Master’s in Nursing Schools in Texas

The large state of Texas may be an excellent state for nurses looking to advance their education, due to the number of large cities and health care demands in the state. A Master’s in Nursing degree may expand your options in the fields of nurse leadership, nurse education, and advanced patient care. To find the MSN programs in Texas that you are interested in, have a look at the school offerings, and request program details to learn more about individual routes of study.

Featured Programs:

Working With Your MSN in Texas

If you’re considering a career in nursing education, now may be a good time to pursue that goal. Texas is a large state offering many career opportunities for nurses with master’s degrees. With a MSN degree, you could work in the great state of Texas as an informatics nurse specialist or a nurse midwife.

Nursing schools are adding new locations in Texas to meet the growing demand for registered nurses. This shortage is only expected to grow as the years go on. The Community Impact Newspaper reports that the growing aging population in Texas is expected to create a greater demand for registered nurses in coming years. As a result, local colleges are hiring nurse educators to help increase the amount of graduates.

Currently, nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses in Texas must function under a limited scope of practice. Kaiser Health Newsclaims that nurse practitioners in the state are fighting for independent practice rights. The Texas Action Coalition and other advocacy groups support advanced practice nurses in these efforts. Legislative changes in Texas may allow nurse practitioners to help solve the primary care shortage in many parts of Texas.

With the steep incline in computer charting and computerized medical records, the need for informatics nurse specialists is on the rise. These specialists design, test, and implement new or modified informatics solutions and data systems within the healthcare setting.

A master’s prepared nurse midwife works closely with women of childbearing age to achieve healthy full-term pregnancies. They see women for pre-natal appointments and even deliver their babies in a variety of different settings.

If you would like to learn more about earning your MSN degree and working in either of these careers, contact the schools listed below for details.

Nursing Schools in Texas

Texas A&M Health Science Center
Bryan, TX

What You Can Expect From Your MSN Program

Texas health care employers understand the value of a well-trained workforce, which is why many places encourage their nurses to go back to school to further their education. You may have used your BSN to get lots of valuable experience in the nursing workforce, and now you’re ready to take the next step in your career. Earning an MSN in Texas has many benefits, both professional and personal, and there are a variety of options to choose from. Contact the Texas nursing schools that offer Master’s degree programs today to learn more about how you can advance your career through higher education.

When you take a look at the changing state of health care in the United States, you can see why an advanced nursing degree can be beneficial. The Texas Tribune notes that the state has a burgeoning doctor shortage that is difficult to fix. One proposed solution is the increased hiring of nurse practitioners to fill essential primary care roles. Though there are some limits to the scope of practice of nurse practitioners in Texas, they can perform many of the same services as medical doctors. By becoming a nurse practitioner and taking on a position at a hospital or clinic, you may be able to improve the standard of care in Texas, filling the gap between the need and supply of qualified primary care providers.

Regardless of which graduate-level career path you choose, Texas may have the professional support network you need. The Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists is a lobbying group that helps to further the careers of nurse anesthetists. Members can also attend networking and education events. Texas Nurse Practitioners aims to meet many goals, including increasing standards for nurse practitioners, helping NPs move into positions of leadership, and supporting legislation that helps nurse practitioners.

As you begin looking into MSN programs in Texas, you want to make sure that you pick a program that’s approved by the Texas Board of Nursing. This agency oversees the curricula and instruction methods of different nursing schools to ensure that students get the proper education. Their standards ensure that you get enough training to earn advanced licensure in your area of study.

Your nursing school will likely provide you with a list of learning outcomes that they use to determine your success as a student. Become very familiar with these goals and strive to meet them throughout your education! You must demonstrate competency in your chosen advanced nursing role, further the field of nursing through scholarship and research, and be capable of taking on leadership roles in advanced nursing roles.

Your Texas MSN program’s curriculum is meant to prepare you for the duties and tasks of your career role, as well as meeting the learning outcomes of your program. Early on, you may take classes like Nursing Theory and Research, Advanced Pharmacology and Pathophysiology, and Advanced Assessment. These classes get you ready for more intensive courses like Psychiatric Nursing Management, Clinical Skills for APNs, and Family Nursing.

