Nursing is a hot field to get into right now thanks to the nationwide nursing shortage. One of the biggest advantages to nursing is that you can decide what type of nursing degree you want to pursue. As you climb up the ladder of nursing degrees, more opportunities will open up and many of these opportunities are compensated quite well. Read on to learn more about your choices when it comes to getting a nursing degree.
Things to Know When You Are Considering a Nursing Degree
Let’s look at the types of degrees that you can choose from when you are considering becoming a nurse. The first level of nursing degree is the Licensed Practical Nurse or LPN. This license may be obtained in one year. The LPN is able to do a lot of the same basic tasks that an RN can do. The scope of practice for an LPN does limit the administering of certain types of medicines, assessments, and other advanced techniques. The rate of pay for an LPN is much lower than an RN.
The next level of nursing is the Registered Nurse. The RN is able to perform a wide variety of medical procedures that are dictated by the doctor. The scope of practice for an RN is much larger than for an LPN. An RN may obtain a two year associate degree and still be highly employable, but many hospitals now prefer to hire Registered Nurses with a four year bachelor’s degree.
But a nursing degree does not have to stop at a Bachelor’s degree. Many nurses go on to get a Masters of Nursing or one of the many other advanced practice degrees that are now available to nurses. Examples of some of these advanced degrees are, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) or a Nurse Practitioner (NP). So now that you know the basics of some of the nursing degrees available to you, where can you work with these degrees?
Keep in mind, that the higher your degree, the more opportunities you will have in terms of employment. So let’s start with an LPN. Most LPNs are employed in long term care facilities. There are still some acute care facilities that will hire LPNs to work in different capacities. But in the acute care setting they are working under the supervision of an RN.
An RN can work in just about any type of setting. Most work in acute care settings such as hospitals and clinics. An RN may be charge nurse and be responsible for running the floor on her shift. An RN that has a higher degree such as a Master’s can become an instructor at a school of nursing. Some schools will allow an RN with a Bachelor’s degree to be an assistant instructor or clinical instructor.
There are advanced RN degrees for almost every type of nursing. If you want to deliver babies, you can become a Certified Nurse Midwife with a bachelor’s or master’s degree and additional training. If you want to work out of your office, you can become a Nurse Practitioner with a Master’s degree and another year of specialty training. A Nurse Practitioner can write prescriptions and see patients just like a doctor but they must work under the supervision of a doctor. These are just a few examples of the things you can do with a nursing degree. The sky is virtually the limit when it comes to nursing. It is a hugely versatile profession.
So as you can see, getting a nursing degree can open up a whole new world of exciting employment opportunities. Most nurses will find their “niche” in nursing and stick with it for a lifetime. If you have ever considered getting a nursing degree, now is the perfect time. The field of nursing is wide open and ready to accept a crop of new nurses.
The Nursing RN to BSN degree completion program at South University allows registered nurses with associate degrees to complete their bachelor’s degrees. The program is offered at three South University campuses and online. Learn more about South University | Request free info
The Nursing RN to BSN degree completion program at South University allows registered nurses with associate degrees to complete their bachelor’s degrees. The program is offered at three South University campuses and online.
