Different Levels of a Nursing Career

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Choosing a career in nursing might be the greatest decision in your life. As a nurse, you will feel that this is a calling and not just a simple job or career. This profession comes with a wide array of benefits and advantages, and it allows you to completely and positively change people’s lives. Before taking this path, you must know that there are various types of nursing careers depending on your level of education, specialization and experience. Carefully choose the type of career you want.

Available Roles

NHS Careers divides the nursing careers according to the roles of each nurse. The site lists the following roles:

•Adult nurses (working with young and old adults)
•Theatre nurses (offer care during the different stages of surgery)
•School nurses (provide health education in schools)
•Mental health nurses (work with patients suffering from psychological and personality disorders)
•Neonatal nurses (take care of newborn babies or of those who were born prematurely or sick)
•Learning disability nurses (work with people suffering from learning disabilities with mental health and physical conditions)
•Children’s nurses (working in the pediatrics’ office with children of all ages)

There is a large variety of nursing careers and specializations, so it’s important to choose the one that you like the most, and suit you best. For example, if you don’t like working with children, you should avoid becoming a children’s nurse.

Nursing Careers According to the Level of Education

If you have a higher level of education, you will be able to obtain a better position and choose a more rewarding nursing career. To begin, there are the non-degree nurses: Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nurse’s Aides (CNAs). These types of nurses don’t need any special education, but they do have to receive appropriate certification and follow specialized training in order to perform. You must complete a one-year program to become an LPN and an 8-week training course to be a CNA.

Secondly, there are the degree specializations and careers. These professionals are commonly called Registered Nurses (RNs) and you can meet them in every hospital and health care facility. The RNs must complete an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, a program that usually takes 2 years to complete. Throughout this period, you will have to go to classes such as sociology, microbiology, psychology, chemistry, physiology and anatomy. In order to become a registered nurse, you can earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing or obtain a certificate from a hospital-based program. Keep in mind that more career opportunities will open up, if you finish a bachelor’s degree instead of an associate’s degree.

Finally, there are the positions that require an advanced degree in nursing. This means you must complete either a doctorate or a master’s degree program. With a master’s degree, you will be an Advance Practice Nurse and you can become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, a Certified Nurse Midwives, a Nurse Practitioner, a Clinical Nurse Specialist or a Clinical Nurse Leader. A doctoral degree will help you become a Doctor of Nursing Practice.