As a Texas graduate-level nursing student, you can apply for scholarships offered locally, statewide, and nationwide. Looking into a variety of financial aid opportunities can help you get as much money for college as possible. The Texas Nurses Association District 5 awards scholarships to nursing students in central Texas. The Good Samaritan Foundation awards the Excellence in Nursing Awards and other scholarships. If you work for a health care employer, consider looking into scholarships offered by your employer. For example, Methodist Health System awards the Methodist Health System Nursing Scholarship.

Contact the Texas nursing schools that offer MSN programs to learn more about your options for study, as well as costs, curriculum and career tracks. Earning your Master’s in Nursing in Texas is essential to improving healthcare in the state, and can strengthen the nursing profession along the way.

Texas RN to MSN Bridge Programs

No matter how long you’ve been a registered nurse in Texas, you’ve likely seen the wide variety of responsibilities given to nursing professionals. If you’ve gotten some experience caring for patients and working in different specialties, you may be ready to tackle an RN-to-MSN bridge program. With this program, you can learn about how to conduct research, lead nursing staff, teach student nurses, or provide advanced care to patients. The San Antonio Business Journal reports that nursing homes in this state have started improving their laboratories to provide a higher standard of care. As an advanced nursing professional, you can contribute to these exciting reforms.

As you prepare to start an RN-to-MSN program in Texas, you’ll need to choose a nursing specialty. Some of the specialties available in Texas include nurse anesthesia, nurse midwifery, nurse practitioner, nurse education, or nurse administration. It’s important to select a school that offers the specialty of your choosing, since offerings vary from school to school.

Your curriculum will be based around the specialty you choose. Regardless of your specialty choice, though, the first semester or two of your education will be spent completing Bachelor’s-level nursing courses. These classes bring you up to the level of education you must have to take Master’s-level courses. BSN courses you’ll likely have to take include Nursing Population and Settings, Nursing Research, and Theoretical Foundations of Nursing.

Once you reach the level of MSN, you can take core nursing classes that provide you with intensive experience in different specialties. Some of the courses that may be part of your curriculum include Nursing Management, Human Resources Management, Health Care Finance, Pharmacotherapeutics, and Advanced Nursing Ethics. Many of these courses have a clinical component; in total, you may gain over 600 hours of clinical experience. Administrative specialties may require fewer clinical hours than advanced practice specialties.

Upon deciding to complete an RN-to-MSN program in Texas, you may be able to take advantage of the many financial aid opportunities in this state. Your school of choice may have grants and scholarships for you to consider. Texas also has quite a few nursing associations with financial aid. The University Health System for Bexar County and Beyond has a nursing scholarship program for financially-challenged students. The Texas Nurses Association of District 5 offers grants to students in central Texas. Certain health care employers also have financial aid programs. Methodist Health System is one such employer in Texas.

In some cases, completing your MSN degree is just one of the steps you must take to start your new career. Specifically, the Texas Board of Nursing requires nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to get an advanced practice license before they begin working. This process can be lengthy, since you have to pass an extensive exam in your specialty area and prove that you’ve met the state’s educational standards.

Getting an MSN and taking on more responsibility as a nurse doesn’t just help you and your career. Rather, taking this step can have a great effect on the entire field of nursing. By deepening your knowledge of nursing theory and research, you may improve health care standards throughout Texas.

Texas Direct Entry MSN

Are you looking for a new career and need something new and exciting that is also rewarding and stable? Becoming a nurse through a direct entry Master’s in Nursing may be the right program for you. Designed for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, a direct entry MSN program builds upon the knowledge you have learned and prepares you for an advanced career in the field of nursing. Find out how you could obtain your master’s of science in nursing in as little as two years and experience an exciting and rewarding new career.

The overwhelming need for nurses with advanced degrees in Texas is growing. As Texas conforms to the recent changes in national healthcare laws, more people than ever before have access to health insurance. Nurses with advanced degrees can help fill in the gaps where primary care can not. Recent legislation passed in Texas has loosened the reigns on supervision requirements for advanced practice nurses. While they are still restricted in that they are not able to practice independently of a physician, it has opened up new opportunities for prescriptive power.

