Nurses are the key part of any hospital or a medical center. Their responsibilities are very important and critical for the patients assigned to them.

Nursing is a very pious and honorable job. Nurses are the gift of God to the people, although the major roles are played by the doctors but the nurses are the part of the play too. If you want to become a nurse you have to earn a degree in nursing that is vocational. That means you have to go through the process of becoming a nurse over the period and professional staff will train you. In the beginning, they teach you the basics of nursing. For example, you will be taught the basics of nursing and with the time you will become an expert in nursing. The training will include bedside manners, how you will interact with the patients, and how to give medication to the patients.

Basic Requirements of the Nursing Degree

The courses vary from one institution to another but the basics will remain the same. The tenure of these degrees is three to four years. The terms and the whole path of the degree are different from one college to another. For example, in some parts of the world, you do not have to study for a nursing degree to become a nurse. You can easily become a nurse through vocational training. It is preferred that you already have a proper bachelor’s degree in nursing. It increases your chances of becoming a specialized nurse and you can take advanced courses to further strengthen your career.

Firstly, you have to enrol yourself in an institute where they will ask for your high or secondary school grades. You have to be qualified in at least one science subject like chemistry or biology. It is highly recommended that you have previous voluntary experience or internship or part-time experience in nursing. Other documents will be required for the admission like your medical history, criminal record, if any. The institutes can conduct a history checks for their satisfaction.

Different Levels of Nursing Degrees

There are different levels in nursing degrees so that you can choose from a stream of jobs in the market. When you are graduated from nursing then there are multiple options you can pursue. There are many levels of the degree you can pursue according to your requirements and they are as given below:

Assistant in Nursing (CNA): This level is often called Certified Nursing Assistant[i]. It is not the professional level of nursing. It is the initial level of becoming a nurse and there will be a lot more to learn. They work as a bridge between the doctors and the patients. You are required to bathe the patients, help them in their dressing, and sometimes you have to help them eat their food. You have to give the medicines to your patients, listen to them and provide all the monitored information to the relevant doctors.

You have to complete a certified program to become a CAN. It will take you five to eight weeks to complete the mandatory CAN training. After the completion of your training, you have to pass the exam for the certification. After the certification, you can earn around $24,000 to $30,000 annually.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): They are also called Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN). Their duties are above the CNAs because they are on the higher rank than the assistants. They can monitor the patient and act accordingly without any doctor. The main duties of these nurses are to check all the vital signs of the patients, check their blood pressure, change their drips, and remove their bandages. They can also provide care plans to the patients.

You have to complete the practical nursing diploma to become LPN. They are offered by community colleges, vocational training institutes[ii], and career-building colleges. Its duration is around 5 to 10 months. When you complete the degree, you have to pass the examination of NCLEX-PN that provides you the license of Nursing Degree, and then you will be qualified for the job.

If you want to pursue other medical certificates then it will be a boost to your career. Having this certification, it is concluded that you have an advanced level of nursing and you can grow more in this field. Your annual salary will be around $45,000 to $50,000.

Registered Nurse: A registered nurse is simply called a nurse. They are the most experienced in this field and can take care of any patient. The major responsibilities of these nurses are to monitor and maintain the record of the patient’s medical history. They have to monitor the symptoms of the patients and provide medical types of equipment to the doctors. They can help the doctors to diagnose the patients with their apparatus.

You can complete this degree within 2 to 3 years. You must be dedicated to your job if you want to become successful. Your annual earnings will be around $65,000 to $80,000.

Advanced Practice Nurses (APRNs): To excel in this field, you have to work hard. These nurses can pursue better opportunities than any other level of degree of nursing. They can work independently on their own and they can even collaborate with a doctor. They can do all the tasks which a nurse can. They can even supervise the other nurses according to the situation. They can perform extensive tasks that other nurses cannot do or you can say, they are not allowed to do them.

First of all, you have to become a registered nurse and you must have a licensed RN. After completing the graduation degree, you have to pass the NCE exam. The annual salary would be around $120,000 to $1150,000. It is the most preferable degree by many medical institutions.

[i] https://nurse.org/resources/certified-nursing-assistant-cna/

[ii] https://www.skillsportal.co.za/content/what-exactly-vocational-training