Options And Steps To Become A Nurse

You have come to the decision that you want to beome a nurse; that is a very noble profession to pursue.  But it is also one that requires some consideration as to what type of nurse you want to be as well as what it takes to achieve that.  Being a nurse can range from being an LPN (Licensed Nursed Practitioner) in a hospital setting to an Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner.

An LPN can obtain their education from a vocational school or a community college and is therefore perfect for someone just entering the field of medicine.  This is a great way to get into the office and working with patients before you decide if pursuing more of an education is something of interest to you.  In many states the LPN course completion is determined by classroom hours as well as clinical experience.  After you pass the course, you merely have to take the state exam and pass that to be fully certified.  This is the place to start if you are not completely sure about being a nurse, the tuition cost is lower, the amount of time is significantly less and there is less responsibility because most often you will work under a Registered Nurse (RN).

If you desire is to be an RN this requires a degree known as an Associate’s Degree in Nursing.  It is a minimum of two years for completion and can be obtained at a community college or university.  After you have finished the course you will work under supervision by a Graduated Nurse until you pass your state exam.  The state exam is necessary to being able to work unsupervised.

Once you become an RN, if you wish, you can return to school for a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.  This is occasionally available at a community college, but more commonly at a university.  This degree will not only provide you with a higher income and more job opportunity, it allows you to work in a variety of specialty areas like Neo-Natal, Pediatrics, and Cosmetic Surgery among others.

A Master’s degree is the highest qualification offered in Nursing and provides the highest income and most job possibilities.  It is normally only available through a major university.  There are no restrictions on the facilities you can work in or the specialty fields you can pursue.  Your options within the medical field are truly unlimited.  With a master’s degree, you can teach, work in supervisory positions, administrative positions, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthesiologist.  Also this is the first step into a Physician’s Assistant (PA) position.

With all of these degrees you can work in a hospital, doctor’s office, school, prison facility, nursing home, or anywhere else there is a need for nurses.  There is always a need for qualified individuals and with so many diverse areas to work in; there is nothing to wait for.