What Happens After Nurse Training
First, you must register with the NMC allowing you to practise as a nurse in the UK. You can then apply for a job, usualy through the NHS Jobs website.
There are opportunities to work in a wide range of settings and to progress your career in specialist roles or maybe into teaching, management or research. Youll need some experience in a more general role before you specialise in an area that interests you, such as intensive care nursing, health visiting or occupational health nursing. Moving into a specialist role may involve studying for further qualifications.
To maintain your registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, youll need to go through the process of revalidation. The process is straightforward and will help you as a nurse or midwife to demonstrate that you practise safely and effectively. You will have to revalidate every three years to renew your registration. Find out more about revalidation on the NMC microsite
Are There Other Routes Into Nursing
If a degree by itself is not for you, something that you may be interested in is a degree apprenticeship. This is where you study at University part-time alongside working in an NHS organisation. This is great for students who would like to gain more hands-on experience throughout their degree, though there is a very practical side to a Nursing degree already.
Clearly, degree apprenticeships take longer than degrees however usually they only last 4 years . If you would like to find apprenticeship vacancies, have a look at this useful government website. Theses are not necessarily as widely available as degrees, but you can only find out if you can get one by looking!
You may also want to consider becoming a Nursing Associate. This is something which you dont need any kind of degree for, though it may be a good starting point for some people who want to go straight into their career. You will also potentially have the ability to progress, and eventually study for a degree alongside you work. If you would like to find out more about the roles of Nursing Associates, take a look at this helpful website.
How To Become A Cna
Certified nursing assistants complete a state-approved education program that includes both instruction on the principles of nursing and supervised clinical work.
These programs are available in high schools, community colleges, vocational and technical schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. Upon successful completion of the program and examinations, individuals become certified.
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Licensed Practical Nurse / Licensed Vocational Nurse
LVNs and LPNs are interchangeable titles depending on where you work in the US. California and Texas use the title LVN, and the rest of the US uses LPN.
To become an LVN/LPN, you need a high school diploma or GED and to graduate from an accredited LVN/LPN program and pass the National Council Licensure Exam. LPN programs typically include one year of coursework and training at a hospital, community college, or technical school. There are also LPN to RN programs where LPNs can go back to school to become either an ADN RN or a BSN RN through accelerated programs.
LPNs and LVNs work in hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities and are typically responsible for more basic kinds of patient care and comfort measures. Usually, they work under the guidance of an RN or MD.
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Doctor Of Nursing Science
At the DNSc level, types of nurses vary even more, as graduates are prepared as nurse scientists with a combination of investigative research, clinical and leadership skills.Time to Completion: Approximately five years, full time. Part-time programs are available, but will lengthen the program time by several years. Expect challenging coursework, in-depth research, a clinical defense and a final dissertation.Career Paths: With a DNSc, nurses are able to work in high-level positions such as an administrator, analyst or educator.
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Career Opportunities And Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment of nurses to grow faster than average, and jobs may increase by 15 percent until 2026. Opportunities should be excellent for nurses with advanced education and training. Some states report current and projected shortages of nurses, primarily due to an aging workforce and recent declines in nursing school enrollments.
The median salary nationwide is around $75,000 for registered nurses and $48,800 for L.P.N.s, though pay will differ based on location and employer. Since nursing degrees can be applied to many sectors of health care or industry, there is a consistent potential for salary growth with greater experience and promotion to leadership roles.
With experience, L.P.N.s may advance to supervisory positions or complete an education program to become an R.N.
With experience and continuous education, R.N.s can move into supervisory or leadership roles such as assistant clinical nurse manager, charge nurse, head nurse, assistant director or director of nursing, vice president of nursing, or chief nursing officer.
Some R.N.s complete a graduate degree to become A.P.R.N.s, while some nurses move into the business side of health care or work as professors or researchers at colleges and universities.
Apply For State Licensure
Once youve taken your exam, you will need to submit your results, transcripts and fingerprints to the Oregon State Board of Nursing to obtain your nurse practitioner license.
