Graduate Degrees in Nursing & Medicine
Have a passion for medicine, but don’t want to go to medical school? Then, you are at the right place. Online colleges offer challenging online degree programs in medicine and nursing to lead you toward many rewarding careers in the medical field. Online colleges offer everything from a Master of Science and a Master of Arts degree, as well as an MBA for students who are interested in health care management and administration. Alternative medicine, counseling, dental, health services, medical billing, radiology and nursing are just some of the diverse subjects offered at online colleges. Some examples of specific medical degrees include: MS in Addiction Counseling, MS in Human Movement, MBA in Health Care Management and Master of Arts in Psychology.
The best jobs for graduates in this field of work also depend on your degree level and specific area of study. Graduates with a master’s degree in health administration are qualified to work as health care administrators, who plan, direct and supervise the delivery of health care. At smaller facilities, they may handle daily duties of finances, policies, quality and marketing strategies. In larger facilities, health care administrators oversee the direction of activities in different clinical areas, such as nursing, surgery, therapy and medical records. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the earnings for health care administrators vary by type and size of the health care facility and by level of responsibility. On average, their median annual earnings were $73,340 in 2006. Both a Master of Business Administration in Health Systems or Healthcare Management prepare students to be health care industry leaders, working in advanced management or senior administration positions. With this graduate degree, students could find a career in senior managerial positions in hospitals, medical practice organizations, long-term care facilities, health insurance companies, consulting firms and pharmaceutical companies. Graduate students may also be interested in pursuing a career in health care management, which focuses on improving the quality and use of health care services, while examining the relationship between payers, providers and suppliers, as well as the legal issues facing today’s health care providers. A graduate with a Master’s in Science in Health Care Management will be eligible to hold a management position in a doctor’s office, medical and surgical hospital, home health care and outpatient center. Another medical field that is in high demand is nursing. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing states that employers are presently seeking nurses prepared at the bachelor’s and graduate-degree levels, because they can deliver a higher complexity of care needed in acute-care, primary-care and community health settings. The AACN reports that demand is particularly greater for key specialty nurses, such as critical care, neonatal nursing, emergency, labor and delivery units, as well as for advanced practice RNs like nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists.
The job outlook for medical occupations is favorable and demand is expected to grow rapidly. As the population increases and the life expectancy grows, people will require more medical attention, which will create a greater demand for nurses and physicians. A graduate degree in medicine or nursing will prepare you for the ever-changing needs of the health care industry and give you the knowledge and skills to advance positions in this rewarding field of work.