Are There Different Levels Of Registered Nursing

How far do yous desire to go with your nursing career? Whether yous want to focus on patient care or rise to a top position in a healthcare system, many doors are open to you lot. Only which doors open up, and when, depends on your nursing degree and professional experience. Additionally, there are specialties, state-mandated exams, and varying job titles within each level of nursing that you should consider when applying to programs and planning your healthcare career.

What Are the Types of Nurses?

In full general, nurses fall into three categories: non-degree, degree, and advanced degree. Non-degree nurses include certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and licensed applied nurses (LPNs), who complete nursing education programs that don't culminate in a caste. Degree nurses include those with an undergraduate caste in the field, such as anAssociate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or a Available of Science in Nursing (BSN). Advanced caste nurses are those with a graduate degree in the field, such as a Master of Scientific discipline in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

What Are the Dissimilar Levels of Nursing?

This commodity will give yous an in-depth understanding of the different levels of nursing and which types of degrees and test certifications are required for each, starting with entry-level nursing positions and up to primary's and doctoral-level roles.

1. Certified Nursing Banana

Position clarification: Certified nursing administration (CNAs) typically work in home care and long-term intendance settings. Also referred to equally "nursing assistants" and "nursing aides," CNAs often serve as the primary bespeak of contact between the patient's family members and the healthcare organization. They aid with the patient'southward daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and ambulating. CNAs provide companionship for their patients likewise as compassionate care. Depending on state regulations and training, they may administer medication, take vital signs, fill out patient charts using electronic medical tape software, and other tasks that don't crave advanced training.

Requirements: Becoming a CNA typically requires a high school diploma or GED, as well every bit completion of a state-approved CNA program.ⁱ These programs unremarkably take 3 to 8 weeks to complete and require a specified number of training hours, classroom hours, and lab or clinical do. Once program requirements are completed, aspiring CNAs must laissez passer a land-approved exam to earn their CNA title and go land-certified.

CNA median annual bacon (2019): $14.25/hour, $29,640/year
Projected growth (2019–2029): Much faster than average (eight% or higher), with 119,500 expected job openings.²

2. Licensed Practical Nurse

Position description: Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), also known as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), are responsible for providing patient care by acting every bit the primary communicator between the health care squad and patient. They also may be responsible for communicating with the patient'south family. LPNs monitor patients' health and do some physical care tasks, such every bit taking blood pressure, inserting catheters, starting IVs, and changing bandages. Whether or not the LPN needs supervision to perform these tasks varies past state.

Requirements: Becoming an LPN does non require an acquaintance degree or bachelor'south caste, but rather, the successful completion of a Practical Nursing Program. These programs can exist completed within one year and are designed for people who are working while attending the program. To receive your country license, which grants yous the power to practice, you must laissez passer the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN).

LPN median annual salary (2019): $22.83/hr, $47,480/year
Projected employment growth (2019–2029): Much faster than average (ix% or higher), with 65,700 expected job openings.³

3. Registered Nurse

Position description: Nigh people equate the word "nurse" with the part of a registered nurse (RN). RNs have a broad range of responsibilities, including administering medication, contributing to a patient'due south plan of intendance, and collaborating with medical doctors. In some workplaces, RNs oversee CNAs and LPNs. In one case y'all accomplish the RN level of nursing, more specialized positions open up up, such as cardiac care nurse, case direction nurse, and flight nurse.⁴

To become an RN, y'all must earn either an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or a Bachelor of Scientific discipline in Nursing (BSN). Subsequently successfully graduating from either blazon of program, you must then take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam, non to be confused with the NCLEX-PN for practical nurses.

RN median annual bacon (2019): $35.24/hour, $73,300/year
Projected growth (2019–2029): Faster than boilerplate (seven% or higher) with 221,900 expected chore openings.⁵

In most states, an ASN and BSN caste, along with passing the NCLEX-RN exam, will authorize yous to work equally an RN. However, some states are looking to push legislation that requires RNs to have a BSN. The State of New York did so in 2018, requiring a bachelor's degree within the next 10 years to practice as an RN.^{half dozen} Below, y'all volition detect more data on how the two nursing degrees differ and the degrees' long-term effects on your career path.

Associate of Science in Nursing

Becoming an RN through an associate degree nursing program is ideal for those who practice non want to attend a four-twelvemonth programme. In the past, these programs were typically offered through community colleges. At present, however, some iv-year institutions are offer ASN programs, also known as Associate Caste in Nursing (ADN) programs. Hybrid programs, which combine online with in-person learning are likewise becoming increasingly popular.⁷

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

In today'southward job market, the BSN degree leads, in general, to better salaries and more open doors.⁸ A BSN plan typically takes four years to complete and may crave full-time immersion. Yet, a hybrid BSN program is available for those who need to work while earning their degree.

