MSN/MHA Dual Degree Programs

The percentage of the senior population in the U.S. is growing, according to Census Bureau data on baby boomers. As people age, they are likely to need more care. For nurses who may be seeking to care for these populations in an administration and care role, a Master of Science in Nursing dual degree with a Master of Health Administration may be a pathway to consider.

What is an MSN/MHA Dual Degree Program?

A dual degree program allows students to earn two degrees at the same time. An MSN/MHA dual degree program is for nurses who want to further their careers by possibly learning about the administrative practices of the profession, leadership, ethics of healthcare policies, law, organizational behavior and financial management.

Is an MSN/MHA Program Right for Me?

A traditional MSN/MHA dual degree program and an MSN/MHA dual degree online program are not meant for all students; it depends on your career goals. An on-campus or online MSN program is for RNs who want to take on more advanced practice roles, such as becoming a nurse practitioner.

A dual program allows ambitious RNs to learn the ins and outs of administration. This may allow them to pursue higher-paying jobs or just take a less hands-on approach to nursing. In a dual degree program, you’ll learn more about the management and administrative side of nursing. There are various types of nursing degrees that students can choose from depending on their goals.

What can I do with an MSN/MHA Degree?

You may be able to pursue many types of careers with an MSN/MHA degree, including:

• Nurse or hospital administrator
• Nurse educator
• Director of nursing
• Healthcare consultant
• Nurse manager

Through your MSN/MHA dual degree program, you’ll determine what kind of career you want to pursue depending on the skills you gain in class.

Program Curriculum

The general program curriculum for an MSN/MHA dual degree program may include classes like:

• Advanced Health Assessment
• Health Policy & Politics
• Health Services Administration
• Advanced Pathophysiology
• Organizational & Systems Leadership
• Nursing Informatics
• Strategic Human Resources Management
• Nursing Research Methods
• Healthcare Financial Management
• Strategic Planning & Management
• Ethical and Legal Perspectives

MSN vs. MHA Degree

An MSN is a Master of Science in Nursing, while an MHA is a Master in Health Care Administration. In both programs, you may learn managerial and administrative skills related to nursing.

An MSN is for registered nurses (RNs) who want to obtain a higher level of education and move up in their careers. With this degree, a nurse could gain the skills and knowledge to become an advanced practice registered nurse, which opens the door to pursuing a more specialized career.

An MHA is for those who want to organize medical services and manage the finances and human resource aspects of different healthcare facilities, nonprofits, government agencies and health insurance companies. This degree may help prepare you to become a healthcare administrator.

Similarities

Both an MSN and an MHA are advanced degrees that may help nurses move ahead in their careers, take on leadership roles or earn more money. One goal may be to learn critical leadership and managerial skills in the classroom no matter what kind of program they’re in. Students applying to these programs are likely to have undergraduate degrees with a minimum required GPA. Both degrees may be offered online, on-campus or in blended learning opportunities. Each type of program is rigorous and could take a few years to complete.

Differences

If you have an MSN, then you likely interact with patients in your day-to-day routine. If you have an MHA, you may not; instead, you may perform more administrative or managerial work. An MSN program may focus on courses on pharmacology, physical assessment, statistics, chemistry, microbiology, developing plans for patients, diagnosing chronic and acute illnesses and patient communication skills. In an MHA program, you’ll likely learn about health economics, human resources, health services management and accounting and budgeting.

Related Organizations and Resources

Here are some organizations and resources an MHA/MSN student can tap into:

• Health Care Administrators Association (HCAA): With this organization, you can link up with other healthcare administrators, network and talk about your career. The organization holds events and gives to charities as part of its philanthropic work.
• American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management: In this organization, you can network with other professionals and get answers to your questions on healthcare administrative management. There are also certification training webinars.
• National Center for Healthcare Leadership: This nonprofit offers networking, research and thought leadership to members.