Entering the nursing profession with your graduate degree can position you as a leader in the field, while simultaneously helping to alleviate the pressures on the primary care system in Texas.

Direct Entry MSN Programs in Texas

To apply to a Direct Entry MSN program, you must hold a bachelor’s degree in another field other than nursing. Most programs require an official transcript documenting the award of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Other requirements may include application fees, references, prerequisites, health examinations and various other requirements depending on the program of choice.

The direct entry MSN program is accelerated and will start off by teaching you the fundamentals of nursing before delving into more advanced coursework pertaining to your master’s degree and choice of specialization. There are many different areas of nursing you could specialize in. Before choosing a school, you will want to make sure they offer the area that you are interested in focusing on.

Here is a sample list of classes that may be similar to other course outlines:

Introduction to Professional Nursing
Pathophysiology
Pharmacology
Nursing Management of Adults with Acute & Chronic Disorders I
Clinical Practicum
Epidemiology for the Health Professions
Health Assessment
Nursing Management of Adults with Acute & Chronic Disorders
Nursing Management of Childbearing Families
Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice
Nursing Management of Adults with Neurologic/Sensory and Psychosocial Behavioral Disorders
Nursing Management of Children in Health and Illness
Research for Advanced Practice Nursing
Transition to Professional Nursing Practice
Community Health Nursing
Clinical Practicum
Nursing Management of Adults with Complex Health Problems
Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist
Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
Pathophysiology of Human Disease
Comprehensive Assessment for Clinical Decision Making
Specialty Clinical Course
Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse

Many nurses with advanced degrees enter careers as nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse leaders, or nurse educators. Your occupation could land you in a hospital or even a classroom. The possibilities for advanced practice nurses are nearly endless. Your career could land you some place you would have never expected.

Career Opportunities with a Master’s Degree in Nursing

Entering a career with an excellent growth rate can help ensure job marketability and job security among other perks. A direct entry MSN program can help you reach that goal. Find out what program in Texas is right for you by contacting the schools you find on our site.

Texas CRNA Programs

As a registered nurse, you may assume that you’ll always have to answer to doctors and work exclusively as part of a large team of nurses. However, there are many ways that you can use your nursing experience and education to propel yourself into a nursing career that offers more independence and responsibility. Nurse anesthesia may be the field for you if you want to spend more time taking in nursing research, caring for patients autonomously, and collaborating with other health care professionals.

Nurse anesthetists are in demand in the state of Texas. Health care costs remain high for much of the population, even in light of new health care legislation. Since nurse certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) can provide numerous anesthesiology services at lower rates than anesthesiologists, they can do a lot to keep hospitals’ and patients’ costs down. Because of the amount of training you complete in a nurse anesthesia program, patient outcomes are statistically very good for nurse anesthetists. You do need to be willing to work in a variety of fields, including surgery, labor and delivery, and emergency care. This job may involve traveling between hospitals or hospital wards in order to meet the health care needs of your community.

Are you ready to take the next step in your nursing career? Find out what it means to become a nurse anesthetist and how you can get the training you need to work in this exciting specialty.

Admissions and Curriculum for CRNA Programs in Texas

Nurse anesthetists are highly respected health care professionals that take on quite a bit of professional liability and responsibility, so you must be prepared for a rigorous educational program. As you apply for acceptance to different programs, you may find that you need a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. CRNA schools in Texas may also contact your current and previous employers to ensure that you have one year or more of full-time nursing experience. Experience in trauma care, perioperative nursing, or emergency care may be a plus.

After you have been accepted to a Texas CRNA program, you may be able to start the process of applying for different types of financial aid. Many nursing schools in Texas offer graduate nursing scholarships, so you may apply for school-specific scholarships through your program. The School of Nursing Scholarship Application may allow you to automatically apply for schoolwide scholarships. The Good Samaritan Foundation may provide financial aid to nursing professionals that hope to advance their education. College for All Texans is a local organization that funds the Professional Nursing Scholarship and other nursing grants.

As you look over the curriculum for your nursing program, you may find that you take a wide variety of courses in your two to four years in school. Beginning courses may include Advanced Physiology, Research for Evidence-Based Practice, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Applied Epidemiology. Courses that deepen your knowledge of nurse anesthesia include Anesthesia Principles, Evolving Health Care Environments, Anesthesia Pharmacology, and Health Assessment.

While working toward your CRNA degree, you can plan on getting clinical experiences in many different settings. To qualify for certification at the national level, you must work with at least 550 nurse anesthesiology patients. You may get some of this experience in the early part of your education, but most of it may be finished in the second half of your CRNA program. This part of your training can help you start to make connections in the advanced nursing community of Texas.

Working as a Nurse Anesthetist in Texas

You may wonder what other steps you must follow to become a working nurse anesthetist in Texas. The first step requires you to contact the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. Once you submit your school transcripts and proof of graduation, you can take the national certification exam in nurse anesthesia. You can then call yourself a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

Have proof of your new title sent to the Texas Board of Nursing. Once you go through the application process to become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, you can begin working independently as a nurse anesthetist in Texas. Before you actually begin working on your own, however, you must obtain professional liability insurance. This insurance is designed to protect you and your place of employment.

As part of your career, you may wish to take part in professional organizations that relate to your field. The Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists unites nurse anesthetists all over the state. You may take part in biannual meetings, attend networking and training conferences, and learn about job opportunities in different parts of Texas.

Nursing is a growing field, and nurse anesthesia is a particularly in-demand field. Take your part in this field by contacting nurse anesthesia schools in Texas today to get program details.

Forensic Nursing in Texas

One of the benefits of working as a registered nurse is the wide variety of experiences you get in clinics, emergency rooms, and nursing homes. During your time as a registered nurse, you may have worked with victims of crime, particularly while working in emergency care settings. Those who are subjected to violent crime often need special handling and treatment that is sensitive to their trauma. If you are interested in the fields of forensic evidence and criminal justice, consider earning a forensic nursing degree in Texas.

Texas, like many other states, has a growing demand for nurses with specialized forensic training. In fact, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Crisis Services Program of Texas runs a standalone SANE program for victims.

How can you get started in forensic nursing in TX?

Just check out the list of nursing schools below and contact programs near you.

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Master’s Degree Programs in Forensic Nursing in Texas

If you are interested in graduate-level forensic nurse programs, it’s important to verify that you meet the admissions requirements for Texas programs. Texas programs require a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, registered nursing experience, and a current nursing license. Many programs have strict academic standards, so a strong GPA and positive professor references can be valuable.

Forensic Nursing Graduate Courses

Introduction to Forensic Science
Scientific Foundations for Forensic Nursing Interventions
Forensic Nursing: Caring for Victims
Forensic Nursing: Caring for Perpetrators
Criminal Law

While earning your Master’s degree, you should earn between 30 and 50 credits at forensic nurse programs. Some of these courses focus on general advanced nursing techniques and standards, but others are unique to the field of forensic nursing.
Curricular requirements are different for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner programs and legal nurse consulting programs, since these career paths are highly specialized. In each type of degree program, you need hands-on experience in your primary area of practice.

Your Master’s degree or certificate may pave the way to certification. If you are going to become an Advanced Forensic Nurse or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, you must meet the requirements of the Commission for Forensic Nursing Certification.

The Role of Forensic Nurses in Texas

As you near completion of your forensic nursing program, you may start to look into general options and work settings. You may also find that there are quite a few healthcare facilities that rely on forensic nurses and SANEs. Each year, more facilities add around-the-clock SANE staffing for the benefit of victims.

In the field of legal nurse consulting, employment options are slightly different. In major cities, you may find legal nurse consultation firms that hire nurses out to lawyers for specific cases. Other consultants choose to become self-employed and decide which cases to take.

Take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about becoming a forensic nurse.

Browse the list of forensic nurse schools below and contact them to learn more.

