|
 Nursing, as a profession is guided by research and is governed by professional ethics. Almost every day, the field of nursing gathers a wide body of knowledge and skills. There are several paths towards becoming a fully qualified and thoroughly trained nurse but all these come after studying basic nursing theory, and learning technical and clinical skills. The following article contains the Amereican Nurses Association's breakdown of the different fields of Nursing.
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)Also known as Licensed Vocational Nurses in California and Texas, these nurses usually qualify after an eighteen month to two year course in physiology, medications and practical patient care. They are trained to perform both simple as well as complex medical tasks but do so under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or a physician. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are around 700,000 LPNs in the United States.
Registered Nurses (RNs)A Registered Nurse is one who has completed a diploma, associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. These nurses already have several hours of clinical experience before they enter the professional workforce. They help physicians and surgeons and also oversee the work of the licensed practical nurses. Nearly all states and regions of the United States require Registered Nurses to successfully complete an accredited nursing program and to take the NCLEX-RN examination on successful completion of which a graduate is regarded as a Registered Nurse. In the following link, the US Department of Labor provides additional information about the Nursing profession.
Advance Practice Nurses (APNs)Advance Practice Nurses have a Masters or a doctoral degree in nursing. They perform various roles like Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Nurse Practitioner (NP), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
There are various paths a person could take to be a Registered Nurse. Some of them are listed below.
Associate of Science in NursingGraduates from a degree granting nursing program are awarded this title which is also abbreviated variously as ASN/AAS in nursing.
Diploma in NursingGraduates from a three year certificate course from a hospital based nursing institute are usually granted this qualification. For further information read What is a Technical or Vocational School if you are interested in earning a Nursing degree through a Trade school.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN/BN)Graduates from a university after the completion of a four to five year course with special focus on research, leadership and clinically focused courses.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)An advanced level degree for Registered Nurses. It is the most favored path chosen by Registered Nurses to advance to the position of an Advanced Practice Nurse.
Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc)An advanced level of academic degree in nursing. Only APNs with a Master’s degree in nursing are eligible for this course.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)Quite similar to the DNSc. It differs in that it aims to increase efficiency in clinical practice rather than research, training or theory.
Return to Educational Articles and Resources>> |
