Doctor Of Nursing Practice Degree
The highest level of nursing education is a doctoral degree, and the doctor of nursing practice degree is just one type. The DNP degree is designed for individuals who want to become cutting-edge leaders in the field of nursing. As it suggests by the degrees name, a DNP focuses on the practical, clinical aspects of advanced nursing.
It is important to keep in mind that a DNP is different from a nursing Ph.D., which would be necessary if you are interested in becoming nursing faculty at an academic institution. While both require rigorous amounts of research, a nursing Ph.D. may not necessarily prepare students for the depth of practical application necessary for advanced clinical practice.
How To Enroll In A Dnp Program
Prerequisites for admission to a DNP program will vary by institution. The type of DNP program you chose to enroll in may also dictate that. There are BSN-to-DNP programs as well as ADN-to-MSN programs which prepare you transition into a DNP program. Universities may ask applicants to present a current RN licensure, professional references and a resume as proof of field experience, among other application materials.
A DNP program can take anywhere from four to six years to complete depending on whether a student is part time or full time. To complete the program, you will be required to write a dissertation based on an original research project. The curriculum for this type of nursing program focuses on research that is innovative and evidenced-based, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
What Can You Do With A College Degree In Nursing
As you consider different types of nursing degrees, you may wonder about potential nursing major salary, job growth, employment and more. The table below uses data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to provide details on mean annual wages, projected job grown and total employment for popular nursing fields. Just keep in mind that once a nursing degree program is completed, nurses must take the National Council Licensure Examination in order to become certified as either a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
| Career |
|---|
| $30,720 |
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Pharmaceutical Or Medical Equipment Sales
If you enjoy traveling and talking with people, you might enjoy a career in pharmaceutical or medical equipment sales. Busy physicians do not have time to keep up with all of the latest research and products, so they rely on the information that the sales representatives provide. Generally, medical sales jobs involve phoning clients and also to travel to their offices or clinics to make presentations and give out free samples.
What Types Of Nursing Degrees Are There
From certificate programs to doctoral degrees, there are many different pathways to a career in nursing.
With so many types of nursing degrees available, its important to understand how each program works so you can find the one thats right for you. Whether youre a recent high school graduate, experienced professional, or career changer, making the right decision means considering each option against your goals, financial resources, and lifestyle.
In This Article
Certified Nursing Assistant|LPN/LVN|Associate Degree in Nursing|Bachelor of Science in Nursing |Master of Science in Nursing|Joint Masters|Doctorate
Weve compiled a descriptive list of the different types of nursing degrees available and what they involve in regards to program content, length of time, and job potential. By selecting the program that meets your personal and professional goals, youll position yourself for success in the rewarding field of nursing.
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What Should I Study At High School If I Want To Do A Nursing Degree
Most nursing degrees will require a science or a social science subject to have been studied to an advanced level at high school. These could include biology, psychology, sociology and chemistry among others. Grade requirements will vary depending on the individual university.
It would also be useful to show a passion for nursing so work experience in a medical environment would help to boost your application.
Overview Of Nursing Degrees
Nursing schools offer an array of degree options, from associate degrees through postgraduate programs. Each level is designed to meet different career needs, so courses, curricula, and skills learned vary. Understanding how nursing degrees differ–and how these differences translate to the workplace–allows future nursing students to choose programs that are in line with their goals and interests. In addition to the degree information provided below, students can visit this nursing program search tool and rankings page to help round out their research.
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Nursing Bursaries Grants And Travel Reimbursements
Nursing students will have to apply for student loans to cover tuition fees and living costs. Any grants will come from the government or from the universitys fund . Available bursaries vary from university from university, so if money is likely to be a problem its worth checking whats on offer before sending any applications.
If the cost of travelling to your placement exceeds the cost of getting to your university campus, youll be reimbursed the difference. If you drive, youll be paid for the difference in mileage. If you use public transport, such as buses or trains, youll need to save and present your tickets to be reimbursed.
Explore Careers In Information Technology And Informatics
Information technology is an excellent path if you are looking to get away from high-stress jobs in patient care, but still want to have a measurable impact on the delivery of healthcare. Nursing IT careers are increasingly important as technology continues to redefine the healthcare industry.
For example, nurse informatics specialists function as a technology liaison for hospital staff, while still performing select nursing duties. They might be involved in designing and testing new information solutions, or implementing new processes to improve patient care.
A career in nursing informatics also offers diverse career pathways with many opportunities for career advancement. Often, informatics specialists will pursue more advanced roles, such as nurse manager or Chief Nursing Informatics Officer.