Texas Clinical Nurse Leader

Texas is an incredibly important state in terms of health care and health technology. Thanks to the huge amount of care centers and patients in this state, Texas has the funding needed for important research and medical advances that improve patients’ lives. This may give you the opportunity to advance your nursing career and take on new responsibilities in your career.

Nursing leaders in Texas have made many impressive advances in nursing care. Currently, the focus in this state is promoting independent self-care (Nurse.com). This is anticipated to improve the care experience and healing times for patients.

Furthermore, nurse leaders are expected to be part of the statewide push to improve nursing home ratings in Texas (Houston Chronicle). Utilizing nurse leaders in nursing homes can allow for more evidence-based care protocols and accountability for patient outcomes.

Are you ready to take the next step toward a leadership position in nursing? Find out more by contacting graduate nursing leadership programs in Texas to request program details.

How Can I Become a Clinical Nurse Leader in Texas?

Across Texas, you’ll find a variety of nurse leadership and management programs. If you want to become a Clinical Nurse Leader after graduation, make sure you attend a program that is approved by the AACN. Most programs in this specialty require about 33 credits, which a full-time student can complete in four semesters. Keep in mind that this is a clinical specialty, so you must maintain your registered nursing license to continue your education. The Texas Board of Nursing requires you to renew your license every two years.

Each college and university in Texas sets its own learning standards and areas of competency. Comparing learning goals is one way to find a program that puts the appropriate emphasis on clinical care. Learning goals may include an understanding of organizational efficiency, improvement of clinical outcomes, effective health care leadership skills, and evidence-based care in nursing.

You may tackle these and other subjects in courses like:

Transforming Health Care Through Nursing Leadership
Statistics in Nursing
Organizational Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
Nursing Leadership and Administration
Health Care Finance
Evaluation and Application of Research in Advanced Nursing
Developing and Leading Human Performance

After you graduate from an approved program, you can register to take the Clinical Nurse Leadership certification exam through the AACN. You can officially use the title of Clinical Nurse Leader upon receiving your certification. You must then renew your certification every five years by completing 50 hours of continuing education.

What Does a Clinical Nurse Leader Do?

There is quite a bit that goes into working as a nurse leader in Texas. First, it is important to be flexible in your understanding of this role and what it entails, since it is likely that each health care employer will have their own expectations for nurse leaders and managers.

However, the official competencies and responsibilities of this role are thoroughly outlined by the AACN. They note that this is a clinical management role, which means that you must take a hands-on role in patient care. This sets the role apart from nursing careers that focus primarily on administration.

An important part of this role is what you do for the nursing community as a whole. In addition to working in a leadership capacity at your place of employment, you should also feel ready to act as a leader in the nursing community of Texas. Taking on this responsibility can help you encourage new nurses, encourage ongoing training and education amongst nurses in your community, and maintain a focus on evidence-based standards in nursing.

This may seem like a lot to take on, but getting involved in the nurse leadership community may help you get comfortable in your new career. The Texas Organization of Nurse Leadership is a popular resource for networking and training in this state, so you may wish to join when you begin your nurse leadership training.

By taking the next step in your nursing education, you are investing in yourself and in the nursing industry. The work that you are able to do as a Clinical Nurse Leader can have long-term benefits for you, your coworkers, and the patients you serve.

Get started now by contacting the Master’s in nursing leadership programs in Texas listed below.

Texas Research Nursing Graduate Programs

Given the size of Texas and its population, it should be clear why this state is used as an example for health care industries all over the country. Texas care providers and executives must make decisions that address the needs of millions upon millions of residents. How do they ensure that they make an informed choice? They utilize an ever-growing body of nursing research.

Nursing research in Texas is incredibly important; thanks to the diversity of the population in this state, the findings that come from Texas facilities can often be applied to many other states. Since this field is growing so rapidly, research programs are revamping their programs, securing additional funding, and setting more aggressive research goals.

If you feel like it is time to use your nursing education in a new way, find out how at research nursing graduate programs in Texas.

