Master’s in Nursing Schools in South Carolina

The field of nursing is going through a period of dramatic change and growth, thanks to recent health care reform on a nationwide and statewide level. As a result, nurses and health care professionals with a higher level of education may enjoy a range of career options in South Carolina. Whether you currently have an Associate’s degree in nursing, a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, or an unrelated Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s in Nursing may be the next step for you. Nursing schools in South Carolina offer several degree options, and you can contact them directly from our site to request more information.

Featured Programs:

Working With Your MSN in South Carolina

South Carolina is an ideal place to live and work. As a masters-prepared RN, you could work in South Carolina as a nurse midwife or a nurse educator, or in several other specialty areas of nursing.

Recent changes in South Carolina hospitals have led to a demand for Bachelor’s-level nurses, sending many nurses back to school in search of a four-year degree. Nurse educators are relied upon to educate nurses at all levels and help meet hospital requirements. Since many Associate’s degree programs have waitlists, an increase in the amount of nurse educators may help schools accept more nursing students.

While nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses currently have a limited scope of practice in South Carolina, groups like the South Carolina Action Coalition hope to change these laws. The State notes that South Carolina ranks 38th in the country in terms of primary care availability, with almost all of its counties designated as Health Care Shortage Areas. Nurse practitioners may be able to help fill this gap and bring affordable health care to South Carolina’s rural residents.

As a nurse midwife, you can help women of various ages improve their birthing outcomes and achieve healthy pregnancies and babies. As a nurse educator you could teach other nurses in a hospital setting or student nurses on a college level.

For more information on either of these career paths and earning your MSN degree, contact the schools on this page for program details.

What You Can Expect From Your MSN Program

The field of nursing is going through a period of dramatic change and growth, thanks to recent health care reform on a nationwide and statewide level. As a result, nurses and health care professionals with a higher level of education may enjoy a range of career options in South Carolina. Whether you currently have an associate’s degree in nursing, a bachelor’s degree in nursing, or an unrelated bachelor’s degree, an MSN may be the next step for you.

Nursing education is an up-and-coming career in South Carolina. Recent changes in South Carolina hospitals have led to a demand for Bachelor’s-level nurses, sending many nurses back to school in search of a four-year degree. Nurse educators are relied upon to educate nurses at all levels and help meet hospital requirements. Since many Associate’s degree programs have waitlists, an increase in the amount of nurse educators may help schools accept more nursing students.

South Carolina RN to MSN Bridge Programs

South Carolina’s nursing community relies on dedicated, highly-educated nursing professionals to function smoothly. Not only must nurses in this state care for the aging population of the state, they must be ready for the influx of tourists that hits South Carolina every year. Are you ready to take on a more prominent role in your health care organization and expand your nursing role? Look into RN-to-MSN bridge programs in South Carolina. These programs may give you the opportunity to explore career options in nursing leadership, education, practice, and research.

In the state of South Carolina, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of nursing specialties as an MSN student. Take your time evaluating your options, since your choice will play a big role in the job options you have after graduation. You may want to look into popular specialties like nursing leadership, nursing research, advanced nursing practice, and nursing education. Among these specialties, credit requirements range from 75 to 90 credits. If you attend classes full-time, you should be able to graduate in about three years.

The curriculum for your nursing program may begin with core graduate classes that expand your body of general nursing knowledge. These courses include Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations for Nursing, Application of Basic Statistics for Nursing, and Conceptual Basis of Health Systems.

Other courses depend on your choice of career path. In a leadership or administration program, you may take courses like Financing Health Care, Facilitative Processes for Organizational Leadership, Research Methods for Nursing, and Coordinating Processes in Organizational Leadership. Those who go into an advanced direct practice specialty may take classes like Advanced Health Assessment, Acute Problems of Adults, Clinical Applications of Population Analysis, and Diagnostic Interpretation & Therapeutic Modalities.

As an advanced nursing student, you can plan on spending a lot of time in your future work setting. This is because South Carolina schools require about 600 hours of clinical work for Master’s degree students.

