3 answers
Rylee
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
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What degrees should I have to become a successful nurse?
Every time I do projects for school about jobs, I always pick nurse. However, there are many types of nurses that require different degrees. What are the main and important degrees or skills I should have in order to work in healthcare? Why would those degrees be important in my career life?
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3 answers
Megan Jackson BSN, RN
Registered Nurse
59
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Megan’s Answer
Hey Rylee,
Nursing is an amazing career choice! I've been a nurse for 20 years and I absolutely adore my job and all the opportunities it's given me. I wanted to give you accurate and easy-to-understand information about how to become a nurse.
There are several paths you can take. The first one is to become an LVN/LPN (the abbreviation varies by state). This typically doesn't require any classes before you apply for the program. You can usually find LVN programs at your local community college. The program lasts 12-18 months, depending on if you're studying full time or part time. You'll learn basic nursing skills like caring for wounds, giving medications and injections, Gtube care, Foley catheter insertion, and how to do a focused assessment on patients with a stable health status. An LVN doesn't come with a degree, only a certification, and LVNs must practice under the indirect supervision of a Registered nurse or doctor.
The next step is becoming a Registered Nurse with an associate degree. This program typically requires about two semesters worth of prerequisites like Anatomy and Physiology, Psychology, English etc. These programs are usually at your local community colleges and are usually 24-month programs. You learn more in-depth and advanced education on diseases processes, assessments procedures etc. As an RN, you can perform a more comprehensive assessment of the patient, including social, emotional, financial and family influences on a patient with stable or unstable health conditions.
The final step is the RN with a bachelor's degree or BSN RN. This involves all that is required for the RN associates degree with the addition of a few more prerequisites like statistics, algebra and nutrition and an additional 1-1.5 years of nursing classes that focus on leadership, management and research. A BSN RN has the most opportunities available to them like supervisors, research nursing, Director roles, or community health nurse roles in addition to also being a bedside hospital nurse ICU etc.
There are several steps beyond these which include Masters Degrees or even Doctorates like a nurse practitioner or Nurse Educator but by the time you make it to that point you would be well versed. I hope that helps clarify and simplify the options. It’s a great career with unlimited options. Good luck on your journey!
Nursing is an amazing career choice! I've been a nurse for 20 years and I absolutely adore my job and all the opportunities it's given me. I wanted to give you accurate and easy-to-understand information about how to become a nurse.
There are several paths you can take. The first one is to become an LVN/LPN (the abbreviation varies by state). This typically doesn't require any classes before you apply for the program. You can usually find LVN programs at your local community college. The program lasts 12-18 months, depending on if you're studying full time or part time. You'll learn basic nursing skills like caring for wounds, giving medications and injections, Gtube care, Foley catheter insertion, and how to do a focused assessment on patients with a stable health status. An LVN doesn't come with a degree, only a certification, and LVNs must practice under the indirect supervision of a Registered nurse or doctor.
The next step is becoming a Registered Nurse with an associate degree. This program typically requires about two semesters worth of prerequisites like Anatomy and Physiology, Psychology, English etc. These programs are usually at your local community colleges and are usually 24-month programs. You learn more in-depth and advanced education on diseases processes, assessments procedures etc. As an RN, you can perform a more comprehensive assessment of the patient, including social, emotional, financial and family influences on a patient with stable or unstable health conditions.
The final step is the RN with a bachelor's degree or BSN RN. This involves all that is required for the RN associates degree with the addition of a few more prerequisites like statistics, algebra and nutrition and an additional 1-1.5 years of nursing classes that focus on leadership, management and research. A BSN RN has the most opportunities available to them like supervisors, research nursing, Director roles, or community health nurse roles in addition to also being a bedside hospital nurse ICU etc.
There are several steps beyond these which include Masters Degrees or even Doctorates like a nurse practitioner or Nurse Educator but by the time you make it to that point you would be well versed. I hope that helps clarify and simplify the options. It’s a great career with unlimited options. Good luck on your journey!
