What To Expect From A Career In Nursing
Nursing programs at Ontario colleges come at varying levels for those in or interested in the field. Courses meet the needs of current Registered Nurses looking to diversify their skills as well as future nurses looking to get started.
Patient care demands exceptional attention to detail and a compassion for those in need. If you have these things and you see yourself starting or continuing in nursing education, heres what you need to know.
Which Nursing Path Is Right For You
Whether you see yourself working as a nurse on the hospital floor, in the OR, as a nurse educator in the classroom, a nurse executive in the boardroom or as a researcher in a lab, the key is to identify your strengths, interests and goals and pursue the degree that helps you get there.
With a wide range of nursing titles and the expected nursing shortage, its likely you will find an in-demand nursing position youll love. Start brainstorming with our article, Top 25 Types of Nurses Employers Are Looking to Hire.
1Gallup, Nurses Again Outpace Other Professions for Honesty, Ethics, 2Completion time is dependent on the number of transfer credits accepted and the number of courses completed each term.3Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change-Advancing-Health.aspx
Why Should Those Exempt From The Requirement To Advance Their Education Consider Pursuing A Baccalaureate Degree In Nursing
For those holding an RN license in NYS at the time the law was passed, the mandatory requirement to advance their education does not apply however, nurses who fall into this category may want to consider advancing their educational preparation by pursuing a baccalaureate in nursing for a number of reasons:
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Bachelor Of Science In Nursing
An aspiring RN can earn a BSN in four years at a college or university. If youre already an RN, you can enroll in an RN-to-BSN bridge program which is geared specifically for RNs who hold an associate degree. This path usually takes about two to three years.
If youre already a Licensed Practical Nurse, an LPN-to-RN program will earn you either an associate degree or a bachelors degree, depending on the path you decide to take. The completion of either will allow you sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to become an RN. An LPN-to-ADN program takes between one and two years an LPN-to-BSN program between two and four years.
An even quicker BSN option is for candidates who already hold a bachelors degree in another field. An accelerated BSN program allows students to apply general education credits from their first degree to the BSN. This route takes between one to one-and-a-half years.
And for paramedics looking for a job in nursing, the paramedic-to-RN bridge program offers an accelerated track to a BSN using a paramedics existing education and experience.
What Degree Do You Need To Be A Nurse Laying Out Your Options
By Kirsten Slyter on 02/17/2020
Many consider nurses the backbone of healthcare. The public trusts nurses more than other professionsrating them as having high ethical standards for the last 17 years, according to the Gallup Ethics Poll.1 Theyre in demand, they can work in a variety of settings, and best of allthey make a tangible difference every day.
With all this in mind its easy to see why you might be seriously considering a nursing career. But as youve started researching nursing related roles and credentials and the alphabet soup that comes with them, things can get confusing fast. You just want a simple answer for what education it takes to become a nurseand we can help spell it out.
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Types Of Registered Nurses
Addiction Nurse
Also known as substance abuse nurses, RNs specializing in addiction may have chosen this career because they or someone they love has suffered from addiction to drugs, alcohol or other substances. Addiction nurses work in recovery centers, hospitals and outpatient care facilities. Certifications for addictions nurses are administered by the International Nurses Society on Addictions .
Cardiovascular Nurse
Nurses who specialize in cardiovascular care work in hospitals, coronary care units and physician practices that care for patients with heart disease. Certifications for cardiovascular nurses are administered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses .
Critical Care Nurse / ICU Nurse
Critical care nurses work in intensive care units and CCUs. Sometimes ICU nurses are referred to as critical care nurses and vice versa. They specialize in caring for patients who are hospitalized for serious conditions and require round the clock observation. Certifications for ICU and CCU nurses are also administered by the AACN.
Gastroenterology Nurse
Nurses who work in gastroenterology help patients who have gastrointestinal diseases involving the stomach and digestive system. They might assist doctors during colonoscopies and endoscopies. Certifications for gastroenterology nurses are administered by the American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses .
Medical-Surgical Nurse
Neonatal Nurse
Occupational Health Nurse
Public Health Nurse
What Is The Job Outlook For Nurses
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Becoming A Successful Rn
Merely deciding to do a nursing course is no guarantee that you will go on to become a professional nurse. Your outcome will depend on your own effort and hard work. The following points form a good roadmap for becoming a registered nurse:
1. Pick a Good School
Make sure that the school you choose has a solid reputation and a record of accomplishment for producing RNs who go on to find a place in good hospitals and healthcare facilities. A school that is not accredited, stuffs too many students in a single class, or has students dropping out of the course all year long is a bad choice. You might get a nursing degree, but it will likely not be worth much in the professional world.