Texas Graduate Degree Programs in Nursing Research

You may be curious about what it is like to earn a nursing research degree, particularly if you will need to adjust your schedule or hours to attend school. The good news is that earning a Master’s degree in nursing research only involves the completion of 30 credits, which most students can complete in about four semesters. A PhD can take considerably longer, although a great deal depends on your focus and how hard you work.

In your curriculum, you’ll find clinical nursing courses, courses that focus specifically on research techniques, and classes that bring together the fields of nursing and research. You must be thoroughly educated in all of these areas before taking on a research position. Classes that are commonly required of nursing research students include Applications of Research to Health Care, Health Systems Management, Program Evaluation in Health Care, Statistical Literacy and Reasoning in Nursing Research, and Research Ethics in Health Care. Practical experience is essential.

Throughout your education, you should work under nursing researchers, instructors, PhD students, and health care executives. Getting this breadth of experience can make you a more valuable asset to the field of clinical research.

Of the many nursing grants in Texas, quite a few focus on research and improving the field of nursing. The Nursing Innovation Grant is offered every academic year.

The Role of Clinical Nurse Researchers in Texas

As you progress through your education, you may learn more about employment opportunities in your area. A prominent Texas employer is the Baylor Research Institute, which has a focus on islet cell transplantation.

Learn more about clinical research in Texas and how you may contribute to this part of the nursing industry. Check out our list of nurse research programs in Texas for more information.

Texas Certified Nurse Midwife

You’re a skilled registered nurse, with hundreds or even thousands of cases under your belt. With your experience in the nursing field, you may be figuring out how you want to take your career to the next level and make the most of your nursing potential. If you’re interested in learning about women’s health care issues and meeting their medical needs as a primary care provider, you might be an excellent certified nurse midwife.

Contact the nurse midwife programs in Texas that are listed below to learn more about your options and how to get accepted into the program you want to attend.

Nurse midwives are renowned for their ability to assist women through pregnancy, labor, and delivery. However, they also provide many other types of health care to women. They may serve as primary care providers, prescribe medications, and refer patients to other care specialists. In some cases, they serve as patient educators. Nurse midwives often speak to women’s groups and associations about health issues like stress, healthy eating, and exercise.

If you feel like you’d be a great nurse midwife, take the first step now by requesting more information from certified nurse midwife programs in Texas.

Becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife in Texas

Certified nurse midwifery programs in Texas are designed for dedicated nursing professionals who are committed to providing excellent care to women throughout the state. Over the course of two to three years, you earn about 50 credits in nurse midwifery and complete a master’s degree in nursing. To enroll directly in a CNM program, you need a Bachelor’s degree in nursing and at least one year of full-time nursing experience.

Once you’ve selected an advanced nursing program, you can become familiar with your learning outcomes and goals. This helps you figure out what to focus on and what skills you must develop. Programs in Texas aim to give you a strong understanding of nursing research, give you a solid background in women’s health issues and procedures, teach you how to work alongside other specialized health care staff, and give you the skills you need to facilitate health amongst the female population.

Meeting these goals takes time and a lot of work. To become a skilled CNM, you may take courses like Evidence-Based Nursing, Advanced Health Assessment, Pathophysiology in Pregnancy and Childbearing, Advanced Pharmacology, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Antepartum Care Management, and Antepartum Complications. Throughout the course of your education, you may gain over 1,000 hours of clinical experience.

Consider applying for scholarships to save money for school and avoid taking on student loans. Texas has quite a few large corporations, agencies, and employers that offer advanced nursing student scholarships. The Methodist Health System awards scholarships to nursing students at various levels of education. Scholarships are also plentiful through the Good Samaritan Foundation of Texas. Consider contacting the Texas Nurses Association District 5 to learn more about local scholarship offerings.

Working as a Certified Nurse Midwife in Texas

The field of nurse midwifery is highly regulated in the state of Texas, so you may want to start preparing for the licensure process while still completing your education. The American Midwifery Certification Board awards national certification after an applicant passes a comprehensive midwifery exam. You must also get an advanced practice nursing license from the Texas Board of Nursing. Once both of these requirements are met, you can begin practicing as a certified nurse midwife in Texas.

