Types of Nursing Programs
From entry level to advanced nursing, there are many nursing programs available to choose from. Again, what you choose will depend on your area of expertise, your desired salary and job type, how long you are willing to go to school, and which type of setting you want to work in.
Entry-Level Nursing
These positions generally pay less than advanced nursing positions but they are still very much in demand in all areas of applications. Let’s take a look:
Certified Nursing Assistant: A CNA helps patients with their healthcare needs under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). CNAs are also referred to as Nursing Assistants (NAs). CNAs can help with basic medical care but can’t perform certain procedures.
Licensed Practical Nurse: LPNs perform a wide range of tasks under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN). They can administer medicine and injections, take vital signs, interact with patients, and perform other basic tasks. It’s perfect for those who want to become a nurse but who do not want the responsibility and certifications associated with being an RN.
Registered Nurse: In addition to patient care, RNs evaluate patient symptoms, dress wounds, assist doctors during surgery, review patient treatment plans, supervise other nurses, and educate patients about self-care.
Home Health Aid (HHA): HHAs work for agencies or families in the eldercare sector. They may also work with younger people with disabilities that preclude them from leaving home. Aids assist in care giving by following a doctor’s treatment plan. They often work under the supervision of a registered nurse or physical therapist, tending to the patient’s basic needs as well as household chores.
Advanced Nursing
In advanced nursing specialties, you are open to more possibilities in terms of position, responsibility and higher salary.
Clinical Nurse Specialist: These are RNs who have a master’s degree as well as national certification. They work directly with patients, implementing treatment plans that help to resolve medical or psychiatric issues. They can take advocacy roles, shape policy, and mentor fellow nurses.
Nurse Midwife: Certified nurse-midwives are skilled health professionals who diagnose and treat patients, often collaborating closely with physicians. They provide care and counseling for women from pre-conception through the post-partum period, as well as provide gynecological services.
Nurse Practitioner: This is a registered nurse who has advanced academic and clinical experience in diagnosing and managing acute and chronic illnesses. They often collaborate with physicians on a daily basis to provide care. In addition to health care services, NPs conduct research, taking an active role in patient advocacy activities.
Nursing Informatics: NI integrates nursing science with multiple information management and analytical sciences in an effort to identify, manage, and communicate data and information in nursing. The NI can support nurses, consumers, patients, and healthcare teams in decision-making roles to achieve set goals.
Nurse Educator: These are RNs who also happen to be teachers. They typically have extensive clinical experience, and work as faculty members in nursing schools and teaching hospitals.
Nursing Leadership and Administration: These nurses lead administrations on how to create effective intra-departmental and facility-wide systems of healthcare delivery. At the same time, they strive to lead a productive and efficient workforce to ensure the best possible patient care. These nursing professionals can include:
Nurse Manager
Nurse Administrator
Nursing Supervisor
Director of Nursing
Vice President of Nursing
Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)
We hope this guide has been helpful as you decide which type of nurse you want to be. From associates degrees to masters degrees and beyond, your career is waiting for you! Certifications and degrees are the best way to achieve your goals as a healthcare professional.
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