One of the main benefits of continuing your career in such an in-demand field is the variety of financial aid opportunities. In South Carolina, there are many grants, scholarships, and loan repayment options for advanced nursing students. The South Carolina Nurses Foundation offers a range of scholarships, from the Evelyn Johnson Entrekin Scholarship to the Nurses Care Scholarship. Options include the Estelle Jones Memorial Scholarship and the Handel-Carter Assistance Fund. Through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, you can apply for the Mary Ellen Hatfield School Nursing Scholarship and the Dee Dee Chewning Nurse Administrator Award.

Once you finish your education, you have to go to the South Carolina Board of Nursing for the final step in your education. Ideally, you will still have a valid RN license when you graduate. All you need to do is get an advanced license to work as a nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist. This process involves passing an exam in your specialized field and registering with the Board of Nursing.

With an MSN, you can contribute greatly to the field of nursing while encouraging others to follow in your footsteps. In addition to the personal benefits of this advanced degree, you may enjoy helping the field of health care flourish!

South Carolina Direct Entry MSN

If you are interested in becoming a nurse, but your bachelor’s degree is in another field, a direct entry MSN program may be just for you. South Carolina has some excellent accredited MSN programs, which you can find listed on our site. There is a nursing shortage in nearly every state, so earning a graduate degree now in nursing may provide you with job security and may increase your earning potential as well.

The bachelor’s degree portion of any direct entry MSN program tends to focus on knowledge, skills and values that are considered important for nurses to function in today’s changing healthcare system. You will be trained to work in a wide range of settings, which includes various hospital settings to community settings. The master’s program will give you the ability to integrate advanced knowledge from nursing into specialized areas of your choice.

When you complete the bachelor of nursing classes, then you will be ready to sit for your nursing license exam (NCLEX–RN), while continuing your education in the graduate program. There are numerous nursing specialty areas available to students, such as nurse practitioners or administrators.

Most universities have similar admission criteria for accelerated MSN programs, which includes:

Official transcripts from all colleges or universities you have attended
GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Undergraduate level statistics course
Three references of recommendation (preferably from academic or supervisory source)
Resume or CV (should include your specific work experience)
Essay that states your reasons for entering this program and with your future goals
GRE exam is required for some programs
TOEFL/IELTS exam is required for foreign students when English is not your primary language

Some of the courses required for your bachelor nursing degree may be courses you have taken already. The typical required courses include:

Microbiology
Anatomy and Physiology
Technical or Scientific Writing
Issues in Professional Nursing
Cross Cultural Awareness Requirement
Nutrition for Nursing Professional
Pharmacotherapeutics
Research in Nursing
Leadership Management and Nurse Care Practitioner
Community Health Nursing
Leadership in Management in nursing
Community Health Nursing
Health Assessment for RNs

You will need approximately 31-34 credit hours to earn your BSN and take your nursing license examination. You must have your RN license before beginning the clinical portion of the master’s program. The graduate portion of Direct Entry MSN nursing programs tend to take 45 to 48 credit hours to complete, and the number of clinical hours is commonly about 500.

As an example of the master’s curriculum, the Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner courses include:

Theoretical and Conceptual Foundation for Nursing
Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurses
Introduction to Biostatistics or Application of Basic Statistics for Nursing and Nursing Service Management
Pharmacologic Management of Pediatric, Adult and Gerund tautological Patients Across the Healthcare Delivery Continuum
Conceptual Basis for Family and Community Health Nursing
Basic Concepts and Method of Epidemiology
Advance Health Assessment
Diagnostic Interpretation and Therapeutic Modalities
Acute Problems of Adults/Gerontology and Women’s Health in Primary Care
Clinical Applications of Popular Analysis
Research Methods for Nursing
Primary Care Nursing of Children
Advance Practice Nursing Management of Chronic Diseases in Pediatrics, Adult and Gerund tautological Patients Across the Health Care Continuum
Seminar in Clinical Nursing Research (Non-Thesis)
Advanced Practice Practicum: Primary Care (FNP)

You can probably expect to spend roughly 12 hours online and off-line for study each week for each three credit hour course over a regular 15 week semester. You will be assigned to a preceptor for your clinical hours for the various for clinical hours.

