[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A lack of qualified nurses continues to strain healthcare services across the nation, especially in the Magnolia State. According to the[hen-ui-link href=”https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/44,0,236.html” target=”_blank”] Mississippi State Department of Health[/hen-ui-link], the state ranks last for healthcare access and outcomes. Nurses in Mississippi can positively impact a state that critically needs educated healthcare workers.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a[hen-ui-link href=”https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm” target=”_blank”] 6.1% increase[/hen-ui-link] of registered nurses (1,980 new positions) and[hen-ui-link href=”https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm” target=”_blank”] 7.1% increase[/hen-ui-link] (260 new jobs) of nurse practitioners in Mississippi from 2018-28. However, this rapid growth still falls short of the state’s demand for new nurses.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The need for trained nurses continues to grow, especially as nursing schools across the country struggle to find qualified faculty and nursing educators.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/online-nursing-programs-overview/”]Online nursing programs[/hen-ui-link] cannot meet the demand of new applicants, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Nursing educators continue to retire faster than schools can train their replacements. To address the problem, nursing students could receive monetary incentives to become nurse educators or higher salaries once they graduate.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Read on to learn more about the top online nursing [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/mississippi/”]programs in Mississippi[/hen-ui-link], career options for graduates, and what nurses in the state can expect to earn.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online MSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Explore the Best Mississippi MSN Degree Programs and Schools[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How We Rank Schools”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]We use a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/methodology/”]data-driven methodology[/hen-ui-link] to rank the best nursing programs, making it easy to find a program that meets your needs. Informed by data from the most reputable sources, including the U.S. Department of Education, our methodology is based on metrics that matter most to nursing students, including academic quality, affordability, reputation, and program offerings. This ranking is from 2021.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]More About MSN Programs in Mississippi[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As in other healthcare fields, nurses need a graduate degree to remain competitive in the workforce. Nurses who hold a master’s degree or doctorate are more successful at finding high-paying jobs after graduation.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Thees online nursing programs in Mississippi prepare candidates to become nurse educators, nurse practitioners, and nurse administrators. These programs offer flexible graduate courses for licensed nurses.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While all online nursing programs in Mississippi maintain slightly different admission requirements, most require applicants to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a valid RN license.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Salary and Job Outlook for MSN Students in Mississippi[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A graduate degree has become a necessity in nursing, especially for nurse practitioners (NPs). An increasingly popular occupation, some 3,390 NPs work in Mississippi, with 200,600 employed nationwide. These practitioners work primarily in physicians’ offices, general medical and surgical hospitals, and outpatient care centers. The BLS projects jobs for NPs in Mississippi to increase by 7.1% from 2019-29, below the national average of 28.2%.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The[hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/msn/average-salary-msn-degree//”] average salary[/hen-ui-link] for an NPs hinges on variables, such as professional experience level and workplace. NPs in Mississippi make a mean annual income of $110,740, compared to the national mean annual wage of $111,840.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Earnings fluctuate depending on if an NP works in a metropolitan or rural location. Employers in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, earn a mean annual wage of $130,360, above the national average.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Nursing Resources for Mississippi[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.msnurses.org/” target=”_blank”]Mississippi Nurses Association[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]MNA is Mississippis leader for representing RNs and NPs. Along with CE and exam discounts, MNA holds conferences related to specific nursing fields and specialties.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.msanp.org/” target=”_blank”]Mississippi Association of Nurse Practitioners[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Best for current and future NPs, MANP offers networking, leadership opportunities, and access to special conferences and meetings.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.msbn.ms.gov/” target=”_blank”]Mississippi Board of Nursing[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The board grants licensure to LPNs, RNs, and NPs. These nursing types submit applications through the boards online portal.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://moadn.com/” target=”_blank”]Mississippi Organization for Associate Degree Nursing[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]M-OADN pushes associate degrees as an affordable way to become an LPN or RN.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://msnursesfoundation.com/” target=”_blank”]Mississippi Nurses Foundation[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Created to support nurses at every level, MNF creates and awards grants and scholarships, and offers CE and networking opportunities.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list]