You can expand your education in health informatics by enrolling in an online health information management bachelors degree program . Classes are designed to potentially prepare you for jobs including medical records technician, patient information coordinator, HIM consultant, HIM director, or other managerial roles in health information.
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Summary: Types Of Nursing Degrees
As you can see, there are many options available to students embarking upon a nursing career. The options that work best for you will ultimately depend on the amount of time that you want to commit to your studies and the specialty that you want to focus on.
Check out the degree programs available to you, pay attention to the average salary and study requirements, and choose wisely! The decisions that you make today as a student will ultimately impact all of your nursing career and determine the path that you take in life.
Other Factors To Consider Before Studying To Be A Nurse
Expect short summer breaks at university and shift work throughout your career
The arrangement of hospital placements means that, as a nursing student, youre likely to get a much shorter summer break than other students. Nurses at all levels are expected to do shift work, which often involves long, irregular hours. You need to think about whether you are happy to make this commitment. If not, nursing isnt for you.
Youll be expected to wash, dress and feed patients
Also, when on placement and throughout your career youll need to maintain a keen, hands-on approach. Diane Clarke is a second year adult nursing student at Keele University. She comments: Before starting my nursing degree, I worked as a healthcare assistant. This was not only helpful during the application process, but also gave me a basic understanding of what nursing is really about. While on placement, youll be expected to wash, dress and feed patients alongside healthcare assistants and qualified nurses its an important part of the job. This came as a shock to some of the other students.
Nurses have a huge amount of responsibility and that can be daunting
Nursing involves a lot of commitment
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Nurse Anesthetists Nurse Midwives And Nurse Practitioners
Nurses wanting to specialize in particular areas of healthcare may be able to become Advanced Practice Registered Nurses . After receiving the proper education and meeting all licensing requirements, APRNs may be allowed to perform certain advanced primary and specialty healthcare services for patients. Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners are all examples of APRNs. Duties and responsibilities vary by specialization.
- Minimum Educational Requirement: All APRNs must earn a masters degree in their area of specialization.
- Special Certifications or Licensures: Regardless of specialization, all APRNs must first earn their RN certification. They must also pass the proper licensing exams, which vary according to their specific area of specialty. APRNs must be licensed in the state in which they work and meet continuing education requirements.
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.
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Jobs You Can Do With A Bsn Degree Besides Nursing
By EveryNurse Staff on May 17, 2020
Are you interested in a nursing career, or looking to change your career after spending years in the clinical setting? Perhaps youve recently experienced a life change and are looking for a way to enjoy the freedom of working remotely or even working from home.
You may be pleased to know there are plenty of ways to put a bachelor of science in nursing to use other than by providing bedside care. And with fast projected job growth according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, theres never been a better time to explore everything that the nursing field has to offer. Check out these seven areas where you can put your hard-earned BSN degree to work without getting involved with traditional clinical care.
Common Career Paths For Nurses
The most common path taken by Registered Nurses is through a traditional four-year undergraduate BSN program. With the IOMs recommendations of BSN by 2020, there has been an increasing number of students obtaining undergraduate BSN degrees. This number will only continue to rise.
The Institute of Medicine reported on the future of nursing in 2010, making a strong recommendation that 80 percent of the nursing workforce have a baccalaureate degree by 2020. At the time of the reports release, only 50 percent of the nursing workforce had a BSN. Now, there is an estimated 55-60 percent of nurses who have such a degree. Research has shown a higher percentage of baccalaureate nurses on a unit reduces morbidity and mortality, says Tina Gerardi, the Deputy for the Academic Progression in Nursing Programs .
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Why Get A Degree In Nursing Rather Than A Cegep Diploma
There are more and more requirements for higher education in all health care fields – Nursing is no different. A degree enables the graduate to access a wider range of jobs as well as continued education opportunities at the Masters, Nurse Practitioner, and PhD levels. Many provinces and countries are requiring a minimum of a Baccalaureate degree in Nursing for entry into practice. We have tried to keep all doors open for education in Nursing at McGill. Our BSc meets the needs of students with a DEC in science while our Bachelor of Nursing Integrated Program has been developed for people who have a DEC in Nursing from CEGEP.
Labor And Delivery Nurse
The Labor and Delivery RN ensures the safety of both mother and baby during the childbirth process. They work with the interdisciplinary team to bring life safely into the world. The L& D nurse must think and act quickly while constantly assessing for emergencies and initiating appropriate interventions. This RN may assist with caesarean sections, initiate and monitor fetal heart rates, monitor and assist with epidurals, induce labor, and ultimately work to find the safest and most effective ways to healthy childbirth.