Cynthia Muhonja
Registered Nurse
15
Answers
Ashburn, Virginia
Updated
Cynthia’s Answer
Hi Riley
You will hear nurses talk about preferring either bedside or no bedside. I am a bedside nurse. I love taking care of my patients. I do love my current job as a Nurse Supervisor which gives me the priviledge of remaining bedside, but I also like working as a hospital nurse on various floors (float nurse) because you get to go everywhere and every day is a new adventure. The beauty of nursing is that you can choose your schedule, and work at 2 different places at the same time.
The difference between these jobs that I prefer and others is
1. Bedside gives me direct contact with my patients, and I have control of how my and my patients' day goes within state nursing guidelines unlike jobs like Nursing Director
2. I work better with older patients. Some nurses prefer to work with pediatrics. Other options are schools, jails, nursing homes, public health (county and state), operating room, NICU, ICU, Assisted living, PACU, Emergency Room, Mother and Baby, labor and Delivery, Medical Surgical, Cardiac/Heart Centers, Neuro, Urgent care, Provider offices, research and the list goe on.
3. The hours at bedside in a hospital are usually 12. So you work 3 days a week an you get 4 days off a week. On the other hand, a school nurse has to work 5 days a week.
You will hear nurses talk about preferring either bedside or no bedside. I am a bedside nurse. I love taking care of my patients. I do love my current job as a Nurse Supervisor which gives me the priviledge of remaining bedside, but I also like working as a hospital nurse on various floors (float nurse) because you get to go everywhere and every day is a new adventure. The beauty of nursing is that you can choose your schedule, and work at 2 different places at the same time.
The difference between these jobs that I prefer and others is
1. Bedside gives me direct contact with my patients, and I have control of how my and my patients' day goes within state nursing guidelines unlike jobs like Nursing Director
2. I work better with older patients. Some nurses prefer to work with pediatrics. Other options are schools, jails, nursing homes, public health (county and state), operating room, NICU, ICU, Assisted living, PACU, Emergency Room, Mother and Baby, labor and Delivery, Medical Surgical, Cardiac/Heart Centers, Neuro, Urgent care, Provider offices, research and the list goe on.
3. The hours at bedside in a hospital are usually 12. So you work 3 days a week an you get 4 days off a week. On the other hand, a school nurse has to work 5 days a week.
Cynthia Muhonja
Registered Nurse
15
Answers
Ashburn, Virginia
Updated
Cynthia’s Answer
Hello Future Nurse!!!
A nurse gets a nursing license. Nursing is also a proffesion so some nurses need a degree. The degree nurses get is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I know, that is confusing.
There are different levels of education in nursing. An LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) is a Nurse. An RN (Registered Nurse) is a nurse. A Nurse Midwife is a nurse. But you can get an LPN with less education than you will need for an RN, And an RN probably has less education requirements compared to a BSN.
You can probably get your LPN before you leave high school if your school district has that option. And you can probably get an LPN within 1 or 2 years of leaving high school.
An RN will need at least a college or a community college for an Associates. You will need to do more prerequisites in college before you can apply to the nursing program.
Applying to college and to nursing school is not synonymous. Most colleges have a separate application process to the nursing school. So essentially you do 2 different applications. But you always get priority to a nursing school if you went through their program and if its your local area. My advice is always to choose your college as early as possible.
The LPN and RN both get you a license. You cannot operate as a nurse without a license. Nursing is very regulated, so after you finish your nursing course, your college will send some documents to the state's nursing board. The state licenses you. You cannot operate as a nurse without a license. There's a lot of things that a nurse is licensed to do that everyone else is not allowed to do because they are not licensed.
Once you get your nursing license, you are a nursing professional. That means you can work anywhere as a nurse. Where you work is your choice and luck. There are just so many options for nurses, whether in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, public health, companies, urgent care and others. The license gives you that power. But when you get to an area, you might find that certification (different from licensing) makes you a better worker there. For example, if working on infusing cancer patients, you have to be chemo certified. Not just anyone can be putting chemo into a patient's vein. If working as a bariatric nurse, it helps to be certified for that. There are a lot of bodies that support this certifications.
