What do nurses do?
Nurses work in a variety of settings and specialties. They may choose to practice in hospitals, nursing homes, medical offices, ambulatory care, occupational health, and community health centers, schools, clinics, camps, and shelters.
Specialties
Nurses perform many professional tasks which may differ based on where they work or what area they specialize in. The American Nurses Association (ANA) lists nursing responsibilities to include tasks such as:
- performing physical exams
- obtaining medical/health histories
- providing patients with health promotion, counseling and education
- administering medications, wound care, and other health interventions
- coordinating patient care collectively with other members of the healthcare team
- supervising staff such as LPN’s and nursing assistants
- taking part in critical decision making
- research responsibilities
The degree they hold may also dictate which are of specialty they are competent in practicing in. There are over 100 nursing specialties, including:
- Ambulatory
- Burn care
- Home health
- Labor and delivery
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Wound, ostomy and continence care
Becoming a nurse
There are 2 types of nurses, a licensed practical nursing (LPN) or in some states referred to as licensed vocational nursing (LVN) and a registered nurse (RN). Educational requirements vary for each and depend on the degree in which a nurse plans on accelerating their career.
The education that an LPN/LVN or an RN receive differ, as does their scope of practice.
An LPN/LVN receives a 1-year certificate or degree from a vocational or hospital or trade school. They can perform certain nursing duties, but they are not able to provide the same level of care to patients as an RN. To obtain a license as an LPN, they must take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination or NCLEX-PN.
An LPN/LVN may continue their education and pursue either an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through bridge programs. These can take anywhere from 2 to 4 years, depending on the chosen degree.
Some RNs choose to obtain an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN), a 2-year technical skill focused program.
There are many ways to enter into a nursing career and become an RN, but the preferred degree to obtain is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
This is a 4-year college program. It includes a curriculum based on coursework, lab time, and clinical skill development through a hospital or other medical experience-based program.
In order to practice as a registered nurse, the National Council Licensure Examination or NCLEX-RN must be taken and passed.
How long does it take to become a nurse?
Becoming a nurse can take anywhere from 1 to 4 years, depending on the level of nursing education planned.
LPN/LVN: 1 year
Associates degree RN: 2 years
Bachelor’s degree RN: 4 years
Nurses seeking an advanced degree will require additional education beyond their basic nursing education, which can range from two to five years depending on the degree being obtained.