Once you have earned your graduate nursing degree you may take the credential examination that the American Nurses Credentialing Center offers and be rewarded the FNP-BC, if this is the specialty you choose to pursue. This competency-based examination proves the validity and reliability of your education as a Family Nurse Practitioner. If you are an American Nurses Association member the cost is $270, but the cost for nonmembers is $395. There is an American Association of Nurse Practitioners, which also offers a certification program.

If you are seeking financial aid, then the first step is to complete the FAFSA application, which is a federal grant program based on your income. There also federal loan and federal work study programs available. The University of South Carolina offers financial aid through loans, grants and scholarships.

The U.S. Department of Health Resources and Services Administration programs is Nurse Corps, which asks you to work in one of their facilities, while paying off 60 percent of your unpaid student loans in two years. An additional 25 percent of the original balance will be paid if you decide to work a third year.

Getting your accelerated master’s degree in nursing assures you that you are providing high-quality patient centered care, and this may give you a great sense of satisfaction and the respect of your peers. Contact the schools you see that offer Direct Entry MSN programs in South Carolina to get started.

South Carolina CRNA Programs

After you’ve worked as a registered nurse for a year or more, you may decide that you want to take on more responsibility in your nursing practice and work more independently with patients. If you have a passion for pharmacology, want to spend more time with patients, and are ready to dedicate yourself to advanced study, you may wish to look into becoming a nurse anesthetist in South Carolina.

Nurse anesthetists are a growing part of the health care industry across South Carolina. South Carolina has a higher than average amount of people living below the poverty line, which may make traditional anesthesiology services too expensive for some patients. Nurse anesthetists can provide affordable, evidence-based, patient-centered anesthesia services to patients undergoing different procedures. In your career as a nurse anesthetist, you may provide oral medications, use IV pain medications, administer drugs in an intramuscular manner, or use general sedation techniques. You can plan on working with many different health care professionals, from charge nurses and nurse practitioners to surgeons and anesthesiologists.

Are you interested in earning an advanced nursing degree and taking the next step in your nursing career? If so, learn more about what it takes to become a nurse anesthetist in South Carolina by contacting the schools you see on our site.

Admissions and Curriculum for CRNA Programs in South Carolina

There are two main types of nurse anesthesia programs in South Carolina. The first is a master’s degree program, which takes about two to three years and includes 40 to 50 credits. The second is a doctoral program, which requires three to six years of work. You can plan on completing 50 to 80 credits in this type of program. The main difference between a Master’s degree and a doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia is the amount of experience you get. Master’s degree programs tend to include 550 to 600 hours and doctoral programs include over 1,000 hours.

Be ready to put your best foot forward when you start applying for CRNA programs, since the admissions process can be fairly competitive in this field. A bachelor’s degree in nursing is required throughout South Carolina, and you must also maintain a registered nursing license. At least one year of nursing experience is required. Some schools require as much as three years of full-time nursing experience.

As you start studying nurse anesthesia, you must also study other fields of nursing. Because of this, you may start with courses like Organization and Systems Leadership, Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice, and Biostatistical Methods in Advanced Nursing. However, the majority of your courses should focus on advanced nursing practice and nurse anesthesia practice. As you move through the curriculum, you may take classes like Advanced Pharmacology, Philosophical Foundations of Nursing Science, Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum, Evidence-Based Practice, and Advanced Principles of Nurse Anesthesia.

There are many types of financial aid available for advanced nursing students in South Carolina. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control funds quite a few scholarships for nursing students and working students. You may also wish to join the South Carolina Nurses Foundation to qualify for grants like the Evelyn Johnson Entrekin Scholarship, the Nurses Care Scholarship, and the Renatta S. Loquist Scholarship for Graduate Nursing Education. Loan repayment assistance may be available to graduates that agree to work in a medically underserved area after graduation.

