Your Career In Nursing
Nursing Overview
In 2007, Nurses topped the annual Gallup poll on Honesty and Ethical Ratings of People in Different Professions for the ninth straight year (Lobbyists held down last place). And while the US Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook notes a recent increase in nursing training enrollment, there remains a substantial shortage of nurses.
Because human life expectancy is increasing, so is the population of our elderly. Consequently, the incidences of chronic ailments grow in number and qualified nurses become more and more necessary. Nurses are in great demand, and will likely remain so for the next several years.
But what can you expect from a career in nursing? All hospitals offer residencies for New Graduates, with 50 hospitals in the country offering the Versant RN Residency program, which guides New Grads through the challenging transition to working professional. Certainly, the profession of Nursing has matured considerably over the years, with some nursing occupations focusing on the areas of research, education, administration and even primary caregiver. What has not changed, though, are the qualities that we have come to associate with nurses; qualities that no doubt continue to lead nurses to the top spot in Gallup's Honesty and Ethics poll: Diligence, pragmatism and, most importantly, compassion.
Types of Nursing Degrees
The following are nursing degrees, and a partial list of occupations associated with each:
Certification
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
LVN/LPN License
- Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- (note: both occupations are the same, although the job title changes from state to state)
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- (note: Registered Nurses with a BSN will have access to a wider range of career paths, including the ability to specialize, and will enjoy higher income than those with an ASN.)
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Nurse Anesthetist (AE)
- Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
About the NCLEX
Once your nursing training is complete, the next steps are to apply for a license and take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The NCLEX, which is developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), is a standardized test that determines the entry-level competence of the license applicant. The test and its results are the same regardless of the state in which the candidate intends to practice; in other words, if you can pass it in Kansas, you can pass it in New York.
Once the state board of nursing determines a candidate's eligibility, one of two different versions of the test is administered, depending upon the type of license being sought. The NCLEX-PN is taken by candidates for the Practical Nurse license, and the NCLEX-RN for the Registered Nurse license. Both versions are made up of three sections:
- An exam tutorial
- The exam
- Customer service survey
The examination uses a Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) application, which continues presenting the candidate with questions (at least 75, but no more than 265) until it can conclusively determine whether to issue a pass or fail. The candidate has a maximum time - 5 hours for the NCLEX-PN or 6 hours for the NCLEX-RN - to complete all the questions. If the minimum number of questions has not been answered in the allotted time, the candidate will not pass. Upon completion, the test score is then determined a second time by the NCSBN.
The exam is regularly analyzed, with new items being generated in collaboration with related health professionals and educators, and updated every three years. However, if at any point in time the NCSBN discovers and confirms a change in nursing practice, any exam questions relating to that practice are immediately removed until new questions can be developed.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
An entry-level position, under the direction of an RN or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), focusing on direct caregiving, compassion and patient dignity. Sees to the comfort of a patient and assists in activities the patient is unable to do alone, such as bathing or using the restroom.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
An entry-level position, under the direction of an RN or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), focusing on direct caregiving, compassion and patient dignity. Sees to the comfort of a patient and assists in activities the patient is unable to do alone, such as bathing or using the restroom.
Advanced Practice Nursing
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
As the title suggests, a Clinical Nurse Specialist focuses on a specialized field of study (e.g., Oncology, Lactation Consulting, Pain Management, etc.) and is qualified to work in the context of a clinical practice. The CNS is also involved in the areas of management, research and consultation.
Advanced Practice Nursing
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
As life expectancy and the elderly population increase, so does the incidence of chronic illnesses. Consequently, Nurse Practitioners are and will continue to be in increasingly great demand. Despite their broad knowledge (a notable distinction between an NP & a CNS), NPs still often choose a specialty and collaborate closely with physicians. In fact, because they can diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses, as well as prescribe medicine and therapy, they can be a holistic alternative to a medical doctor and in some states can open their own private practice.
Registered Nurse (RN)
An Associates Degree is the quickest path to finding entry-level work as a Registered Nurse. However, more advanced degrees will open the door to a greater scope of employment opportunities, as well as the ability to specialize in any of a number of disciplines. Whether designated as a Novice or Expert, RNs of all stripes are fundamentally caregivers, advisers and educators.
Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)/
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Under the direction of an RN or MD, the duties of an LVN/LPN differ slightly depending upon whether they practice in a hospital, nursing home or doctors' office. Regardless of location, some common duties are the checking and documentation of vital signs, dressing of post-op wounds, collecting lab samples, and patient record maintenance.