Higher nursing degrees include Masters (MSN)and Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN). These are advanced Practice Nurses (APRNs). Each takes a different career path including nurse educator, nurse anesthetist, Nurse Midwife, Nurse Practitioner, and Leadership. These are varied in practice. An MSN in leadership leads to careers like Director or CNO, or CEO. Nurse Practitioners prescribe and treat. Educators teach the next generation of nurses and patients. Midwives work with womens health and mother/baby. Anesthetists do anesthesia.
So, the short answer to this long answer is that you need to know how far you want to go. If having a degree is important to you, then a BSN is the degree you are looking for.
A nurse gets a nursing license. Nursing is also a proffesion so some nurses need a degree. The degree nurses get is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I know, that is confusing.
There are different levels of education in nursing. An LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) is a Nurse. An RN (Registered Nurse) is a nurse. A Nurse Midwife is a nurse. But you can get an LPN with less education than you will need for an RN, And an RN probably has less education requirements compared to a BSN.
You can probably get your LPN before you leave high school if your school district has that option. And you can probably get an LPN within 1 or 2 years of leaving high school.
An RN will need at least a college or a community college for an Associates. You will need to do more prerequisites in college before you can apply to the nursing program.
Applying to college and to nursing school is not synonymous. Most colleges have a separate application process to the nursing school. So essentially you do 2 different applications. But you always get priority to a nursing school if you went through their program and if its your local area. My advice is always to choose your college as early as possible.
The LPN and RN both get you a license. You cannot operate as a nurse without a license. Nursing is very regulated, so after you finish your nursing course, your college will send some documents to the state's nursing board. The state licenses you. You cannot operate as a nurse without a license. There's a lot of things that a nurse is licensed to do that everyone else is not allowed to do because they are not licensed.
Once you get your nursing license, you are a nursing professional. That means you can work anywhere as a nurse. Where you work is your choice and luck. There are just so many options for nurses, whether in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, public health, companies, urgent care and others. The license gives you that power. But when you get to an area, you might find that certification (different from licensing) makes you a better worker there. For example, if working on infusing cancer patients, you have to be chemo certified. Not just anyone can be putting chemo into a patient's vein. If working as a bariatric nurse, it helps to be certified for that. There are a lot of bodies that support this certifications.
Higher nursing degrees include Masters (MSN)and Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN). These are advanced Practice Nurses (APRNs). Each takes a different career path including nurse educator, nurse anesthetist, Nurse Midwife, Nurse Practitioner, and Leadership. These are varied in practice. An MSN in leadership leads to careers like Director or CNO, or CEO. Nurse Practitioners prescribe and treat. Educators teach the next generation of nurses and patients. Midwives work with womens health and mother/baby. Anesthetists do anesthesia.
So, the short answer to this long answer is that you need to know how far you want to go. If having a degree is important to you, then a BSN is the degree you are looking for.
Thank you for responding! Your response was very helpful! I’m happy you took the time to help me understand better.
Rylee
Another follow-up question I have is, what is your personally most liked nurse job? And what is the difference between this job and other nurse jobs?
Rylee
Hi Riley
I am a nurse supervisor and a bedside nurse, and I prefer to be a float nurse because you get to go everywhere in the hospital. I prefer bedside nursing because
1. I get direct contact with my patients, and I have control of how my and my patients' day goes
2. I work better with older patients. Some nurses prefer to work within areas like pediatrics, or schools, jails, nursing homes, public health (county and state), operating room, NICU, ICU, Assisted living, PACU, Emergency Room, Mother and Baby, labor and Delivery, Medical Surgical, Cardiac/Heart Centers, Neuro, Urgent care, Provider offices, research and the list goes on.
3. The hours at bedside in a hospital are usually 12, so its a work 3 days work week
You will have many options when you are ready
Cynthia Muhonja