Working as a Nurse Anesthetist in South Carolina

As a nurse anesthesia professional in South Carolina, you may be in a position to benefit from a great job outlook and earning potential in your state. Your income potential may increase as you gain experience in different specialties, get seniority at your place of employment, and further your education with continuing education opportunities.

Of course, to enjoy these new career benefits, you must be fully licensed to work as a nurse anesthetist. Through the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists, you can become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. They do require you to pass a certification exam prior to giving you this title. At the state level, you get your Advanced Practice Nursing license through the South Carolina Board of Nursing. You must prove that you meet the Board of Nursing’s education and certification requirements to upgrade your license from an RN license to an APRN license.

To become part of the nursing community in South Carolina, you may want to take advantage of professional opportunities throughout the state. The South Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists may be a good resource for you as you begin your career. They promote the field of nurse anesthesia by upholding high practice standards, providing continuing education and networking opportunities, and advocating for CRNAs in state legislature. Joining a group like this can also help you establish yourself as a leader in your nursing community and your place of employment.

Are you ready to become a nurse anesthetist and serve the patients of South Carolina? If so, take the first step by reaching out to CRNA schools in South Carolina today.

Forensic Nursing in South Carolina

Why did you originally become a registered nurse? Did you want to use your daily work to help people, make a lasting difference, and strengthen healthcare options in your community? Regardless of what has brought you to the field of healthcare, you may have the traits needed for a rewarding career in forensic nursing.

Those who work as forensic nurses must maintain their composure in emotional situations, make quick decisions that are based in evidence, and maintain a sense of empathy for their patients at all times.

In South Carolina, the time you spend in this industry may help you become active in groups like the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network, which relies on the assistance of professionals like forensic nurses and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.

Ready to take the next step in your career and education?

Find out more about your options by contacting South Carolina forensic nurse schools below.

Master’s Degree Programs in Forensic Nursing in South Carolina

As you begin learning about different forensic nurse degree options, you may find that there are quite a few areas of specialized study in this field.

If you study legal nurse consulting, you may learn how to serve as an expert witness in court cases, analyze evidence and cases to make an informed evaluation, and successfully navigate the state and federal criminal justice system.

In a graduate forensic nursing program, you may enroll in a variety of courses that explore the use of legal and illegal medications, standards for death investigation, nursing leadership, and healthcare for crime victims.

Forensic Nursing Graduate Courses

Forensic Nurse Death Investigation
Sexual Violence, Interpersonal Violence, and Child/Elder Maltreatment
Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
Foundations of Forensic Nursing Science
Advanced Forensic Nursing
Systems Leadership and Health Policy

You may also broaden your scope of practice by becoming a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. The training offered to SANE candidates covers physical exam procedures, offering support to victims, and providing access to mental health resources. Upon completion of your SANE or forensic nursing training, you may be able to apply for certification through the Commission for Forensic Nursing Certification.

Those who study legal nurse consulting must go through the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants.

The Role of Forensic Nurses in South Carolina

The role of forensic nurses is always changing, particularly since this is a relatively new specialty that is still being heavily researched. Many South Carolina healthcare facilities have dedicated forensic nursing and SANE programs that provide victims with 24-hour access to healthcare professionals with specialized training.

Your salary may be determined by whether you become a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, legal nurse consultant, or forensic nurse. As a general rule, forensic nursing salary SC averages are in line with national averages.

If you’re ready to make a difference in a rewarding and challenging nursing specialty, don’t wait any longer to find out how you can become a forensic nurse.

Request information from forensic nurse programs below to take the first step.

South Carolina Clinical Nurse Leader

South Carolina, like many other Southern states, has suffered lower-than-average quality scores in various health measures over the years. A number of factors contribute to these struggles, including high poverty rates, remote communities, a lack of care providers, and inadequate funding. Statewide policies and laws have started to turn this problem around.

While South Carolina is still lower than most other states in terms of national rankings, it has improved significantly in recent years (Augusta Chronicle). Experts in public health hope to continue strengthening health care measures in South Carolina.

Succeeding in this area means analyzing existing research, creating strong policies, and implementing them in facilities across South Carolina. Nurse leaders can help institutions in South Carolina accomplish these goals, since this role focuses so heavily on research and evidence.