2. Start Waking Early
An RN’s shift starts early in the morning, and your body needs to become used to starting the day much earlier. Try to develop the habit of falling asleep early to wake up as soon as possible, until it becomes a matter of routine. Nothing gets in the way of doing your duties as an RN like being tired and sleepy.
3. Get Practical Experience
Being an RN requires you to know how to do many complicated procedures by hand. Becoming good at such procedures will take more than book learning. Grab every chance you can get to gain practical experience by helping out at hospitals, and learn from professional nurses how to dress wounds, read hospital machines, perform basic surgical operations, and interact with patients.
4. Become a Team player
5. Become Adaptable
Ask Your College Career Office About Nursing Career Days And Hospital Recruitment Days
Some major universities will partner with local hospitals to hold career days on campus. This will bring healthcare companies and agencies to the university on one specific day.
Nursing students will have the ability to meet with nurse recruiters, learn about openings, discuss new nurse orientation, and submit resumes and applications. This can be a great networking opportunity.
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Decide On Your Nursing Path
An excellent start is by considering the type of work environment you preferhospitals, doctors offices, nursing homes, or other medical settings. What will inspire you the most?
Next, youll want to consider the role you want to play. Do you want to be part of a more extensive medical staff? Do you want to manage other nurses? Are you passionate about serving a specific patient group, like the elderly, young children, or expectant mothers?
Educational Requirements For Registered Nurses
Are you interested in becoming a registered nurse ? If so, congratulations. Nursing ranks among the most challengingyet rewardingprofessions one may aspire to. Nurses are highly respected individuals who bring years of training and expertise to the front lines of healthcare delivery. Depending on an individuals educational attainment, a nurse may bear responsibility for attending to the needs of numerous types of patients across a wide range of healthcare settings. But the level of responsibilityand the degree of compensation you may expect as a working nurseare largely a reflection of the level of nursing education youve achieved.
Licensed practical nurses , for example, are not qualified to perform all the important duties that may be required of a registered nurse. Nor may they work without direct supervision. Rather, the most crucial tasks, such as administering intravenous medications, supervising other nurses, performing simple procedures, and other technical duties, are usually reserved for registered nurses with a bachelors degree. Baccalaureate prepared nurses typically earn significantly more than their less-educated peers.
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Career Options For Bsns
If you have a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing, you are better positioned to qualify for more jobs in the nursing field than those who only have an associates degree. Many hospitals require nurses working within their facilities to have at minimum a BSN degree. Some possible career options for those with a BSN degree include registered nurses within a hospital or nurse managers.
What Does A Registered Nurse Do
What a registered nurse does depends on their specialty, location, training, and experience. But some responsibilities for registered nurses remain universal. According to the American Nurses Association , the key responsibilities of an RN are:
- Performing physical exams and health histories before making critical decisions
- Providing health promotion, counseling, and education
- Administering medications and other personalized interventions
- Coordinating care, in collaboration with a wide array of healthcare professionals
The above responsibilities will always be a part of a registered nurse’s day at any level. However, an RN can also help assess the health of inmates in prisons, answer calls to nursing lines, or work abroad as a travel nurse, commonly on 13-week contracts. They could find themselves doing anything from assisting cancer patients after chemotherapy in an oncology department, to helping deliver babies, or monitoring patients post-surgery.
Some specializations require further certification, experience, or education such as a BSN qualification.
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What Accreditation Is Available For My Program
Accreditation is a sure-fire way to know if a program meets nationally recognized nursing education standards. Independent accrediting organizations register schools once theyve undergone an arduous application process. For students, attending an accredited school is a must if youre hoping to receive financial aid. Secondly, earning a degree at one accredited school allows a student to pursue further education at other accredited schools.
Associates Degree In Nursing
Heres the stage where things can start to get confusingthe degree options that lead to becoming a registered nurse. You can be an RN with an Associates degree, Bachelors degree and even a Masters degree.
Both the common paths of earning an Associates Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing will prepare you for a registered nursing career, but there are several notable differences. Since an associates degree requires fewer credits, ADN nurses generally complete their education sooner than BSN nurses.
Registered nurses conduct patient assessments, create care plans, administer medications and treatments, and educate patients and families about treatments and follow-up steps. ADN nurses learn all these skills and the science behind them while attending classes and performing labs. They also refine their skills in real-life by completing clinicals, usually in a hospital setting.
Once they graduate, they can apply to work in a variety of settings and specialties, though BSN nurses may have a leg up on ADN nurses when it comes to applying to specialty clinics or departments.
