Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

This is the most basic nursing degree and it forms the foundation for further nursing programs. The programs generally take about a year to complete and include both theory and practice. An online LPN course trains students for jobs such as:

• daily intake-outtake monitoring
• changing dressings
• caring for patients

The requirements for awarding an LPN degree will vary from state-to-state as this is a state-awarded degree.

Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

This degree is really on the same level as the LPN degree. This program too is a starting point for more advanced nursing degrees. This is also a one-year program that will lead to a diploma or certificate that qualifies students for the Successful training for the NCLEX-PN examination. Work opportunities exist in:

• hospitals
• nursing homes
• clinics
• public schools

Advanced Practicing Nurses (APN)

Advanced Practicing Nursing  includes masters and doctoral degrees in the nursing field. Job opportunities include:

• clinical nurse specialists
• researchers
• faculty managers

Registered Nurses, who have acquired the necessary training in recognizing and managing medical conditions that are fairly common, qualify as NP’s.  NP’s execute duties similar to those of a physician and are often regular health care providers for people. Nurse Practitioners are trained toward wellness and preventive techniques. This means that the patient is educated and treated at the same time and is also spared the costs of expensive prescriptions.

If you are already in the health care market as a RN, it time for you to advance your nursing career by earning a bachelor or master’s degree in nursing. With a higher degree you are more employable, you will earn a higher salary, and you will have much more freedom to chart your own career path.

Today, there are many prestigous online universities offering RN-to-BSN online degree programs, and now you can earn your nursing degree online. The major benefit of pursuing the nursing degree online is convenience. Like most of prospective online nursing students, you have jobs that you cannot afford to give up in order to return to traditional campus based schools to pursue a higher degree. Having the ability to “attend” class online from anywhere internet access is available at any time that works for your schedule; online nursing degree enable you to achieve your nursing career goal while allowing you to continue your current job.

The Bachelor’s degree in Nursing is the basic degree at the professional level of the nursing profession. By earning an online bachelor degree in nursing, you may go on to have successful careers in specialized fields such a:

• Emergency Room Care
• Home Health Care
• Mental Health Care
• Critical Care
• Oncology
• Geriatrics
• Pediatrics
• Pulmonary
• Obstetrics

Master of Science in Nursing is one of the hottest degrees and students with master’s degrees in nursing are in high demand in the health care job market. Most often, students who choose to pursue a graduate degree in nursing have already gained experience working in the nursing field. The graduate degree will enable you to advance your career to a higher pay position, most often at the managerial level. You can also earn a graduate degree in nursing through our online nursing program. Most often, as a master degree student, you will need to choose a specialization to focus in your study. Among the common specialization for graduate degree in nursing are:

• Community Health Systems
• Elderly Nursing
• Psychological Nursing
• Health Care Systems Administration
• Family Nursing

After you complete the graduate degree program, you will be specially trained to be successful in the field of your focus of study.

In Summary

Nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations as projected in next 5 years. Qualified nurse with bachelor and master degree are highly demand in the health care job market, getting start now to earn your nursing degree will lead you to a brighter career future. Online nursing degree enables you to earn your degree from anywhere and at your own schedule while preparing you to compete in this booming health care sector.

We have heard from some of our students that they are a little bit concerned that they may be missing some important training if they opt for an accelerated nursing program. This is simply not the case. An accelerated program just condenses the course work, it doesn’t eliminate or shorten the curriculum. An accelerated program just works better with your schedule while still providing you with all of the necessary skills you need to master your nursing certification tests.

It’s also important to consider that many of the traits of a good nurse aren’t tied to the education that they have received but really to the motivation behind becoming a nurse in the first place. Most of the best nurses really have a natural talent and or inclination to be in this field. They have that desire to help others and a natural knack for understanding basic treatments and remembering a wide variety of medical topics. These nursing instincts aren’t really taught, they are intrinsic to the person and therefore it doesn’t matter if you complete a program in four years or two years in the grand scheme of things.

An accelerated nursing program recognizes that the technical skills need to be targeted while the more subtle skills that the job requires are often inherent in the individual. Many patients have encountered the perfect nurse but few of us think about why that person was so good at his or her job.

There are some qualities that a good nurse has that can not be taught. Consider your best encounter with a nurse. She probably had the ability to put you at ease in just a few words. Or she could simply make you feel relaxed through her demeanor and approach.

Describing the types of qualities you look for in your caregiver is often difficult. There is just something about the person that helps you through a difficult situation but you are not sure what it is. Of course, an accelerated nursing program does not develop or extend those qualities any more than a traditional nursing program would.