If you’d like to be a part of this effort, start exploring your opportunities by checking out graduate nurse leadership programs in South Carolina. You can contact schools directly from our site to learn more.

Featured Programs:

How Can I Become a Clinical Nurse Leader in South Carolina?

As you already know from your time as a registered nurse, the field of nursing is highly regulated. This includes the role of Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), which was developed fairly recently by the AACN. Any Master’s degree program that is approved for CNL certification must meet specific educational and training requirements.

If you attend school full-time, you may be able to complete your Master’s degree in four semesters. Most schools include clinical work in their curriculum, an opportunity that may allow you to start networking and preparing for the future of your career.

While working through your CNL curriculum, you may enroll in classes like:

Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations for Nursing
Nursing Research Methods
Cultural Perspectives in Health Care
Health Care Delivery Systems
Advanced Applied Pharmacology
Quality and Risk Management in Health Systems Leadership
Global Health Care
CNL Practicum

By excelling in these courses, you can meet the learning outcomes of your college or university. One of the most important parts of nurse leadership is evidence-based practice, which is why you should be well-versed in nursing research by the time you graduate.

Leadership and management techniques are another area of focus, since you may head up a team of nurses or care providers. Upon completing your education, you should also be ready to implement new health care innovations and techniques in your practice.

As is the case with any clinical nursing role, a registered nurse license is required. The South Carolina Board of Nursing requires you to submit a renewal application every two years and pay a fee of $75. Since CNL is a national certification, you must get certified through the AACN by taking a licensing exam. You can then complete 50 hours of continuing education every five years to keep your license up-to-date.

What Does a Clinical Nurse Leader Do in South Carolina?

There are hundreds of health care centers in South Carolina, including hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. The role of the Clinical Nurse Leader is implemented in slightly different ways at each health care center, depending on their nursing needs and the expectations of administrators.

However, one commonality you may find is the focus on clinical care. Per the AACN, CNLs must make clinical work the center of their career. This includes hands-on work with patients, the creation of care plans, and communication with patients.

As noted earlier, evidence-based care is a priority in nurse leadership. The work you do in nursing research and analysis allows you to change, eradicate, or create policies and procedures that are based in current evidence.

The nursing community is very active in South Carolina, so you may be able to learn quite a bit from other nurse leaders in your region. Joining a group like the South Carolina Organization of Nurse Leaders puts you in touch with other leaders in the state and allows you all the benefits of networking. Furthermore, staying involved with other local nursing associations can help you develop your reputation as a leader.

You can expect the role of nurse leaders to evolve as the nursing industry changes in coming years. No matter what, though, leaders are the professionals who guide the industry through change.

Find out if you have what it takes to serve as a nurse leader by requesting information from graduate nurse leadership programs in South Carolina.

South Carolina Nursing Research Graduate Programs

There is a great deal of nursing research being conducted in South Carolina, particularly at their universities. For instance, the University of South Carolina has research teams working on Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Underserved Communities, and they have a Campus-Community Partnership for Hispanic Health.

Clinical Research nurses are an integral part of these initiatives, as they examine, assess and determine the leadership styles utilized by Clinical Nurse Research Coordinators in their organizations. Those findings are then used to develop an educational plan that will assess and improve leadership competencies. You can find out more about how to enter these nursing professions by contacting the schools listed below that offer research nursing programs in SC.

The goal of many nursing research projects is to strengthen the infrastructure for the collection and the analysis for inter-professional workforce data or health care. This may be the ideal time for you to consider a graduate degree to enhance your career in this field, and may allow you to advance your career and earn a higher income.

South Carolina Graduate Degree Programs in Nursing Research

South Carolina has several graduate programs for nursing research, along with some PhD programs as well. Some of the accredited programs are campus based and others are online, allowing you to learn from a distance.