Take the next step in your nursing career today by contacting certified nurse midwife programs in Texas from those listed below.

Texas Clinical Nurse Specialist Degrees

There’s a lot to love about the field of nursing. As a nursing professional, you can provide evidence-based care to patients, keep up on research that affects your standard of care, and become part of a health care team that keeps people healthy. If you’re ready to pursue a graduate-level education, you may have many career choices to consider.

Becoming a clinical nurse specialist may be the right move for you if you want a career that combines research, leadership, and clinical care. The best way to get started is to request program details from the schools you see below, then compare your options thoroughly before making a decision.

Becoming a clinical nurse specialist can put you in a great position to affect massive change in the health care industry. A recent report shows how clinical nurse specialists have tackled serious nursing issues, like staffing levels and infection control in a hospital setting. If you’re ready to get started, keep reading to learn more about clinical nurse specialist (CNS) programs in Texas.

Becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Texas

Education and experience are two of the most important parts of succeeding in this new career path. Your Bachelor’s degree in nursing serves as an excellent base for a graduate degree in nursing. In addition, your nursing experience should help you feel more confident as a care provider. Most schools in Texas require at least one year of full-time work as an RN.

When you first start out as a CNS student, you may enroll in courses that make you a better nurse overall. These classes include Advanced Nursing Concepts in Theory and Practice, Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Health Assessment, and Diversity in Health Care.

Once you have succeeded in these classes, you may proceed to courses that specifically deal with the population you serve and your anticipated job duties. Classes you may enroll in include Acute Care and Critical Care Nursing, Health Policy and Ethics, Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse, and Evidence-Based Practice.

No matter how much clinical experience you have from your BSN or your career, you may spend well over 600 hours in a clinical setting as a student. After all, you must be able to function in a leadership role as well as an advanced practice role. Where you work depends on which CNS field you choose.

As an advanced nursing student in Texas, you may have the opportunity to apply for scholarships and grants. College for All Texans awards scholarships to students in various specialties, particularly those in in-demand fields like nursing. The Nursing Innovation Grant Program is awarded every two years to high-performing students. Another scholarship resource for Texan students is the Good Samaritan Foundation.

Working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Texas

By the time you complete your Master’s degree, you’re likely ready to start working and expand your scope of practice. With a current RN license, this process should be easier. You can first contact the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which certifies clinical nurse specialists in different fields. Once you have gained national certification, you can become an advanced practice nurse by applying for your license via the Texas Board of Nursing.

CNN Money reports that this is one of the fastest-growing professions in recent years.

Is it time to take your nursing career to the next level and find out what you’re truly capable of? Take the first step by contacting clinical nurse specialist programs in Texas.

Texas Public Health Graduate Programs

The public health issues facing Texas are wide and varied, requiring the expertise of health care professionals who understand how and why health problems take root in communities. As a registered nurse, you may have seen the effects of public health problems in your daily work. Drug epidemics, environmental issues, and other health problems can ravage communities. Texas combats these problems through agencies like the Public Health Preparedness program of the Department of State.

Studying what makes communities healthy and how to encourage high health standards in a community can put you in a great position to take your nursing career further. Are you interested in finding out how you can become a leader in your local health community? If so, keep reading to learn more about public health nursing graduate programs in Texas.

Featured Programs:

Master’s Degree Programs in Public Health Nursing in Texas

Taking the next step in your education shows that you are ready to face the diverse challenges and expectations of public health nursing. Keep in mind that this field is basically an entirely different career than registered nursing, so your Master’s degree should help you get an entirely new mindset. Rather than looking at individual patients and their needs, you look at your community as a whole to figure out what it needs to become more healthy.

Credit requirements differ between schools. In general, though, this program involves completing 30 to 40 credits in advanced nursing courses. These courses are split between theory and clinical work, so get ready to get out into the community and apply your new nursing skills to different public health settings.

