What Is an MSN Program?

NPs are advanced practice RNs who provide primary and specialty care. An NP must hold at least a master's degree with clinical training to earn certification in a specialty, such as family care, pediatrics, or oncology. You can learn more about NP specialties below.

During a nurse practitioner program, students complete several hundred clinical hours to build their patient care skills. Like RNs, NPs must apply for state licenses. States typically require a master's degree for NP licensure, and some may require DNPs in the future. Learn more about NP careers or check out online MSN nurse practitioner programs with our helpful guides.

• Acute Care: Acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) treat patients experiencing medical issues such as injuries or illness. ACNPs commonly work in emergency healthcare settings or ambulatory clinics.
• Cardiac: A cardiac nurse practitioner specializes in heart health and diseases that affect the circulatory system. As specialty care providers, they diagnose and treat heart conditions and monitor patients with acute or chronic heart problems.
• Clinical: Clinical nurse practitioners can assess and diagnose patients, prescribe treatments and medications, and order diagnostic tests. Within the clinical specialty, NPs can focus on many different subspecialties.
• Emergency: Emergency nurse practitioners specialize in emergency medicine. They assess critically ill or injured patients, diagnose acute conditions, and determine treatment plans in settings like emergency rooms or urgent care clinics.
• Family: Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) act as primary care providers for patients of all ages. Their training prepares them for family practice, typically in a doctor's office or community clinic. FNPs conduct health assessments, perform wellness checks, and educate patients on wellness.
• Gerontology Acute Care: A gerontology acute care nurse practitioner treats acute and chronic conditions in older patients. They conduct health assessments, diagnose acute or critical conditions, and create treatment plans for their patients.
• Gerontology Primary Care: A gerontology primary care nurse practitioner specializes in primary care for aging patients. They monitor physical and mental conditions related to aging and refer patients to specialists for acute care needs.
• Neonatal: Neonatal nurse practitioners care for newborn babies who require specialty medical attention. They monitor infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and work with physicians and neonatal nurses to treat premature infants and babies with health issues.
• Oncology: Oncology nurse practitioners care for cancer patients, particularly those actively undergoing treatments. They often coordinate with physicians on treatment plans. Some oncology NPs conduct cancer research.
• Orthopedic: Orthopedic nurse practitioners treat patients with musculoskeletal problems. They specialize in injuries that affect the bones or muscles, including orthopedic diseases. Orthopedic NPs often work closely with orthopedic surgeons.
• Pediatric Acute Care: Pediatric acute care nurse practitioners specialize in working with children who have acute and chronic illnesses. They monitor patients that require ongoing management, often working in hospitals or pediatric intensive care units.
• Pediatric: Pediatric nurse practitioners are primary care providers for children from birth through adolescence. They conduct wellness examinations, discuss health issues with the child's parent or guardian, and manage common pediatric medical conditions.
• Psychiatry and Mental Health: Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioners diagnose and treat patients with mental health disorders. They conduct psychiatric evaluations, evaluate patients' medical histories, and recommend treatment plans.
• Women's Health: Women's health nurse practitioners specialize in primary care for female patients. Also called OBGYN nurses, they offer gynecological exams, family planning services, and women's wellness care. Women's health NPs often work in doctor's offices or hospitals.

Nurse anesthetists care for patients before, during, and after medical procedures that require anesthesia. They interview patients, administer pain management during surgery, and monitor patients after procedures. Nurse anesthetists also monitor vital signs and discuss pain management needs for discharged patients.

An MSN program trains nurses in administering anesthesia. By 2025, nurse anesthetist programs will shift from the master's level to the doctoral level, so RNs considering nurse anesthetist graduate programs may not be able to find MSN-only anesthetist programs in the future.

Nurse midwives care for pregnant women and newborn babies. They conduct gynecological and prenatal exams, deliver babies, and offer primary maternity care. During labor and delivery, nurse midwives assess patient needs and manage any emergencies. Nurse midwives also educate patients on wellness and provide family planning care.

Nurse midwife MSN programs blend classroom and practicum training to prepare RNs for advanced clinical roles in the women's health specialty.

Clinical nurse specialists offer direct patient care in pediatrics, home health, and public health. They also research patient care and design policies to improve quality in healthcare settings, often acting as leaders in healthcare organizations and participating in research and policymaking.

An MSN degree trains clinical nurse specialists through both classroom and experiential learning. Graduate students also complete clinical hours to strengthen their practical skills.

Nurse educators teach other nurses in healthcare and academic environments. In a healthcare setting, nurse educators provide clinical instruction to RNs and other healthcare staff. They train employees on procedures and help them build clinical skills. In academic settings, they give lectures and teach classes.

The role requires at least an MSN degree, though nursing professors often hold doctorates. During a nurse educator program, nurses build the pedagogical skills needed to teach other nurses.

Nurse administrators manage teams of nurses and healthcare staff. Also known as nurse leaders or nurse executives, they implement procedures to improve patient care, manage budgets, and monitor long-term goals. Nurse administrators also recruit and hire nurses, evaluate staff performance, and create shift schedules.

MSN programs for nurse administrators strengthen the leadership, management, and financial skills necessary for administrative roles in healthcare organizations. Graduates with MSNs can pursue roles in hospitals, doctor's offices, ambulatory care facilities, and other healthcare settings.