Typical admission criteria to a graduate nursing research degree program includes:

Official Transcripts from all college education
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
Two of more letters of recommendation
GRE or MAT
Statement of Purpose essay

The curriculum may approach 60 credit hours and could require any or all of the following courses:

Advanced Pathophysiology
Scientific Underpinnings for Practice
Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics in Health Care
Advanced Clinical Assessment and Reasoning
Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
Informatics in Health Care Delivery
Advanced Care Management I, II, III
Evidence-Based Practice, Quality and Safety
Framework for Leadership & Inter-professional Collaboration
Advanced Health Policy and Advocacy
Applied Health Care Economics and Finance
Role Practicum

Clinical hours are arranged according to your focus and you may complete 540 to 810 hours with an assigned preceptor.

In addition to a MSN program, you may earn a post-master’s certificate program for research nursing or choose a PhD program that specifically prepares you for a career in externally funded research, scholarly publication and leadership

Upon graduation from an accredited program, you are eligible to take the Society of Clinical Research Associate exam for certification as a nurse researcher.

MUSC has several scholarships available, which are primarily given to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The federal government through HRSA also has numerous types of grants, low interest loans and scholarships available.

The Role of Clinical Nurse Researchers in South Carolina

Nurses that work in research may be employed at universities, laboratories, hospitals or in private research centers. Nursing research often focuses on health promotion, risk reduction and on the more vulnerable populations. There is typically a team of researchers that have a specific scientific purpose for their projects, and who may find that they are engaged in quite satisfying work.

When you enter the field of nursing research, you are not only working in a career with possible advancement, but you are also helping the community as a whole. If this sector of advanced nursing interests you, contact the schools below for more details.

South Carolina Certified Nurse Midwife

Nursing means helping people, which is probably a big part of why you got involved in this field in the first place. With a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, you may have the extensive critical thinking skills and dedication to health care that are required for high-level nursing study. One growing area of advanced nursing practice is nurse midwifery. Nurse midwives provide pregnancy and labor care to low-risk women, working alongside OB/GYNs to provide continuity of care to women throughout their pregnancies.

If this is an area of nursing that you are interested in learning more about, contact the schools in South Carolina with certified midwife programs to request program information.

When you become a nurse midwife, you develop a strong knowledge of women’s health care issues, pregnancy, and childbirth. With this knowledge, you can serve as primary care provider in a variety of settings. You may choose to work in a birth center, which supports natural childbirth options while giving women the freedom to transfer to a hospital as desired. You may also work in a hospital, spending time with your patients as they become mothers. No matter which setting you want to work in, get started with the right education and learn about certified nurse midwife programs in South Carolina.

Becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife in South Carolina

Before applying to certified nurse midwife programs in South Carolina, it’s important to ensure that you’re ready to start this type of program. It requires many clinical hours and full-time study in most cases. A bachelor’s degree in nursing is required by the vast majority of schools, with the exception of accelerated MSN programs, which are intended for non-nursing Bachelor’s degree holders. You may also have to work as a registered nurse for a set amount of time before applying to MSN programs. Most schools require one to three years of full-time work experience.

From there, you can start applying for scholarships and exploring your financial aid options. Funds are also available through the Student Nurses Association of South Carolina. If you join the South Carolina Nurses Foundation, you may have several financial aid options to consider.

As you begin your nurse midwifery education, you may take core courses like Optimal Methods for Health Care Delivery, Advanced Physiology, Advanced Physiology, and Advanced Health Assessment. These courses lay the groundwork for high-level midwifery courses, including Well Women/GYN Care, Intrapartum and Postpartum Care, Nurse-Midwifery Integration, Nurse-Midwifery Care of Women, and Antepartum Care of Healthy Women.

As you develop your theoretical knowledge, you may put it to work in your clinical hours. Clinical hours can show you how to monitor pregnancy and delivery, transfer care to an OB/GYN, performing well woman care, and respond to complications.

Working as a Certified Nurse Midwife in South Carolina

Nurse midwifery, as a field, is regulated in all 50 states. As you near the end of your master’s degree program, you can contact the American Midwifery Certification Board and schedule your nurse midwifery exam. Once you pass this exam, you may get your certification and move on to the next step. The South Carolina Board of Nursing requires you to have an advanced practice nursing license before you start taking patients. Have proof of your certification sent to the Board of Nursing to get started.