The curriculum for your chosen school should give you the background you need to take on a public health nursing position after graduation. To reach this goal, you may enroll in courses like Management & Evaluation in Public Health Nursing, Leadership in Nursing, Epidemiology, Context of Health Care for Advanced Practice Nursing, Applications of Research to Practice, Reasoning in Nursing Research, and Program Development for Public Health Nursing.

Especially in the field of public health, there are many scholarship opportunities for those who want to earn an advanced nursing degree. Since a strong public health department can save the state money, scholarships are an investment that many states are willing to make. Applying for federal and state aid should be one of your first steps. There are also private organizations with financial aid opportunities, like the Good Samaritan Foundation of Texas.

The Role of Public Health Nurses in Texas

Dedicating yourself to the public health industry often means working with other departments and agencies to reach common goals. In Bell County, public health professionals worked with environmental professionals to investigate illegal dumping in Lake Belton. Public health nurses were responsible for determining the possible health consequences of this action and figuring out what needed to be done to protect residents.

Your nursing skills can benefit your community in so many different ways. Discover what you can do with an advanced nursing degree by reaching out to public health nursing programs in Texas.

Texas Healthcare Policy Degrees

To change the outcomes of an industry, you have to change it at every level. In healthcare, more than any other industry, this begins with policy.

If policymakers and legislators understand the demands of this field and create policies that mesh with the goals of healthcare providers, the people of Texas enjoy better healthcare as a result.

One area in which policy change is desperately needed is mental health. While other types of health laws have adapted to societal changes fairly rapidly, mental health is still misunderstood. Legislators in Texas are dedicated to studying the behavioral health system extensively and looking for ways to give residents the services they need (Amarillo Globe News).

Earning a Master’s degree can help you think about nursing issues and challenges in new, innovative ways. Compare your options with our list of graduate healthcare policy programs in Texas.

Master’s Degree Programs in Healthcare Policy in Texas

You may need to meet a rigorous set of admissions requirements before you are accepted to a Master’s degree program in Texas. Since these programs explore health policy and issues in complex ways, you may need up to five years of full-time nursing experience. However, some schools do accept students with less work experience. In addition, you must have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing or another healthcare field.

In its entirety, your Master’s degree should include roughly 40 credits. You may first go through a set of classroom courses, including:

Healthcare Finance
Econometrics
Health Policy Analysis
Health Policy in the US
Healthcare Management and Policy Research
Quality Management and Improvement in Healthcare
Legal Issues in Healthcare
Ethics and Policy
Methods for Economic Evaluation

Once you finish these classes, you may apply your knowledge to a variety of real-life situations. Many programs require graduating students to complete an internship at a local political agency, government program, or lobbying organization. You may also enroll in a capstone course or research-based class.

Completing your program should prepare you to meet a clear, specific set of goals determined by your advisors. Texas colleges may focus on predicting the success and failure of healthcare ventures, assessing health policies in terms of efficacy and cost-efficiency, and analyzing the ethics behind the creation of health policies.

You must maintain your nursing license to work in a nursing role, even with a Master’s degree. The Texas Board of Nursing currently requires all licenses to be renewed every two years.

How Do Nurses Impact Healthcare Policy in Texas?

Health policy is a multifaceted, interdisciplinary field. As a result, you can use the education you gain during your Master’s degree to work in many different settings. You may choose to work for a private organization or healthcare facility, which may involve creating policies and procedures that meet evidence-based standards. Government agencies and nonprofit organizations can also benefit from hiring legislative experts with healthcare experience. You may look into job openings at government agencies like the Texas Health Institute. As you spend more time in this specialty, you may focus your work on specific subjects and areas of health policy.

Your background as a nurse is extremely valuable in this industry. The Texas Nurses Association shows you how much nurses contribute to public legislation. Priorities of the Texas Nurses Association included a bill that would protect nurses from workplace violence, a bill that would remove all regulatory restrictions for APRNs, the Nursing Shortage Reduction Program, and increased funding to boost enrollment in APRN programs.

With a Master’s degree in health policy, you may shape the future of nursing in Texas. Take the first step now by contacting Master’s in healthcare policy programs in Texas.