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Disease Prevention Nurse Specialist
Disease prevention is one of the best alternative careers for registered nurses who enjoy research and data. Disease prevention nursing, also called infection control, prevents the spread of disease among patients, community members, and fellow healthcare workers. These nurses analyze data and make decisions about disease containment, hygiene, and more. They work in healthcare facilities from hospitals to private practices and nursing homes.
Infection control nurses will need some nursing experience under their belts before getting started in this particular field. Many hiring organizations prefer that their disease prevention nurses have a BSN. Disease prevention specialists have widely varying salaries. The average is $84,794 per year. Like all nursing careers, the need for disease prevention nurses remains high and will probably stay that way for a long time.
Salary: $85,000 annually
Associate Of Science In Nursing
An associate of science degree in nursing program provides graduates with more technical skills and, for 30% of graduates, serves as the stepping stone to a bachelors degree in nursing . This degree option is ideal for those who want to begin a career as an RN, but are not currently working as an LPN or LVN.
Time to Completion: About two years. Night and weekend courses offered at community colleges or vocational schools make this degree another ideal option for students who are juggling other responsibilities.
Career Paths: This degree works for those who are interested in becoming a registered nurse sooner than the time it would take to complete a four-year BSN degree program.
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Are There Any Online Options For Studying Nursing & Healthcare
Nursing can be tricky online, because of the exceptionally hands-on nature of the profession. There are virtually no basic nursing degree programs online to prepare for the RN you have to get at least an associates degree from a real-world community college, college, or university to qualify for licensure as an RN.
But from there, many online RN to BSN and MSN options are out there from accredited colleges and universities of every type, from large public research universities to small liberal arts colleges and tech schools. Most of these require clinicals, but since you already have the hands-on education, you can usually fulfill clinical requirements in whatever job you already have as an RN.
Some higher-order specializations, like Nurse Midwifery or Nurse Anesthesia, may not be available online, however, because of the extremely intensive nature of the specialization.
Administrative and technician majors are often available online as well, since careers like Healthcare Informatics or Healthcare Administration are largely done on computers anyway. Many Associates of Science programs in areas like Radiology and MRI Technician are available fully online as well.
What Are My Career Options With A Diploma Or Associate Degree In Nursing
Newly graduated RNs with an ADN can go on to work in the following health care settings:
- Emergency rooms
- Physicians offices
- Nursing care facilities
Diploma graduates or LPNs can also work in any one of these settings under the supervision of doctors to provide basic care to patients. Some common entry-level nursing roles are oncology nurse, geriatric nurse or critical care nurse.
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Main Levels Of Nursing Degrees And Credentials
The fact that there are different credentials in the nursing profession is exciting news. It means there are potential opportunities out there for those wanting to make an impact in the healthcare fieldno matter their level of educational attainment. And the options dont end once youre employed, eitheryou can mold your career to fit your passions and priorities by continuing to climb the nursing hierarchy later on.
Whether you have hopes of specializing, climbing the ranks or pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors, there are types of Nursing degrees or certifications available to prepare you for your professional goals.
Lets learn more about the four core levels of nursing.
What Are The Prerequisites For The Bsn Accelerated Programs
Besides having a bachelors degree, many accelerated programs require a number of core prerequisite courses. Common subjects include microbiology, statistics, and sometimes anatomy and physiology. If it has been a few years since you completed these courses, be sure to check if the school requires the classes to be taken within a certain amount of years.
Most programs have an entrance exam as a requisite for entering the nursing program, and the same holds true for accelerated applicants. The entry exam covers the subjects that are needed for entry to nursing school: math, reading, science, and English. Whether its the HESI, ATI, or TEASE, there are many resources to help you review and score well on the entrance exam.
GPA is an important consideration for accelerated BSN programs, as many programs will require a minimum GPA for application. Usually, the minimum GPA for consideration into the program ranges from 3.0 to 3.5.
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Work For An Insurance Company
Nurses can be an excellent resource for insurance companies. Insurance companies look for maximum transparency about healthcare processes and costs so that they can evaluate risk and set rates as accurately as possible. Nurses are valuable in collecting that data, interpreting it correctly and understanding how to act on it.
A nurse working for an insurance company may perform clinical research, audits or medical billing and coding. Possible job titles include Health Coach Consultant or Quality Management Nurse Consultant. This is an excellent choice for nurses who are looking for a non-clinical job, since many positions will be in a typical office setting and some may allow for remote work.