Although New Hampshire has a comparatively high ratio of nurses to population, a shortage still exists. To help fulfill the need for nurses with advanced degrees, some colleges are offering more MSN programs, including direct-entry MSNs.
The most common choice for nurses getting MSNs is advanced practice nursing. A survey published in Advance for Nurse Practitioners found that New Hampshire NPs earn a mean salary of over $77,000 and growing. With healthcare reform measures creating a great need for primary care providers, especially in rural areas, aspiring NPs will have many career choices. Many New Hampshire NPs, particularly mental health NPs, have already chosen rural practice. A study from the University of Southern Maine found that ratios of mental health NPs to population are almost three times as high as the national average.
Like the rest of the U.S., New Hampshire is also in need of nurse educators. MSN-prepared nurses can teach at the pre-RN level, where the need is highest. For more information, check out the New Hampshire Board of Nursing, New Hampshire Nurses' Association, and the New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association.
Programs to consider:
Rivier College (Nashua, NH). Rivier College programs include advanced practice specialties and an education track. Most also have a bridge option for non-nursing baccalaureate RNs.
University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH). UNH offers MSN tracks such as advanced practice, leadership, and evidence-based nursing, which focuses on advanced generalist nursing practice or education.