As part of the application process, applicants must submit their practice history. The practice requirement must be met in one of the following ways:
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Average Salary Estimates May 2020
| Job / Career | |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $50,090 |
| $38.47 | |
All salary data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Youll want to weigh the pros and cons of how much you can potentially make vs. how much time it takes to begin working in the field in a nursing role.
If youre confident you want to begin working towards becoming an RN right away, beginning to earn the undergraduate education you need to sit for the NCLEX-RN represents the quickest path to begin seeking an RN job.
Career Advantage Of Bsn Degree
In addition, the career advantages to holding a BSN degree over an ASN degree are the opportunities for advancement. If you wish to go into other areas of medicine such as administrative, managerial, research, and clinical, but hold an ASN, then you’ll be required to go back to college to obtain a BSN. Also, if you wish to go into specialized medicine disciplines previously mentioned, then you’ll be required to have a BSN degree as a prerequisite of eligibility.
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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
A certified registered nurse anesthetist is an advanced practice nurse who administers anesthesia for surgery and/or other medical procedures.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average income of a nurse anesthetist to be $169,450 per year, with some CRNAs earning over $252,000.
There are currently 42,620 registered CRNAs in the United States, with a projected rise of 31% from 2016-2026.
Decide Whether You Want A Nursing Specialization
Some nursing students feel drawn to a particular work setting or patient population. Those students may want to enroll in more specialized courses or do their clinicals in an environment that suits their interests.
Gerontology, midwifery and orthopedics all have experienced a surge in popularity that parallels the patient demand for that type of care.
You might also be interested in caring for children, another popular specialization. Neonatal nurses treat newborns who may have complications due to premature birth, genetic conditions or acquired illnesses. Neonatal nursing usually requires a BSN and a national certification from an organization such as the National Certification Corporation or the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Pediatric nurses provide preventive and acute care for children and adolescents in all settings. They may also specialize in areas such as pediatric cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology or oncology. Pediatric nurses usually have a BSN, and those who are certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board may earn higher salaries and have more career opportunities.
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Where Do Nurses Work
How To Enroll In An Msn Program
There are different ways to earn your MSN depending on what type of degree you already hold or what stage you are in your career. If you have your ADN, you may qualify to enroll in an ADN-to-MSN program, which takes anywhere between three to five full-time years to complete.
A BSN-to-MSN program is another option. This type of nursing program typically takes 18 to 24 months to complete. You will need a BSN for admission.
A similar type of fast-track nursing program is an entry-level MSN degree called a Direct-Entry MSN program. These programs, aimed at students with a bachelors degree outside of the nursing discipline, are designed to help them build on their previous learning and prepare them to sit for the NCLEX in just 24 to 36 months.
You may want to consider enrolling in an RN-to-MSN bridge if you have an active RN license. This type of program takes approximately 24 to 36 months to complete. Depending on the university, this type of nursing program can be completed in the classroom, online or through a combination of the two.
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What Does A Nurse Do
Nurses responsibilities vary by specialization or unit, but most share more similarities than differences.Nurses provide and monitor patient care, educate patients and family members about health conditions, providemedications and treatments, give emotional support and advice to patients and their family members, and more. They alsowork with healthy people by providing preventative health care and wellness information.
The tasks nurses perform and the settings in which they perform them are at least partly driven by specialty, work experience and education. Although most nurses work in hospitals, some work for schools, private clinics, nursing homes, placement agencies, businesses, prisons, military bases or other employers. Nurses with associate and bachelors degrees often provide hands-on care, though the scope of this care varies by state and employer. Those with more experience and graduate degrees might supervise other nurses, teach nursing, become nurse practitioners or do research.
Many nurses spend long hours on their feet. Although nurses working in physicians offices, schools, corporate settings or other places with traditional hours may work regular shifts with set schedules, those working in nursing facilities and hospitals providing round-the-clock care often have to work long weekend and holiday shifts. It is not unusual for some nurses to work 10 to 12 hours a day, three to four days each week.
Discover your career fit
How To Become An Rn With A Bachelor’s In Another Field
If you already have a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to become a registered nurse, there’s a special degree for you called Accelerated Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree programs.