Advance your nursing career and expand your scope of practice now. Look at our school listings below to contact certified nurse midwife programs in South Carolina.

South Carolina Clinical Nurse Specialist

Nursing may very well be one of the most diverse and multifaceted fields out there. With a nursing degree, you can take on jobs in many different specialties, learn from experts, and decide how you want to take your career to the next level. If you’ve gotten some experience as a registered nurse and you’re ready to have a bigger impact on the care your patients receive, you may want to consider becoming a clinical nurse specialist.

Contact the schools below that offer CNS programs in South Carolina to learn more about your options in this advanced nursing field.

Clinical nurse specialists are a major part of the changing face of health care. More and more, clinical nurse specialists are teaming up with physicians and medical doctors to give patients the best possible care.

Find out more about clinical nurse specialist programs in South Carolina to find out if this is the path for you.

Becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist in South Carolina

Of course, taking on a high-level nursing job title and career requires a higher level of education. If you have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing and at least one full year of nursing experience, you may be well on your way to a CNS degree. Over the course of two to three years, you will earn between 30 and 40 credits. Some courses focus on general advanced nursing care and leadership, while others look specifically at the population you hope to serve. For example, you may choose from specialties like pediatrics, oncology, and gerontology.

Before you start learning the procedures that may make up your career, you must know more about what advanced practice nurses do. Early classes may include Statistical Literacy and Reasoning in Nursing Research, Context of Healthcare for Advanced Practice Nursing, Applications of Research to Practice, and Theoretical Basis for Nursing. Hands-on courses include Clinical Pharmacology, Health Assessment and Measurement, and Pathophysiology in Advanced Nursing Practice. Courses that are unique to CNS programs may include Evaluation in Health Care, Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, and Family Development Through the Lifespan.

As a general rule, you should expect to spend several hundred hours in a clinical setting. Whether your specialty takes you to a clinic, hospital, or nursing home, this experience can build on your time as a nurse and help you use what you have learned.

Nursing scholarships are plentiful in South Carolina, so make sure to look into options near you every year. The South Carolina Nurses Foundation awards numerous scholarships and grants that differ from year to year. Members of the Student Nurses Association of South Carolina may also apply for grants and scholarships.

Working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in South Carolina

As is the case with other nursing careers, this field has extensive licensing and certification requirements. Through the American Nurse Credentialing Center, you can apply for certification in your specialty after taking a thorough exam. From there, you can contact the South Carolina Board of Nursing to have your license changed to an advanced practice nursing license.

There are many ways for you to make the most of your potential as a nurse. If you’re interested in this career path, take the first step by contacting clinical nurse specialist programs in South Carolina.

South Carolina Public Health Graduate Programs

Every day, it seems like there is a new public health threat facing a South Carolina community, whether it’s infectious disease, an environmental issue, spreading unhealthy habits, or drug use. How does the health care community work against these threats and make South Carolina as healthy a state as possible?

The field of public health is responsible for addressing these threats and developing appropriate responses to them. The South Carolina Public Health Association notes that public health nurses are a major part of this specialty. If you have experience as a registered nurse and you are dedicated to South Carolina, this may be the field for you. Find out more about public health nursing graduate programs in South Carolina and the difference you can make as a public health nurse.

Master’s Degree Programs in Public Health Nursing in South Carolina

Being a public health nurse means working with the general populace, a body of people who are largely unaware of public health issues, what they mean, and what they should do. Working as a public health nurse means being able to understand public health threats and knowing how to explain them to laypeople. To take on this type of leadership and education role, you must have a Master’s degree in public health nursing. Many schools require several years of RN experience, so make sure to look at each school’s admissions requirements before beginning the application process.

Public health degrees look at advanced nursing skills, the spread of disease, community health issues, leadership skills, and community education. As you tackle these subjects, you may take courses like Biostatistical Processes in Health Care, Health Care Systems Planning and Evaluation, Leadership and Management, Epidemiology, Population Health Nursing, Local and Global Health Policy, Health Behavior and Health Promotion, and Resource Management in Health Care.

