Types of Nurses and Requirements

Do you have the desire to help others for a living? Would you enjoy having a professional title and diverse responsibilities everyday? The modern medical world needs all types of nurses more than ever before. With so many available jobs, your possibilities as a nurse are limitless.

What Is Your Basic Nursing Type?

Do you enjoy going to school and learning about a variety of detailed subjects? Or are you more of a hands-on person looking to get right into the mix? Either way, there is a career in nursing waiting for you if you're energetic, sympathetic and observational. Read on to find out your basic nursing type.

  • Do you have to work right away? Start as an LPN or LVN and work your way up. The current nursing shortage means many employers will even help pay tuition to further your education.
  • Are you a recent high school graduate looking to earn a bachelor's degree? Consider a rewarding career as a registered nurse.
  • Have you been working as an LPN for years and feel confident about what you do? Learn while you earn. Pursue your registered nursing degree online to get the pay you deserve.
  • Did you lose your job and need a career change right away? In only a year, you can be earning a great living as an LPN or LVN.

Are You A Candidate For Licensed Practical Nursing or Licensed Vocational Nursing?

As a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN), you get involved with patients. The two titles are different but the responsibilities and training are basically the same. If you want to enter the job market as soon as possible, a career as an LPN or LVN is the way to go. With dedication, you can be working in your chosen professional within about one year. You can find LPN and LVN educational programs at colleges, specialty schools and hospitals.

What Do You Do As An LPN or LVN?

An LPN and LVN are responsible for basic patient care, usually in a hospital or nursing home setting. As an LPN or LVN, you will work under the direction of doctors and registered nurses. Possible duties include:

  • taking patients' vital signs such as pulse, blood pressure, respiration and temperature;
  • monitoring patients' food intake and output;
  • help patients with eating, bathing and dressing;
  • keep patients comfortable with alcohol rubs and massages;
  • develop and implement patient care plans; and
  • direct and supervise nurses aides.

Are You A Candidate for Registered Nursing?

As a registered nurse (RN), you become more deeply involved with patient heath care, general administration and public eduction. There are three different educational programs for an RN:

  • a diploma RN completes a three-year program at a hospital which was more popular three decades ago than it is today;
  • an associate degree RN has a two-year nursing degree from community college; or
  • a professional RN holds a four-year Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited college.

What Do You Do As An RN?

The responsibilities of an RN are defined by the working environment. There are numerous places employing RNs, including hospitals, schools, businesses and more. Here are a possible employment options for RNs:

  • the largest number of RNs work in a hospital usually choosing a particular department such as emergency or obstetrics based on their interests, training and expertise;
  • office nurses prepare patients and assist with minor surgery in physicians' offices, clinics, medical centers and ambulatory care facilities;
  • nursing care facility nurses offer hands-on help to senior residents and perform supervisory and administrative work;
  • public health nurses work in schools, government and community settings to education the public to improve overall health;
  • occupational health nurses provide essential care at work sites;
  • traveling nurses stay for three to six months at hospitals where their expertise is specifically needed;
  • home health nurses provide in-home care to patients; and
  • head nurses or supervisory nurses manage nurses and nurses aides and do record keeping, schedule planning and supply ordering.

How Can I Take My Career As A Nurse Further?

As an RN, you can take your nursing career to the next level and become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). When you earn your Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN), the sky is the limit!