Because you’ve already completed many of the general education courses in your previous undergraduate degree, ABSN programs are typically shorter than BSN programs.
Depending on the program structure and intensity, accelerated programs range from 12 months to 19 months, though some can be as long as 2 years.
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How To Enroll In A Bsn Program
You will need a high school diploma or GED certificate to enroll in a BSN program. Each college or university has its own set of prerequisites for BSN candidates. Some institutions may ask BSN applicants to take a basic medical terminology course, while others may require specific subject prerequisites.
LPNs or LVNs who are looking to earn a BSN can do so in less than 48 months. Some colleges offer degrees that build upon an ADN or diploma. These programs are often referred to as bridge programs,re-entry programs or RN-to-BSN programs. A typical bridge program takes approximately 24 to 36 months to complete.
Below is a small selection of colleges and universities that offer accelerated BSN programs:
Prepare Your Nursing Resume
Your resume is the first thing your future employer is going to see, so make a good first impression!
Some top tips are to make sure your resume shows your personality and your brand, research the organization you’re applying to, and optimize your resume for the resume-robots. For more detailed tips on perfecting your resume, check out our Ultimate Guide to Nursing Resumes.
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Master’s Of Science In Nursing
Obtaining an MSN helps nurses increase their earning potential and advance their careers away from the bedside. Nurses with an MSN work in advanced nursing roles with increased responsibility. To obtain an MSN, nurses must first obtain an RN and Bachelor of Nursing degree.
Here are a few career choices for those with an MSN degree:
- Director of Nursing
- Quality Improvement Executive
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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Adn Vs Bsn Vs Diploma Rn
The appeal of an associates degree for many people looking to become a nurse is that it can be a more affordable and faster route to nursing, especially if you arent looking to do anything besides direct patient care.
However, the official position of the American Association of College of Nurses is to recognize a Bachelor of Science in Nursing as the minimum education requirement for nursing professionals, so it is encouraged that anyone seeking a nursing career consider a BSN degree.
And although diploma RNs do still exist, it is not recommended that any new professionals looking to get into the nursing field directly pursue a diploma program, as the educational requirements for nursing professionals have changed and may change even more in the future.
Why Should I Become A Nurse
This article has made it clear that there are many differences among different types of nursing, and there are different educational and professional options for you to choose. The answer to this question, surprisingly, is uniform across the entire field. No matter what, as a nurse, you are helping people. You are meeting people from all ages and all walks of life, caring for them, and making their lives easier. If thats what youre passionate about, you should strongly consider becoming a nurse.
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Take The National Certification Exam
As NPs are specialists, Oregon requires they pass a national certification exam in their area of focus. The certification organizations for NPs include the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the National Certification Corporation, and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
Bachelor Of Science In Nursing
Many aspiring nurses decide to go directly into a bachelors degree program, bypassing an associate degree program. A pre-licensure bachelors degree will teach future nurses everything they need to know about caring for inpatients and outpatients. Students will explore key topics such as:
- The structure and function of the human body
- The pathophysiology of diseases and conditions
- Pharmacotherapy for disease prevention and treatment
- Evidence-based nursing practices
In addition, a pre-licensure program will blend classroom instruction with hands-on learning opportunities. Practice is critical for nursing students, as the lives of their future patients will literally be in their hands. Upon graduating, individuals will be prepared to take the RN licensure exam .
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Pursue A Nursing Career In San Diego California
Earning your BSN, ADN to MSN, or BSN to MSN in California can prepare you to find a nursing job in the highest-paying state in the country. A nursing program in San Diego, such as Point Loma Nazarene Universitys School of Nursing, can prepare you for your nursing career in California, as you take classes with experts in the field, gain practical experience with patients, and use cutting-edge technology. If you would like more information about how you become a nurse and devote your career to caring for patients, you can contact PLNU. If you are ready to take the next step toward earning your BSN, you can apply here.
About the Author
McKenna Themm earned her Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Writing and is currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. She works as a freelance writer and lives in San Diego, California.