But if an ADN nurse does want to take on a leadership role or move into a BSN-nurses-only specialty, their experience and associates degree make earning a BSN a smooth transition with an RN-to-BSN program.
Think this could be the right fit for you? Find more reasons to consider an ADN in our article, Becoming a Nurse: Why an Associates Degree in Nursing is Right for You.
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Why Is The Bsn In 10 Law Important
BSN education is designed to improve analytical and critical thinking skills.
According to The American Association of Colleges of Nursing , the educational preparation of BSN nurses also includes Community Education, Communication, Nurse Management and Leadership, Patient Education, Clinical, Scientific, Decision Making, and Humanistic Skills, or even Patient Psychology, which have shown to lead to better patient outcome and reduced patient mortality.
Studies have shown that in hospitals with higher proportions of nurses educated at the baccalaureate level or higher, surgical patients experienced lower mortality and failure-to-rescue rates.
BSN education has been linked to better patient outcome.
This information has not gone unnoticed and has had a great impact on the decision to adopt the BSN in ten law.
As it is cited in the legislature, The nurse of the future must be prepared to partner with multiple disciplines as a collaborator and manager of the complex patient care journey. Shorter lengths of stays, higher patient acuity, and more sophisticated technologies and procedures are increasing the complexity of patient care which in turn places great demands on nursing competencies.
Registered Nursing Requirements To Become A Nurse
NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES | 4 MIN READ
The demand for registered nurses continues to rise, and there are no signs it is slowing down. If you plan to help meet this demand for more nurses by becoming a Registered Nurse, youll need to meet certain requirements.
First, lets consider the career field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 15% increase in nursing jobs by 2026. Registered nurses make an average of almost $71,000 a year, with those in specialized fields earning higher salaries.
There are ways to become a nurse, for both new high school grads and nontraditional students. That said, here are three requirements you need to meet to enter the field as a registered nurse:
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So What Are The Different Types Of Nursing Degrees
There are several levels of nursing degrees to consider as you map out your career path, from undergraduate options that can help you establish your career to advanced degrees that can get you where you want to go.
Associate Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma
One educational pathway, and perhaps the first step to becoming a registered nurse is earning an ADN from a two-year program at a community college or vocational school or a diploma from an approved nursing program.
While a BSN is the optimal way to go, some second degree or non-traditional students might choose one of these options, said Dr. Peggy Moriarty-Litz, chief nursing administrator at Southern New Hampshire University .
An ADN or diploma is also an educational stepping stone for licensed practical nurses , the health services professionals who provide basic nursing care under the direction of RNs. If an LPN aspires to become an RN, this incremental approach is a great way to earn some money while going to school,” Moriarty-Litz said. “It also lets LPNs build upon their foundational educational knowledge.
While the nursing profession embraces nurses from all backgrounds and levels, we encourage them to continue on their education to earn a baccalaureate degree, a masters degree and even beyond, said Moriarty-Litz.
To this end, many colleges and universities offer degree programs that build on a students existing credentials, such as the:
- LPN to BSN
- RN to BSN
- RN to MSN
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Certified Nursing Assistant Training
While not technically a nurse, a nursing assistant position is one way to dip your toes into the healthcare field with a relatively smaller upfront investment. CNAs help patients with personal care duties like bathing, feeding and taking vital signs. Though it might not be the most glamorous work, CNAs are needed in all sorts of healthcare facilities including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and especially nursing homes or long-term care facilities. Patients in nursing homes or long-term care facilities often have limited mobility, dementia, and need frequent check-ins and help with basic tasks.
Though these positions dont technically require a credential, becoming a certified nursing assistant does require candidates to complete a short educational program and pass a state competency exam which allows those that pass to use specific titles like CNA and apply for corresponding positions.
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Seven Nursing School Accreditation
Whatever type of nursing program you choose, make sure it’s accredited!
Accreditation means that an accrediting body, either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has evaluated a nursing school and its programs to ensure that it means their standards.
The purpose of accreditation is to make sure that the same standards and criteria are being met across all nursing programs. So that nurses come out with the knowledge and skills they need to do their jobs correctly.
The accreditation process ultimately improves the quality of nursing education and keeps the curriculum up to date on current trends in advances in nursing and healthcare. Accreditation continues to further the nursing profession and enhances the overall care provided by nurses.
Two How To Become Every Type Of Nurse
The first step in becoming a nurse is nursing school. But its not that simple. You need to choose a program figure out what prerequisites and other requirements you need for that program, figure out how to pay for school, and oh so much more.
When it comes to nursing school, there are a LOT of options available, but which is right for you will depend on your overall career goals, your financial situation, and a number of other factors. Here are the different nursing programs available.
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