What Qualifications Should a Potential Nurse have? The nursing profession is a great career for anyone who is not quite sure what they want to do when they leave college. It is a good place to start on the path to a rewarding profession. So, whether you choose to go straight to nursing school after college, or whether you earn another degree first, there will always be a place for you in nursing school. Research has shown that the future job demands for registered nurses are very high. Between 2012 and 2022, there will be an increase in nursing jobs of up to 19% which is well above the average of years passed. Other nursing jobs with a high growth rate are those of a licensed practical nurse and a licensed vocational nurse. The job prospects for theses nurses are growing at 25% - much higher than the average in any other industry. Related: Top Job Opportunities for Nurses who Love Working with Children Types of Nursing Certificates and Licenses So you have decided you want to be a nurse and you want to become one on the quickest route possible: this means that you will get a certificate or a license because there is no pre-requisite of being accepted into a twoor-four-year college or university course. They also cost much less, making them acceptable to people from all backgrounds. A lot of these programs can be taken the full time or part time meaning that you can keep your current job until you have got your nursing certificate or license. 1. Nursing Assistant A nursing assistant is one of the quickest careers in which to become qualified. There are lots of positions available, and the
training is not very difficult. There are a few different types of nursing assistant: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNAs), Registered Nursing Assistants (RNAs) and Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNAs). In addition, there are other posts that have fewer official titles such as care workers or care assistants. The last two mentioned positions show that these people normally work in long term care posts – carrying out tasks such as bathing, feeding, toileting, dressing and helping to keep people mobile. Other chores such as keeping up with paperwork, and keeping meticulous records also form part of their daily work. Training for these positions can take up a few weeks or a few months depending on your choice of career. They include classes to attend and hands-on clinical training. Make sure you choose a program that does count towards official certification. Otherwise, it will not be recognized at any job interview. You need your high school diploma to get into any of these programs.
2. Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse Each of these titles is correct – it depends on which state you live in as to what title you will have the more widely used one is a Licensed Practical Nurse. These nurses are the first nurses the patient will see once they have checked into the hospital. They will take down all their personal details and vital signs. They will also assist in changing dressings or inserting catheters. These nurses spend a lot of time with the patient in between doctor’s visits. And they mainly work at long term care facilities such as old age homes or boarding schools. The course to become an LPN usually lasts about 12 months long. You could also study via correspondence, although for the clinical
training you would have to be at the venue. Once this program is finished, the nurse then has to take the State Board of Nursing exams. After they have passed this exam, they may be inspired to study further and become more qualified. The next most common program is the bridging training to become a Registered Nurse and get a degree. Related: The Evolution of the Nursing Uniform Types of Nursing Degrees A nursing degree is a far longer course than the entry-level nursing programs in the previous section. And it requires a certain amount of hard work and dedication. 1. Registered Nurse (RN) This is the most popular degree and takes 2 years to complete. It is an Associate’s Degree and can be obtained at a Community College. Or, you could do the RN Certificate course which does not open as many doors as a degree does. You have to have passed your High School Diploma, and you need to meet certain other GPA requirements before you can be accepted into the RN degree program. RNs can typically work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, facilities for the care of the elderly or other long term care, schools and more. They will educate the patient on how to care for their injury, and about proper management of their condition after they have left the hospital. An RN earns at least $31 an hour, whereas the LPN only earns around $20 per hour. Their learning program has to be at least 2 years long, and they have to attend all classes to receive a degree,
certificate or diploma. And, as usual, they need to pass the State Board of Nursing Exam. It is becoming a bit more difficult to get into an RN course because they want more qualified personnel. To get accepted, you will need to have at least a Bachelor’s level certification. 2. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) If you go from high school straight to your study program for Nursing, then graduate 4 years later with your BSN, the first job you receive will be your entry-level position. A few programs are only 3 years long with lots of clinical work in between, so you may finish earlier. With your BSN you might then work as an RN, or you could follow a different path to become a Pediatric Nurse with Certification (CPN). Other specialization areas include a Certified Hospice Palliative Nurse or an ICU Nurse or a Midwife. Each of these extra qualifications requires more studying. 3. Master of Science in Nursing And finally, the last entryway into Nursing is the Master of Science in Nursing. You could also carry on after you have obtained your Bachelor’s degree – but this is not an entry level degree – you have to have already a qualification upon which to build. You cannot just start nursing and do a Master of Science in Nursing – you need to have some knowledge before that stage. To obtain a Master’s degree, you need to meet the stiff criteria to gain entry, and you will need to complete a long and difficult period of clinical work. However, if you graduate with the direct entry MSN, you would enter your first job as a Nursing Manager, or advanced practice nurse in different fields such as midwifery or anesthesiology.
Conclusion There are many nursing programs out there from which you can pick any course. Remember though that you have to take your State Board of Nursing Exam otherwise your diploma or degree means nothing. There is an increased demand for nurses because currently the world population is aging and living longer – people are not dying so young anymore. As people are living longer, the elderly need more care and more nurturing than ever before. There are also more people having babies at younger ages because medicine has made such advances, they can care for a premature baby for months until it can survive on its own with its mother. There is fewer disease left that can kill people. Polio, Scarlet fever, Measles, Chicken Pox used to kill off thousands of infants and children, whereas today, there are vaccinations available to prevent these diseases. Choosing to become a nurse is a wonderful career – and it is extremely rewarding. Related: International Nurses Association Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter