Start Your Path To A Nursing Career Now

Some jobs will always be required no matter what happens with the economy. Nursing falls into this category. As long as people inhabit the planet, there will always be sickness, childbirth, and injuries. If you have a caring disposition, enjoy close interaction with people, and have the stamina to endure the profession, a career in nursing beckons you.

There are quite a few different types of registered nurses, each with different responsibilities and training requirements. You have a choice of beginning your career as a registered nurse after getting your education or continuing in your training to achieve your nurse practitioner designation. There are some differences between the two. Practitioners have a greater amount of responsibility. As the name implies, nurse practitioners can practice medicine much like a doctor. They can diagnose, treat, and prescribe curative drugs to patients and also set up their own clinics. A registered nurse is the regular nurse that you encounter in hospitals and clinics. They help the physicians by taking care of patients according to a physician's orders. They are not allowed to be self-employed, but are bound to work for medical institutions such as hospitals and clinics.

Your education determines how fast you'll make headway and what position you will achieve as a registered nurse. You need a college degree to become an RN. You also must pass a licensing examination after graduation to qualify for employment. Your options are an associate's degree in nursing, a three-year diploma, or a bachelor's or master's degree. The higher your degree, the greater your chances of receiving better positions and higher pay.

You will at least have to obtain an associate's degree, which requires two years of higher education, to become a registered nurse. Earning a higher degree typically translates into more skills and higher pay. This means that if you get a bachelor's degree, which requires four years of higher education, you will acquire advanced skills related to caring for patients and supervising other nurses. Regardless of the degree program that you pursue, it is vital that you choose a program that has been accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

Four separate degree programs are available to aspiring registered nurses. There is a two-year associate's degree, a three-year diploma, a four-year bachelor's degree, and a master's degree.

Once you graduate from your program, you will have to take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam which is the registered nurse licensing test. Successfully passing this exam is a mandated requirement in all the states across the country.

There are two factors that will affect your chances of getting a job. The experience you have gained and your education will determine your hire-ability. Gain relevant experience through voluntary service at non-profits, hospitals, shelters, and clinics. The more experience you gain in the field, the more likely you are to get a great job. If you studied to work in a particular specialty, focus some of your volunteer efforts in that area.

With some professional experience behind you, you will find it significantly easier getting entry level jobs at hospitals, critical care centers, or similar health agencies. By focusing on advancing your education, serving your patients to the best of your ability, and staying abreast of the advancements in your field, you will be able to out-climb your co-workers up the ladder.

Anyone who feels the need to assist people who are sick or injured should take steps to gain the skills required to become a nurse so those compassionate characteristics can be put to good use. Stay focused as you pursue the necessary education, develop the experience, and begin to serve your patients as a caring and qualified registered nurse.

By Sherryanne Quildenton

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