An Introduction to Nursing Degrees & Careers

What is nursing?

The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations.”

In short--if the number of commas in the definition weren’t a clue--nurses are health care professionals who wear a number of hats, and have a range of responsibilities. Nurses play an important role in that they work to help prevent disease and provide care for those who are suffering from illness or injury. Nurses must be able to perform a variety of tasks including observing, analyzing, recording and even treating a patient's symptoms. What a nurse does day to day depends largely on his or her level of education, and whether or not he or she specializes in a particular area of nursing. In general, nurse careers break down into the following levels:

• Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse: Often called LPN or LVN, (depending on the state), these nurses focus on a specific set of tasks in a patient’s care. These tasks might include: taking blood pressure and other vital signs, dressing bandages, and monitoring a patient’s reaction to medication.
• Registered Nurse: Registered nurses, or RNs, have a higher level of responsibility, and may focus on things like: performing diagnostic tests, recording medical histories, explaining post-treatment care plans and more.
• Advanced Practice Nurse: These professionals have additional responsibilities—and in turn, often have higher salaries. Nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists are all examples of advanced practices nurses—all of whom may work closely with physicians or independently.

How does one become a nurse?

Post-secondary education is required to become a nurse at any level. Equipped with a high school diploma, individuals have a couple of options when it comes to nursing programs. Depending on the title and/or specialization he or she would like to ultimately achieve, one might earn a:

• Diploma
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Bachelor Degree in Nursing (BSN)
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
• Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)
• Nursing PhD

To become a registered nurse, for example, one can elect to earn an ADN or BSN. According to the American Nurses Association, completing a two to three year ADN program prepares individuals to work on “a defined technical scope of practice,” while the four year BSN program “provides the nursing theory, sciences, humanities, and behavioral science preparation necessary for the full scope of professional nursing responsibilities.”

To officially become an LPN/LVN or RN, however, all nursing school grads need to first pass a National Certification Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The NCLEX-PN certifies those who want to work as LPNs and LVNs, while the NCLEX-RN certifies registered nurses.  

Students with nursing degrees are equipped to work in a wide variety of professional opportunities in the field. Additionally, as more advanced degrees are earned, the added specialization and education are often rewarded with eligibility for higher-paying jobs.

What are the nursing school program options?

Depending on the desired degree or certification, nursing school programs vary in length and intensity. High school grads that are looking to join the workforce as soon as possible often opt for LPN training. These programs prepare students to complete basic medical work in a health care setting. Often, LPNs and LVNs will later return to school (either part-time or via an online nursing school) in order to complete the ADN or BSN programs that are required to become a registered nurse.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree Programs

Bachelor's in nursing programs provide “the educational and experiential base not only for entry-level professional practice, but also as the platform on which to build a career through graduate-level study for roles as advanced practice nurses,” says Linda K. Amos, on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing website. Furthermore, Amos notes that holders of this degree generally complete the groundwork that’s necessary to advance into roles such as nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, clinical specialist, and nurse administrator.

Most BSN programs require students to complete coursework in science and liberal arts. Usually, coursework is followed by internships or other hands-on training opportunities. Most BSN degrees will require students to successfully complete courses in:

• Chemistry
• Human anatomy
• Biology
• Nutrition
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Nursing care of children
• Nursing care of the elderly
• Mental health nursing

Master of Science in Nursing Degrees

Students who pursue the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree can expect to focus their studies on specific topics like pediatrics or health care policy. To enter these programs, students typically must first complete a BSN and have experience working in the nursing field. Often, students who pursue master’s degrees in nursing are looking to specialize in a particular area of the health care field, as well as increase their earning potential by becoming qualified for higher-level nursing jobs.

In general, MSN programs include courses that cover:

• Advanced nursing theory
• Pediatric care
• Adult care
• Pharmacology
• Health care management
• Nursing technology
• Evaluation strategies
• Women's health
• Health finance
• Research applications
• Research methods

Graduate level programs in nursing like the MSN are designed to prepare students to work in many different segments of the health industry. Often, MSN graduates who are working in the field are known as advanced practice nurses.

Can one attend nursing school online?

Nursing schools are located all over the U.S., and with today’s technology, they even exist online. Over the past decade, completing a nursing degree online has become extremely popular. Online BSN, MSN and continuing education courses are available to help practical and registered nurses learn advanced skills--all while continuing to hold their current jobs.

Fundamental clinical training still needs to be completed in person, of course, but many online programs combine distance instruction via the Internet with local hands-on training.

What can one do with a nursing degree?

The simple answer to this question is: become a nurse. However, the field of nursing isn’t so cut and dry. State laws actually determine the tasks nurses may perform in a given state, but job duties will also vary depending on where and for whom the nurse works. Some of the more popular nursing professions include:

Hospital Nurse
Nurses who work in hospitals make up the majority of registered nurses. Often, these nurses will be assigned to work in one area of the hospital like surgery, pediatrics, or intensive care. These nurses are generally responsible for bedside care and ensuring the patient follows the doctor’s assigned medical regimen. Head nurses in the hospital environment will also make schedules for and manage a team of nurses.

Home Health Nurse
Working with patients in the comfort of their own homes, home health nurses may: check out the home to make sure the environment suits the needs of the patient, put together rehabilitation and health maintenance plans, and more.

Office Nurse
Office nurses usually work in emergency medical centers, physicians' offices, surgical centers, and other health facilities. These nurses may focus on outpatient care, such as getting patients ready for their medical exams, administering medications and vaccinations, and managing records.

Public Health Nurses
Nurses who work in public health focus on improving the health of a community. Working with individuals, families, and groups, these nurses establish and execute community health programs.

Nursing Home Nurses
Nurses who work in nursing home facilities do a mixture of attending to the live-in patients and administrative work. These nurses may work on treatment plans, administer medications, and supervise staff aides and LPNs.

Nurse Practitioners
Nurse practitioners (NPs) can work in a number of settings, but in all of them focus on things like diagnosing and establishing treatment plans as well as prescribing medications. Nurse practitioners have to hold at least a master’s degree, but the Doctorate of Nursing Practice is growing increasingly popular to become an NP.

How much do nurses earn?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the 2008 median annual wages of registered nurses was $62,450. Four years earlier, in 2004, the median salary was $57,280--approximately 9 percent less than the latest figures.

It’s important to note, however, that salary figures—especially within the nursing field—can be quite different depending on the city, state, education level, and work environment of the individual. For example, registered nurses who work in the offices of physicians had a median annual salary of $59,210 according to the BLS, while registered nurses who worked in hospitals brought home a median salary of $63,880.

Furthermore, those who hold advanced degrees generally earn higher wages. In fact, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners reports that NPs had a mean annual salary of $90,000 in 2009.