Nursing Degrees

Your guide to nursing careers and nursing degrees

If you’re interested in working in the medical field, have you considered being a nurse? There are more opportunities now than ever; nursing is projected to grow faster than the average occupation through the year 2016. With several nursing degrees to choose from, from basic certifications to PhDs, your career choices are endless.

Here’s a guide to nursing careers and nursing degrees to help you better understand the opportunities available. Below you’ll find an explanation of each nursing career, what you can expect working in that field and how to obtain the nursing degree you’ll need.

If you are interested in receiving basic training in patient care, you should consider getting your CNA certification. As a CNA (certified nursing assistant) you are trained to work in a variety of settings, from nursing homes to hospitals. CNAs work directly under a registered nurse and relay vital information to the nurse in charge. The work of a CNA can be challenging, involving a lot of hands-on patient care, but allows the CNA to interact with the patients on a more personal level. You don’t need a nursing degree to become a CNA, but you do need your CNA certification. You’ll be able to find a CNA training class through your local Red Cross; certification usually takes 6 months.

The next step in nursing is working as a licensed practical nurse. As an LPN, you will assist doctors and RNs in taking care of the sick and injured. Because of ongoing nursing shortages, LPNs have become critical in maintaining standards of patient care. Responsibilities include answering patient calls, monitoring vital signs, feeding patients and drawing blood samples. As a licensed practical nurse, you are required to have strong communication skills as well as the ability to work under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. Academically, LPNs are required to complete a year-long training program and pass the NCLEX-PN as well as their state licensing exam.

If you enjoy the work of a CNA or LPN, consider getting your nursing degree and becoming a registered nurse. Registered nurses are directly involved in patient care as well as administrative duties. They supervise other nurses, manage patient care and teach patients how to maintain good health. Many insurance companies rely on RNs to help them determine what care is necessary for patients and how much a company should charge for different claims. You need a nursing degree to become a registered nurse. You can become an RN by getting a two-year associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a four-year bachelor’s of science degree in nursing (BSN). If you already have a bachelor’s degree in a different field, you can enter an accelerated BSN program, which lasts just 12 to 18 months.

Advanced practice nursing is a broad field that offers many specialized nursing careers. Here are four career paths in advanced practice nursing.

• Nurse practitioner is the first subset of advanced practice nursing. A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed a minimum of a master’s degree in nursing and received training in diagnosing and managing common medical conditions. Nurse practitioners have the ability to serve as a patient’s primary health care provider and take care of patients of all ages.
• Another option in advanced practice nursing is to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist. A CRNA works closely with other healthcare professionals (surgeons, dentists, podiatrists and anesthesiologists) to anesthetize and monitor patients. CRNAs stay with their patients before, during and after anesthesia. You do not need a master’s degree to become a CRNA, but you do need a nursing degree (at least a bachelor’s).
• Working as a clinical nurse specialist is a more specialized form of advanced practice nursing. Clinical nurse specialists are licensed RNs who have a master’s or doctorate nursing degree in a specific nursing field. Clinical nurse specialists may specialize in oncology, cardiology, neonatal health or other fields. A CNS assists patients in preventing and resolving illnesses as well as treating disease, injury and disability.
• One more nursing career in advanced practice nursing is working as a certified nurse midwife. As a CNM, you are responsible for providing healthcare, emotional and physical support to women before, during, and after childbirth. CNMs are specifically trained in assisting pregnant women with their newborn babies. To become a certified nurse midwife, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s nursing degree.

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