked nursing jobs. The BLS reports an average salary of $223,210 per year. 

DNAP programs take roughly two to four years to complete. The total time it will take you to earn a DNAP depends on the program and whether you attend as a full or part time student. Programs typically require 30-40 credit hours and 1,000 clinical hours. A percentage of clinical hours earned during an MSN program can transfer to some programs.

2. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is a terminal nursing degree rooted in clinical practice. Nurses with an MSN can advance their knowledge and expertise by pursuing this advanced nursing degree. Students must pursue a DNP through a program accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), which sets DNP curriculum.

While you can earn a DNP with any MSN background, typically nurses who are in clinical practice (e.g., CNSs or NPs) pursue this degree. A DNP is an educational credential awarded by academic institutions upon the completion of a rigorous doctoral-level program. DNP-prepared nurses generally work in one of two settings: leadership and administration roles or APRN direct patient care roles.

According to Payscale, nurses with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree earn an average annual salary of $116K or $58.36 per hour.

3. PhD in Nursing

A Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD in Nursing) is a research-focused doctorate in which students conduct research to advance the science and practice of nursing. PhDs are considered the gold standard for terminal degrees in nursing for those interested in teaching and research.

A PhD in nursing program takes at least three years to complete for full-time studens. Most individuals complete the programs in five to seven years. The curriculum is between 45 and 70 credit hours. While PhD in nursing degrees don’t require a direct patient care practicum, they do require a dissertation.

Nurse researchers with a PhD can earn a base annual salary of $81,500, according to Payscale.

4. EdD in Nursing Education

The Doctor of Education (EdD) with a specialization in nursing education is a terminal doctoral degree specifically designed for nurse educators interested in teaching in an academic setting. This degree is ideal for those teaching didactic courses in the classroom vs. clinical instructors.

Programs include courses in current best practices and trends in teaching nursing and training new nurses.

There is no clinical component to an EdD program, but students must complete a dissertation in an area of their passion in nursing education. You can complete and EdD program in as few as three years.