While there is a dizzying number of nursing specialties and their corresponding training programs, all would-be nurses need to be aware of the basic nursing qualifications that will establish their entry into the profession.
The certified nursing assistant has a close relationship with patients. Most CNAs work in hospital jobs or nursing home jobs, where they give basic nursing care, helping patients with hygiene needs, seeing to their physical comfort, and helping them with their mobility. There are also opportunities for home health care jobs, especially with the elderly, which would involve helping the patient with all their day to day physical needs. Training for CNA jobs is offered by many different schools, and the time requirement varies between them, but one example would be that of a one semester course at a community college. Certification is gained by passing both a written test and a practical skills test.
LPN programs confer the licensed practical nurse qualification and are usually completed in between 12 and 24 months. LPN jobs are mostly involved with the basics of bedside patient care, such as helping with feeding, bathing and mobility. Other duties would include measuring and recording vital signs, wound dressing and giving medications, orally and by injection. There are many opportunities for LPNs in hospital jobs, home health care jobs and geriatric nurse jobs. This is a useful first qualification for anyone who wants to find out if they are well suited to a career in nursing.
Nurses graduating from RN programs to become registered nurses have a lot of scope, both in immediately available RN jobs and in opportunities to progress to further qualifications. As well as hospitals, RNs might work in a doctor’s office, a school, in a public health environment or for private patients. A nurse might become an RN through ADN programs, two year college courses which confer an associate degree in nursing. Studies would include practical nursing skills, but would also focus on nursing science, anatomy and physiology, and the etiology of disease. Licensing is gained by taking a state based examination.
BSN programs are four year academic programs which confer a bachelor’s degree in nursing science. This prepares the nurse to work in roles that are not primarily concerned with bedside care, such as in informatics, management and research. Following two year RN programs, nurses may wish to earn their bachelor’s degree by taking RN to BSN programs, and there are accelerated BSN programs for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in a different subject.
A whole host of specialized training programs exists for nurses but these basic qualifications are the ones that will get them started on their chosen career path.
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