The healthcare industry has experienced unprecedented growth in the past few decades. Its demand seems to be expanding on an everyday basis. Amongst many valuable jobs that this sector provides, one of the most important ones is the nursing profession. Being a nurse means being a building block of the industry because of such workers’ essentiality in the smooth running of healthcare operations.
In light of the recent and ongoing pandemic situation concerning the CoronaVirus, the health industry needs more workers than ever. It has sparked several medical students’ interest in serving as nurses and pursuing studies to become one. Not only this, but those currently in the profession are also getting more qualifications to up their educational expertise level. That’s what makes nursing such an essential and prestigious profession, the comprehensiveness of the education behind it and the ever-growing skillsets achieved through years of learning.
- Nursing Diploma
The primary step to spur your nursing career is taking up an undergraduate course, and a Nursing Diploma would be an excellent choice as a certificate program. It will clear to you the complications of day-to-day operations as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and provide you with the required training and awareness. In either position, you will be responsible for assisting physicians and doctors in several healthcare centers. In a certification or diploma program, vocational colleges or medical centers are going to examine you. With a full 12 months of vocational training, you will complete your journey as a nursing diploma candidate. You can learn emergency procedures, personal care, and infection control. It would help you reach your desired practicality goal on the field as an LPN. Being one of the highest-paid professions in the USA, nursing degrees and diplomas promise a secure future. The MSN FNP salary is one of the highest in the field, and gaining experience LPN is one step closer to it. The average wage you could expect for it is from $45,000 to $62,000, and it’s increasing every year with the rising demand.
- Associate Degree
An associate degree in nursing (ADN) or an associate degree in sciences of nursing (ASN) is an excellent way to become a Registered Nurse (RN) within two years and to be one of the first-line workers in healthcare centers. You’d have almost the same duties as a nursing diploma, but also you would be getting a degree at the end of the program. There is also a much higher demand for RNs with the growing population and more patients to look after. As an ADN student, you will be gaining knowledge about maternal and child nursing care, behavioral and mental health, along pharmacology. This profession would allow you to earn a median wage of $71,000 annually to $106,530, along with job security. As an ASN degree holder, you will specialize in surgical or acute care and pediatric.
- Bachelor’s Degree
Many hospitals require their RN to go for a bachelor’s degree. Some healthcare organizations set BSN as merit to hire RNs for their center. It is mainly because nurses with a bachelor’s degree have more clinical expertise because of the increased level of their education and experience. It opens new doors for career growth and advanced job opportunities by combining liberal arts studies with clinical courses. As an RN with a BSN, you will know about community health and psychiatric practices. An accelerated bachelor’s program would take only as long as 36 months and allow you to prepare for a wide range of varying nursing roles. The average salary of an RN with a BSN is much higher because of the qualification. They are understandably more in demand because of their enhanced clinical knowledge.
- Master’s Degree
A master’s degree in the sciences of nursing (MSN) allows you to explore higher management jobs and experience more significant nursing responsibilities. Some roles require this kind of training and education, which develop better management and more practicality in you as a nurse. It would be best if you choose a specialty when going for a Master’s degree as it is your way towards advanced nursing practices. This type of qualification paves a path for you to become a leader and take crucial decisions to better the healthcare sector. Some typical MSN specialties include family nurse practitioners, who promote wellness and prevent diseases while diagnosing and treating acute or chronic illnesses. Or, you could be a Nurse Practitioner where you could practice nursing in diagnosing, treating, and prescribing medicines. Being a nurse practitioner can allow you to open your own practice along with a collaborating physician.
- Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree
A doctor of nursing practice degree is the one to pursue post-masters so that you can become more specialized in your field. It adds to your knowledge and expertise and enables you to root for higher healthcare industry jobs. It also makes you suitable for a teaching post and more likely to be hired by medical educational institutes. It is different from a Ph. D., which garners more possibilities to become a part of an academic institution. But a DNP will enable you to learn deeply about practices and applications in the field of operation.
Conclusion
The nursing practice is a very promising profession and a much-trusted one. Many patients trust their nurses even more than their physicians, which is another reason why hospitals tend to look for well-trained and educated staff. And this is why the tiringly comprehensive nursing education is essential to the hiring authorities and the patients.