No matter how much clinical experience you have as a registered nurse, you must get clinical experience that is directly applicable to the field of public health. Most South Carolina schools include 400 hours or more of clinical experience in their curricula.

Going back to school can be a significant financial investment, especially if you are still paying off loans from your first nursing degree. Investing some time in financial aid research can help you find opportunities to cover your expenses. The South Carolina Nurses Foundation awards a variety of grants each academic year.

The Role of Public Health Nurses in South Carolina

If you are still wondering what it’s like to work as a public health nurse in South Carolina, all you have to do is look at some of the major achievements of this field in recent years. For every public health issue that has made it to the news and worried residents, public health nurses have taken care of five that never reached the point of public health crisis. South Carolina public health nurses were the first to trace a nationwide listeria outbreak to Blue Bell ice cream.

The strong nursing industry of South Carolina may ease your transition into this advanced specialty. You can change the future of your career with a public health education. Learn more now by contacting South Carolina public health nursing programs.

South Carolina Healthcare Policy Nursing Programs

When you set out to study nursing and begin a career as a registered nurse, what goals did you have? Were you interested in saving lives, making patients feel comfortable, getting involved in a stable industry, and strengthening the state of South Carolina?

Whatever you love most about South Carolina healthcare, you may be able to have an even greater effect by studying healthcare policy at the graduate level.

Statistics and research have been used extensively in this state to create policies that improve health offerings for residents. A sobering study indicated that 2,400 South Carolina deaths could have been avoided if unequal access to healthcare services were not an issue (Post and Courier). Tackling these problems at the legislative level makes it much easier for nurses and doctors to save lives.

An extensive knowledge of the legislative process and the administrative aspects of healthcare is required in this specialty. Discover how you can get started by contacting graduate healthcare policy programs in South Carolina.

Master’s Degree Programs in Healthcare Policy in South Carolina

Getting a multifaceted education is the key to successfully transitioning from a career in registered nursing to a career in which you use your role as a nurse to influence health policy.

This involves developing a strong understanding of healthcare policies at the state and federal level, figuring out the different groups that you must work with in the world of policy, and exploring the role of ethics in legislation. In addition, you must study the specific healthcare problems and issues that affect South Carolina, as they are quite different from the problems that affect other states.

The different topics that are relevant to health policy are clear when you explore the curricula of local programs. You may find these courses or courses similar to them in your program:

Public Health Law
Epidemiology
Approaches and Concepts for Health Law
Healthcare Accounting
Health Economics
Leadership in Healthcare Organizations
Health Planning
Health Finance
Healthcare Decision Making
Applied Quality Management in Healthcare

Each school sets its own practice and credit hour requirements, but the average school in South Carolina requires you to earn 45 credits to get your Master’s degree in health policy. This typically includes a three-credit internship and a three-credit capstone course.

You must keep your nursing license valid to maintain your position as a nurse with specialized experience in policy. According to the South Carolina Board of Nursing, your license must be renewed every two years.

How Do Nurses Impact Healthcare Policy in South Carolina?

While you may expect that South Carolina nurses are only involved in legislation that directly affects nurses, the fact is that the expertise of nurses is trusted in many different areas of health policy. Groups like the South Carolina Nurses Association throw their support behind health bills in many different areas, not simply those that affect nursing practice.

For example, recent legislative efforts of the South Carolina Nurses Association include public funding for medical research, an improved focus on environmental health, comprehensive healthcare offerings for vulnerable populations, and increased availability of cost-effective health services.

As you gain experience and start to develop connections in this industry, you may work with many different groups and organizations. One group with a significant presence in health policy is the South Carolina Policy Council. The groups that you work with may vary, depending on your policy priorities and the types of laws that most interest you.

No matter what part of healthcare you are passionate about, a career in policy puts you in a better position to impact significant change. You can leave behind a legacy of healthcare improvement and availability for South Carolina residents.

Get involved in this field now by requesting information from Master’s in healthcare policy programs in South Carolina.