Nursing Programs
The United States is currently experiencing a shortage of registered nurses (RNs) that is predicted to worsen in the next decade. As increasing numbers of baby boomers retire, the lack of RNs to act as caregivers could reach 400,000, by some estimates. To meet this growing need, nursing programs and their students will be working overtime to get up to speed.
There are hundreds of nursing programs across the country, with many of the finest located at the top medical schools. To become an RN, nursing students must earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which takes approximately four years to complete. If students are not interested in earning a bachelor’s degree, there are plenty of other ways to enter the nursing profession.
One such option is earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), which takes two to three years to complete. Most of these students attend a junior or community college, and some later complete the requirements to become an RN. High school graduates can be certified as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in as little as a year. In addition to their diploma, students need to have both physical stamina and the desire to help people. LPNs handle many patient care tasks that RNs are too busy to perform and that other hospital staff are not qualified to do. Demand for LPNs is expected to remain high since they perform some of the same tasks as an RN for less money. LPNs typically earn about $20 an hour.
Nursing programs can prepare students for many entry-level positions in health care, but most require them to pass certification exams and complete a supervised training period before regular employment.
Nursing Program Options
An important decision in pursuing a nursing education is to decide on the type of program that will support a chosen career path. There are several nursing programs to choose from, each geared toward preparing a student in different aspects of nursing. Nursing programs are also geared toward helping nurses along their career path, often giving credit for other educational or practical experiences.
The following is an overview of different nursing programs offered in most nursing schools:
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) – these programs tend to be offered in vocational technical schools or community colleges. LPN or LVN nursing programs can generally be completed within a year and prepares students to sit for the state nursing licensing exam.
Associate’s degree in nursing. Associate‘s degree in nursing programs typically provide students with an interim degree in the pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The curriculum for an associate’s degree in nursing prepares students for entry-level nursing positions and to sit for the state nursing licensing exams.
LPN to BSN programs. These nursing programs are tailored to nursing professionals who have already obtained their LPN designation and now want to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN). Most of these types of nursing programs are accelerated and a BSN can be obtained in as little as four semesters. Similarly, a number of schools offer RN to BSN programs, which are accelerated as well.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Most employers today require nurses to have a BSN degree. A BSN can typically be completed in four years.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). MSN degree programs provide nursing professionals with the background requirements for specializing in a particular nursing discipline. Most MSN degree programs can be completed within 18 to 24 months.
Nursing Certification
A nurse is legally required to be licensed in the state in which he practices. A license grants a nurse the legal right to use either the RN (Registered Nurse) title, or the LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) title.
In contrast to a nursing license, nursing certifications are optional and voluntary. A nursing certification is a credibility booster. They are most often obtained for professional recognition, and to help the nurse demonstrate his specialization or area of focus. For example, a nurse practitioner may attain certification as a women’s healthcare nurse practitioner, or a neonatal nurse practitioner. The certification is proof that the nurse has acquired the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to earn certification in that particular area.
The first nursing certification program was created in the United States in 1945. Now there are as many as 67 certificate-issuing organizations that represent 134 nursing specializations. The certification process varies by specialization; there are no national standards.
According to a study published in 2004 by Nursing Management, nurse managers, almost unanimously at 90 percent, give hiring preference to nurses who have successfully completed the certification process. 58 percent of these nurse managers also believe that nurses with certification perform their jobs better than their uncertified counterparts.
Nursing Careers
Nursing careers are at the heart of the American healthcare system. Nurses provide patient care while also giving emotional support and educational information to patients and their families.
A nursing career can be personally fulfilling. After all, many nurses are in the business of saving lives. A nursing career can also have excellent earning potential, steady income, job mobility, and career excitement. On the flip-side, nursing is stressful and often involves long working hours and exposure to sad situations.
Although the majority of nurses (60 percent) work in hospital settings, a nursing career can be pursued in many other environments as well. Nurses work in clinics, surgery centers, companies, schools, rehabilitation centers, hospice organizations, and in private homes.
Now more than ever before, students have the opportunity to pursue a nursing career that meets a specific area of interest. For example, to work with children there are opportunities to specialize in pediatric care or in maternity, as a nurse or as a nurse midwife. A nursing career in the Army could lead to several different opportunities after active duty, including flight nurse, emergency room nurse, or surgical nurse.