Education and Training

In order to earn a nursing degree, you will need to complete coursework in areas such as biology, microbiology, nutrition, sociology, human anatomy, chemistry, statistics, clinical rotations, nursing care of children and the elderly, as well as mental health nursing. Nursing graduates can dedicate themselves to a career in a specific area of nursing, such as critical care, home healthcare, oncology, geriatrics, pediatrics, pulmonary care, obstetrics, mental healthcare and emergency room care. All states list certain requirements to become a licensed nurse, but these requirements can differ slightly from state to state. Generally speaking, nurses must graduate from an approved and accredited nursing program, as well as passing the National Council License Examination (NCLEX).

Employment Opportunities

Depending on your nursing program and level of qualifications, there are several different career paths you may pursue. These include:

- Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Public Health Nurse (PHN)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Home Health Nurse (HHN)
- Occupational Health Nurse
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Midwife

Under the supervision of a registered nurse, a certified nurse assistant is responsible for offering assistance to patients in their daily living tasks. Other duties include applying dressings, taking vital signs, conducting range of motion exercises and informing the RN of any changes in the patient’s status.

Registered nurses work to treat patients, educate patients and their families about medical conditions, and help carry out diagnostic tests. RNs are the biggest occupation in health care. RNs have the ability to dedicate themselves to caring for a particular condition or area of the body, a specific type of patient, or a section of the hospital. To become an RN, you must graduate from an approved and accredited institution and pass the National Council License Examination (NCLEX).

Public health nurses are RNs who are specialized to work in community health. They provide the same functions as an RN as well as travelling to communities to find practical and feasible solutions to community health worries and setting up programs for immunizations, testing blood pressure, and other healthcare screenings.

Licensed practical nurses are required to have more training than CNAs, but less than RNs. They are responsible for giving essential bedside care to patients like checking blood pressure, taking a patient’s temperature, preparing and giving injections, applying dressings and ice packs, and observing any changes in the health of a patient. LN’s must pass the NCLEX-PN exam before they become licensed.

A certified registered nurse anesthetist is an RN who has undergone additional training in anesthetics. A CRNA is in charge of looking after a patient’s anesthesia requirements before, during and post-surgery and other medical procedures. They must undergo extensive training beyond that of an RN to qualify as a CRNA.

Home health nurses are trained RNs who look after patients at home. Their duty is to care for patients who are unable to leave their homes. They may travel from their hospital of employment or work for a home health care centre or outpatient facility.

Occupational health nurses care for patients who have been injured on the job. They may be responsible for providing emergency relief, writing up accident reports, providing health counseling services and reviewing the potential health and safety risks at various work environments.

A nurse practitioner is an RN who has undertaken further training (such as a Masters degree) to provide similar care as a doctor (such as carrying out the same sort of non-emergency tasks that a physician may perform). In many states, nurse practitioners are able to write prescriptions for patients.

A nurse midwife is an RN who has undergone further training in nurse midwifery. Midwives provide care and assistance to pregnant women during pregnancy and post-birth.

Job Outlook and Salary

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for individuals who are licensed to practice as a registered nurse are predicted to be excellent. For individuals who are licensed to practice as a practical nurse, job opportunities are expected to grow faster than the average for all other occupations. This demand is largely due to the growing healthcare needs of the aging baby boomer population. The Bureau reports that the median annual earnings for registered nurses in May 2006 were $57,280. For licensed practical nurses, the median annual earnings in May 2006 were $36,550.