Exercise note, though, that it is condign increasingly mandatory for RNs to consummate the BSN degree program. Some states now require RNs with ASNs to return to school for farther teaching and training. One driver for this trend is that several studies have demonstrated amend patient outcomes when RNs accept a BSN.⁹

4. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Position clarification: To become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), y'all must be an RN ready to take on more than of a leadership role in patient care. While RNs ofttimes focus on implementing a plan of intendance, APRNs focus on directing a program of intendance. Condign an APRN frequently requires further education, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Types of APRNs include nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and clinical nurse specialists.

The University of St. Augustine for Wellness Sciences (USAHS) offers an MSN program with a Family unit Nurse Practitioner (FNP) role specialty, which leads to becoming a nurse practitioner (and therefore an APRN). NPs perform all the typical duties of an RN, likewise equally diagnose and care for illnesses, prescribe medication (with physician supervision in some states), advise on public health problems, and provide more advanced interventions. NPs with an MSN degree work not only in hospitals and long-term care settings but as well in private practice and customs clinics.¹⁰

Requirements: If y'all desire to study to become an APRN, you lot must have an RN license and usually at least one twelvemonth of experience working equally an RN. After you earn your degree, yous must laissez passer a certification exam from an accredited national organisation, such equally the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board.

APRN median annual salary (2019): $55.67/hour, $115,800/yr
Projected employment growth (2019–2029): Much faster than average (45% increment) with 117,700 expected chore openings.^eleven

5. Master of Scientific discipline in Nursing

Position description: A Primary of Science in Nursing (MSN) is not a role but a degree—the degree you need to get a nurse practitioner (NP) or to choose some other role specialty.

USAHS offers three specialties within its MSN program: Family unit Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Executive. Earning your master's degree is a risk for y'all to advance your education in your area of greatest interest, whether that's providing meliorate patient care, educating the next generation of practitioners, or running an organisation.

Requirements: Most MSN programs require candidates to have practiced as an RN with a BSN for at least 1 yr. Other admissions requirements for MSN programs may include a background cheque, a resume or curriculum vitae, and professional references. Within USAHS' MSN curriculum, the number of credit and contact hours needed depends on the function specialty.

APRN median almanac bacon (2019): $55.67/hour, $115,800/year
Projected employment growth (2019–2029): Much faster than average (45% increase) with 117,700 expected job openings.¹²

half dozen. Md of Nursing Practice

Position description: Similar the MSN, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is not a role but a degree, and doctoral-level preparation can be considered as the next level of nursing above the MSN. DNP programs are for those who want to reach one of the highest levels of nursing, along with the PhD. DNPs take a doctoral-level cognition of healthcare policy, nursing practice, health information systems, and organizational leadership. Attending a DNP program is best for experienced nurses who enjoy creative problem-solving and turning strategy into practice.

Requirements: You can utilize for a DNP nursing program with either a BSN or an MSN. The BSN-entry nursing student will have a longer plan of report. Ii mutual DNP part specialties are Family unit Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Nurse Executive. Similar to MSN programs, a DNP typically requires y'all to have worked at least one year as an RN or APRN. If yous are an RN, y'all will likely need to have a BSN rather than an ASN degree. USAHS' DNP curriculum consists of 42–71 credits and 540–1035 practicum hours, depending on which degree you enter with and which role specialty yous choose.

APRN median annual bacon (2019): $55.67/hour, $115,800/year
Projected employment growth (2019–2029): Much faster than boilerplate (45% increase) with 117,700 expected chore openings.^thirteen

vii. Nurse Managers and Executives

Position description: Nurse managers and nurse executives can help run clinics, or they may work for a hospital arrangement at the C-suite level in healthcare management past helping strategize and programme care for hundreds of patients. If you aspire to the top levels of assistants, you will be less involved with direct patient care, but your decisions may take a broad impact on patients. You will need to cultivate qualities such as integrity and flexibility, and skills such every bit communication, critical thinking, and leadership.

Requirements: To become a nurse managing director or executive, y'all will likely need an MSN or DNP with a function specialty in executive leadership.

How to Choose Your Level of Nursing

When because which level of nursing is best for you, remember about your brusk and long-term nursing career goals, and what environment excites you lot nigh. Exercise you thrive when working with patients or do you want to influence larger organizational decisions? Consider where y'all thrive all-time, so as non to experience nurse burnout. Regardless of which nursing level you strive for, remember that more teaching is available to assist yous further your career.

The Academy of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) offers Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates designed for working nurses. Our nursing degrees are offered online, with optional on-campus immersions* (currently postponed due to COVID-nineteen). Role specialties include Family unit Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Nurse Educator,** and Nurse Executive. The MSN has several options to accelerate your time to caste completion. Complete coursework when and where y'all want—and earn your advanced nursing caste while keeping your piece of work and life in residue.
*The FNP role specialty includes two required easily-on clinical intensives every bit part of the curriculum.
**The Nurse Educator part specialty is not available for the DNP programme.

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Ibid. [↩]