No doubt, when it comes to choosing a profession, a variety of options we have. Numerous fields are there in which people are making their careers. Some are rooting for a business degree to complete their dream of becoming an entrepreneur. Meanwhile, those who want to be an artist are joining media sciences. However, people who have a passion for serving the nation and humanity are opting medical profession. When we talk about the medical sciences, a large number of fields are there. But all of the sub-fields have the same purpose, to provide care, help, and relief to their patients.
But it isn’t wrong to say that competition has grown these days, and a simple bachelor’s degree is not enough. That is why so many medical professionals are doing masters in their relevant fields. By doing so, one can get a high net-worth job with other perks too. Well, talking about the medical fields, nowadays, young students are highly interested in nursing and public healthcare apart from being a physician, etc. These two medical fields have their credibility and worth.
Both of them are almost similar but, still, they have some notable differences. Like to work as a registered nurse in any hospital, you need to go through some academic steps. A bachelor’s degree in nursing, along with a license, are the main things. Here, you will provide your services to individual patients and their families.
However, if you want to excel in your career, then doing a master’s will open new doors for you. There are many Online Master of Science in Nursing programs available for aspiring and passionate professionals. But if you want to serve the entire public and local community, then a degree in public healthcare should be your choice.
MSN & MPH Degree
Many people confuse the MSN degree with an MPH degree. They both have master’s degrees, but still, they are very different from one another. As we discussed above, if you are interested in promoting a better and healthier lifestyle among the public, then here is your chance. But if you are looking to deeply study the details of illnesses, their epidemiology, and transmission, then go for a master’s program.
Difference Between MSN and MPH Degree
The healthcare professionals who desire to have a career in it approach these degree programs. But a lot of people often mix the MPH degree with the MSN degree. No doubt, they somehow overlap each other because, in nursing, they are also focusing on the public health components. Meanwhile, in the MPH degree, they may focus on the role of nurses too. Numerous universities are offering online mph degree programs for public healthcare professionals as per their feasibility. In short, no matter which field you choose, they both are somewhat interlinked. But that does not mean these two fields are similar.
If you still confused between these two, then give this piece of writing a chance. Here, we will discuss some significant yet highlighted differences between MSN and MPH degrees. Such differences will be in terms of salary, jobs, specialized areas, and so on.
Difference of Earnings
There is no doubt that both of the degree programs offer better salary packages. Master’s in nursing these days is the highest-earning profession. If you are working as a Nurse Practitioner in any hospital or a clinic setup, then the median salary is 100,900 dollars per year. On the other side, serving as a Nurse-Midwives by providing care to women and their babies, 99,700$ will be your median salary. However, a Nurse anesthetist can earn around 160,200 $ median salary which is quite a handsome amount.
While having a degree in MPH will let you earn around 70,800 dollars as the median salary by working as an epidemiologist. On the other hand, as a community health worker, 44,300 dollars per year. And if working as a global health worker, 78,900 dollars per year.
Contrasting Major Occupations
After pursuing a master’s degree in nursing, one can practice as a Nurse Practitioner of Family and Pediatrics, Nursing Informing Specialist, Gerontological and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, etc. If you are keen on research work, then an MSN degree can allow you to practice as a Clinical Nurse Researcher. Other specialized options include Sane Specialist, Nurse Ethicist, and Nurse Educator.
However, holding a master’s degree in public health allows you to practice your academic studies in various ways. It includes Epidemiologist, Healthcare Administrator, Health Informatics Specialist, Public Health Project Manager, and Public Healthcare Educator. In the meantime, you can also play your role in the local community as a Public Healthcare Consultant.
Duration of Degree Program
MSN degree program is mostly complete in two to three years. In the last year of this degree program, one must complete the required credit hours of clinical rounds. Otherwise, the requirements of the master’s program will not meet the standards. Similarly, for the nursing specialty, the clearance of the national certification exam is required.
Talking about the MPH degree program, the time length is usually 42-45 credit hours. These credit hours are mostly completed in 2 years. But sometimes, two and a half years takes place to complete 43 credit hours, containing 15 courses.
Role in the Healthcare Sector
Nurses who do the master’s in their fields expressly associate with the patients and their relatives. Their job is to monitor the patients and maintain their records. On the same side, they can also work as a registered nurse for years to gain experience.
While public healthcare professionals specifically belong to the local community or public. Their role in the healthcare profession is to find and approach different ways to prevent and stop diseases.
Conclusion
No one has denied the fact that MSN and MPH are comparatively similar degrees. But if we look deeper into these degree programs, we will observe the noticeable differences among them. Such comparison involves earnings, license requirement, degree program length, specialized fields, and their role in the healthcare sector. However, every degree has its worth because both play a vital role in making the nation’s heroes who will make the world healthy and happy.
