What Kind of Nurse Would You Like To Be?

With personal fulfillment, outstanding pay, benefits, job security and advancement opportunities, it's no wonder a career in nursing can be so rewarding.

There are two major types of licensed nurses – RNs and LPNs – but there are dozens of nursing jobs. All allow you to work in a variety of settings to care for the sick or injured, and to promote the health and well being of others.

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Become a Registered Nurse: (RN)

RNs work in collaboration with numerous other health care professionals including doctors, LPNs, nursing aides and social workers to achieve positive outcomes for patients. Duties include:
• Direct patient care
• Observation
• Assessment
• Recording symptoms, reactions and patient progress
• Physician assistance
• Administering medicine
• Supervising tasks performed by LPNs, nursing assistants and orderlies

To become a Registered Nurse, you must earn a BSN, ADN or a hospital diploma from a certified program. Then you must pass the national licensing exam (NCLEX-RN). This allows you to obtain your Ohio nursing license.

(RN) Degree Choices:

 

Bachelor of Science Nursing (BS/BSN)

A BSN gives you more choices as a nurse. With this degree, you can work in most healthcare settings including management positions. A BSN also allows you to enter Master's programs that lead to specialized nursing positions such as nurse practitioner or director of nursing.

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

It takes less time to earn an associate degree which provides strong, intense clinical experience. This degree allows you to work in most healthcare settings, except some management positions, and also lays the groundwork towards a BSN, if

Hospital Diploma

You can also earn your license in a shorter amount of time through hospital-based nursing programs which provide strong, intense clinical experience much like that of ADN programs. This is a huge benefit to someone who wants to jump start their career.

Become a Licensed Practical Nurse: (LPN)

LPNs work under the direction of doctors and RNs to provide care for patients. Duties include:
• Basic bedside care
• Taking vital signs
• Changing dressings
• Preparing and giving injections/medicines
• Collecting samples for lab testing
• Feeding patients and recording food and fluid intake and output
• Keeping patients comfortable
• Supervising nursing assistants and orderlies

Nursing degrees can be stepping-stones to the next level. For example, many schools offer LPN to RN programs for those who want to further their education. To become an LPN, you must pass the national licensing exam (NCLEX-LPN) after completing a state-approved practical nursing program. This allows you to obtain your Ohio nursing license.