Now consider your worst encounter with a nurse. She was probably abrasive and indifferent. Maybe she was sarcastic. She may have made you feel as if you were a burden. She could have technically done everything “right” but you just feel awful after seeing her and hope that there is a shift change before the next time you have to get treatment.

Bedside manner is briefly covered in an accelerated nursing program but it is equally addressed in the traditional school. The nurse who made you feel uneasy was probably unaware of her effect on you. She was just doing her job.

The fundamental difference between a good nurse and a bad one is their attitude toward the profession. The first nurse is caring for a person and she recognizes this. The second nurse is just doing her job. Again, these softer qualities cannot be learned in either a traditional or accelerated nursing program. That really gets to the heart of why the person decided to enter the nursing profession in the first place.

And if you thought that the only jobs available for nurses were in hospitals and medical facilities, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has more news for you. Less than 60% of registered nurses work in a hospital. A nursing degree opens doors of opportunity into so many fields that it’s easily one of the most versatile and useful degrees that you can acquire. Not only that – a nursing degree appeals to a wide range of people. According to the bureau of labor statistics, about 20% of those entering the nursing workforce are older workers starting on a second career. Many of them have been attracted by rising salaries triggered by the nursing shortage, but for many of them, a nursing degree is a chance to do something that makes them feel good.

Whether you’ve just started your nursing career, are returning to work after a hiatus, or are switching to a career in nursing as a second career, take a look at some of the opportunities that are open to you with a nursing degree.

Pediatric Home Health Care is one of the growing fields for those with nursing degrees. Every state in the Union now has some sort of Early Intervention program that identifies children under the age of three years with special needs. Pediatric home health care gives you the opportunity to work with children and parents and make a real difference in their lives.

Elder Home Health Care is the other end of the spectrum. The ‘aging of America’ means that more and more people require a little bit of help to remain in their homes. Nursing assistants, registered nurses and licensed nurses can provide that little bit extra that will allow a senior citizen to maintain a higher quality of life and remain at home when all they need is a few hours of medical care a day or week.

Working in a Blood Donor Center is an option that makes you part of the life-saving network. There’s more to blood donor centers than just starting IVs. Nurses who specialize in pharesis can command high salaries, and a nurse working in the blood collection field can be a valuable community organizer as well as a medical practitioner.

A Critical Care Transport nurse requires multiple nursing degrees, but it can be one of the most interesting and fascinating nursing jobs available. A CCT nurse accompanies patients being transported from home or a nursing facility to another nursing facility. The nurse is responsible for maintaining continuity of care for every patient – in the back of an ambulance. It’s a challenging and fun job that commands a salary commensurate with the experience required.

On Site Nursing is a wide open field for medical workers with nursing degrees. You can work at an amusement park or zoo, or in the medical office at a state or national park, or provide medical backup for the emergency workers at a beach or other recreational setting. If you choose to work on site at a camp or other facility, your benefits may include free tuition for your own family.

One thing to take note is nursing jobs are a time-honored profession and a nurse must be dedicated and diligent. You must be the kind of person who can give an extra ounce of energy in order to be successful in your nursing career path.

There are many nursing career options for you to participate in so you should select a working environment that suits your tastes and preferences. Among the common nursing jobs are:

Hospital Nurse

Most of nurses are generally working at a hospital but this is not the only option in the nursing field. We will explain other types of nursing jobs in the next paragraph. A hospital nurse takes care of hospital patients. If you work as a hospital nurse, your daily care and interaction with the patient has a major impact on how fast the patient recuperates and on the patient’s attitude.

Private Duty Nurse

Private Duty Nurses are assigned to care for a dedicated patient at a hospital or in their home. You will need to coordinate care between the physician and the family according to individual situations.

You will need to follow physician’s orders for medications, treatment and keeps accurate record of patient’s condition and reports to physician periodically. Beside being patient, a private duty nurse will also have the responsibility to educate the patient and the patient’s family on the importance of maintaining a proper diet and health habits.

Hospice Nurse

A Hospice Nurse assesses the patient’s health problems and needs and works to develop and implement nursing care plans with the goal of patient comfort. A hospice nurse typically administers care to patients in a hospice, home or long term care facility.

Operating Room Nurse

An Operating Room Nurse must understand the use of modern operating room equipment, the type of procedure the doctor is doing and the kinds of tools the doctor will need. The nurse must be ready to assist the surgeon and the surgical team in their tasks. Other then that, an operating room nurse will also need to oversee the work organization within the operating theatre, and mediate between the various hospital departments, the surgeons, and the management.

