The Mississippi Board of Nursing requires advanced practice nurses - including nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) - to have an MSN degree or higher. Advanced practice nurses must also pass a national certification exam. If they complete an advanced pharmacology class and at least 20 hours of a monitored residency with a licensed physician, they are eligible to prescribe medication.
In Mississippi, advanced practice nurses are required to collaborate with a state physician to practice to the fullest extent to their license. That can be a challenge for some master's-prepared nurses, as the state is in the midst of a physician shortage. If, however, a nurse has difficulty finding a Mississippi physician collaborator, she can contact the Board of Nursing, which will try to help her find a suitable collaborator.
Mississippi has a great need for primary care providers in the rural areas of the state. Family nurse practitioners, pediatric nurse practitioners and gerontological nurse practitioners should have little trouble finding work in Mississippi. Nurse anesthetists are also commonly used in rural Mississippi.
MSN programs for Mississippi nurses include:
- University of Mississippi Medical Center. UMMC is home to the state's oldest MSN program. It's also home to the state's only Level 1 trauma center and children's hospital, so if you're looking for specialized graduate education, UMMC might be the place for you. Master's programs include nurse practitioner, nurse educator and nursing and healthcare administrator options.
- Delta State University. Delta State offers MSN programs such as nurse practitioner, nurse educator and nurse administrator. All of these programs are available online, making Delta a good choice for nurses who don't live near a school that offers graduate education. Students can attend either full or part-time.
