What Type of Nursing Degrees Can I Earn?

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Historically, nurses started out as simple caring individuals who had a stirring in their hearts to help people and many gave their lives during war riddled times to save others. The nursing profession has suffered ridicule, accusation of unethical behavior during difficult times, and many growing pains have ensued while trying to bring this line of work up to stringent professional standards.

History

Nuns and other religious and charitable groups of women historically performed many nursing duties. The Crimean War was a significant development during nursing history when English nurse, Florence Nightingale, laid the foundations of professional nursing with the principles summarized in the book Notes on Nursing.

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, working women in the nursing arena were grouped into lowly status and were not appreciated by those they supported, including medical professionals and society as well. A demand for professional characteristics and stringent discipline began to change the attitude as hospitals grew and medicine became more specialized during the 1940’s. Nursing schools began to pop up and a standard was established.

Types of Nursing Degrees

Degreed programs for nurses were painfully birthed during these agonizing times. The licensed vocational nurse was one of the first credentials available. That degree has lost momentum and higher educational requirements are in order for the nursing professionals who wish to advance in income status as well as specialties.

Today, nurses have options that will take them all the way to Doctorate Degrees and many specialty positions. Although somewhat time consuming, many dedicated nurses tend to advance further into their professions with continuing education and staying abreast of new procedures, technology, and clinical opportunities that sharpen their skills and their ability to satisfy inquiring minds.

The basic ground level degree available will be a two-year Associate’s Degree. This requires some prerequisites and depending on the nursing school, may entail one to two years’ academic preparation.

The next level of nursing degrees available is the Bachelor’s Degree. This is a 3 to 4 year program. When considering employability, the Bachelor’s Degree-holding nurse has a definite advantage in job opportunities. Education is revered in the marketplace and higher degrees may increase marketability during difficult times.

Of course, Master’s Degrees are often required for teaching. For the nurses with a Master’s Degree, there is no limit to opportunities in excellent paying venues. For management, research, teaching, and consulting prospects, the Master’s Degree is held in high esteem among peers and like-minded professionals.

A doctorate in nursing, or PhD, will often render nurse authors who write textbooks, nursing curriculums for college programs, fast track programs, computer programming and other specialized criteria for nursing programs. The nursing doctorate is an esteemed title, which takes many years to complete, most certainly by dedicated professionals who give their entire life to their nursing vocation.

Other specialty degree programs may include midwifery, surgical nursing, registered nurse first assistants, nurse practitioners, orthopedic specialty training, nurses trained in cardiac areas, oncology specialists and countless other areas of expertise.

Many types of nursing degrees are offered online, with practices set up with onsite facilities to insure proper clinical experience for students enrolled in various degreed programs.