Home Care Nurse

Other than the above nursing job, home care nursing is one of the major booming sectors in health care industry. Today, home health care nurses work in rural, suburban and urban areas, traveling from patient to patient to care for and monitor the patient’s needs and communicate with doctors and other medical staff. With the enhance of medical technology, home care nurses can now use mobile monitoring equipment to monitor everything from heart rate and blood pressure to blood sugar for diabetics and more, so the nurse can treat one patient and check on another one in the car on the way to visiting a third patient.

Earn Your Nursing Degree

In order to start your nursing career, you must be qualified in this field. Although you can start you nursing career as LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or RN (Registered Nurse), a higher degree you are more employable, you will earn a higher salary, and you will have much more freedom to chart your own career path. Beside the traditional classroom-based nursing degree, now you can earn your nursing degree online. The major benefit of pursuing the nursing degree online is that you can attend the online class at any location and at your own schedule. And the best part is you can continue with you current job while getting your nursing degree online.

In Summary

If you think nursing is for you, look into local nursing schools or online universities that offer the related nursing courses and get started on the career path to nursing.

Overall, nursing salaries vary depending on a number of factors:

• Any college degrees you have earned (associates, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees)
• Number of years of experience in the field
• The cost of living in your area of the country
• Your areas of specialization (emergency care, forensics, geriatrics, etc.)

The factors described above, coupled with the nursing career you choose, will influence your nursing salary. Learn more about nursing salaries to help you assess your nursing career options.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Licensed practical nurses typically train for their careers through a year-long education program at a hospital, community college or vocational school. After graduation, candidates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) to earn their nursing licensure.

LPN Median Hourly Rate by State:

According to data compiled in May 2009 at PayScale.com, LPN’s earn the following median hourly rates in the states listed:

• North Carolina: $18.11
• Ohio: $17.72
• Florida: $17.52
• New York: $17.23
• Georgia: $16.25

Registered Nurse (RN)

To become a registered nurse, students must earn a two-year asociate’s degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing or complete a nursing diploma program. After earning their degree, candidates must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain their registered nursing license.

RN Median Hourly Rate by State (2009):

June 2009 data from PayScale.com shows that RN’s earn the following median hourly rates in the states listed:

• California: $33.73
• New York: $27.91
• Pennsylvania: $26.14
• Texas: $25.95
• Illinois: $25.84

Advanced Practiced Nursing (AP)

Advanced practice nurses hold a master’s degree in a particular focus area and provide one-on-one patient care services similar to those a physician would perform. The following statistics show annual nursing salary ranges for the different categories of advanced practice nursing careers. All data was compiled in April 2009 at Salary.com, unless otherwise noted.

*Source: Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow (NHT), 2009

Nursing Specialties

When it comes to specialized practice, nurses have an extensive number of options, from cardiovascular nursing to forensic nursing. Each specialty offers its own unique rewards and nursing salary.

The following two tables show nursing salaries for a number of nursing specialties.

*Source: PayScale.com, 2009

Source: Salary.com, 2009

Some specialized nursing professions, including forensic nursing, legal nurse consulting and travel nursing, typically pay by the hour. In these occupations, you can expect nursing salaries to vary based on a number of factors that include job location and the specific nursing duties that a particular case or assignment involves.

The below chart will give you an idea of what to expect from nursing specialties that pay by the hour.

Recruitment Incentives

The nursing shortage offers extremely advantageous opportunities for current nurses earning a higher degree and for nursing students preparing to enter the workforce. Many hospitals are now offering incentive programs such as:

• Recruitment bonuses (ranging anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000)
• Relocation assistance
• Housing assistance
• Day care
• Tuition Reimbursement

These recruitment incentives go to nurses who accept a position at their facility and agree to a set work commitment. Be sure to discuss these types of incentives when you are applying for your next job to make sure you are earning as much as you can.

Does Certification Pay?

Yes! Certification identifies you as a nurse who has met rigorous practice and continuing nursing education requirements in your specialty. Patients will benefit from your expertise, and employers will go out of their way to hire you and keep you happy.

Plus, certification brings salary benefits. The seventh annual nationwide survey from Nursing2006 shows that nurses who have attained higher education and specialty certifications are making more money. Over 1,100 nurses responded to the salary survey. And those who reported being certified in a specialty made $9,200 more annually than nurses who weren’t certified.

More Than Just a Paycheck

Salary is one factor to consider in choosing your nursing career. But, most importantly, the notion that you happen to be making a good living doing what you love is what will make the difference to you. Match your interests to the proper nursing program, and you will enjoy immeasurable rewards throughout your career.