What Are Some Methods Of Entering The Field For A Registered Nurse
Guide to Entry-Level Nursing
Nov 12, 2021 , Modified on April 27, 2022 · v Min Read
Reviewed past Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW
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Interested in nursing but confused about how to enter the field? This guide will help you understand the diverse nursing career paths, educational requirements, financial assist, and job and salary outlook.
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Are you set to earn your online nursing caste?
Whether you go a license or document right later on finishing high school — or go on to earn an associate, bachelor's, or graduate degree — the nursing field offers several pathways to entry-level employment. The path yous pursue volition probable depend on your personal interests, pedagogy, and bacon preferences.
The Agency of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a favorable job outlook for all nursing careers over the next decade. Nurse assistants can expect an 8% job growth betwixt 2020 and 2030; licensed applied and licensed vocational nursing occupations should see a 9% increase; and registered nurses can wait 9% growth.
This guide tin can assist you begin your nursing career by reviewing license and educational activity requirements, financial aid opportunities, and career prospects.
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Types of Entry-Level Nursing Roles
Non all nursing careers crave a two-year or iv-year degree from a college or university. Nurses who desire to enter the workforce sooner can enroll in training programs that lead to licensure or certification. These offer less of a time commitment or financial burden than earning a traditional postsecondary degree. Students can brainstorm a nursing career after completing a nursing assistant plan — which can accept approximately 12 weeks — or a one-year training plan for licensed applied and licensed vocational nursing.
Nursing administration (NAs) rank amongst the fastest growing entry-level nursing jobs that do not require a degree. NAs perform routine healthcare services, from recording patient vital signs to assisting with their hygiene. Although NAs are employed in an array of settings, they often piece of work with the growing population of older adults in nursing homes and home healthcare.
Prospective NAs with a high school diploma or GED tin enter the workforce after completing a ane-three month training program and passing a state certification exam. NAs who pursue specialized training may obtain the restorative nurse assistant (RNA) certification. Many CNAs/RNAs become licensed registered nurses afterward gaining practical feel to move into acquaintance or bachelor's programs.
Licensed applied nurses (LPNs), also known in some states equally licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), can motility into entry-level nursing jobs relatively speedily. Becoming an LPN or LVN generally requires a high school diploma or GRE, successful completion of a 1-ii year accredited program that includes 700-1,000 hours of clinical experience, and a passing score on the NCLEX-PN exam.
LPNs and LVNs piece of work under the direction of registered nurses and physicians. They assist with procedures, monitor treatments and medication, maintain patient records, and oft help with daily patient care including bathing and dressing. While they may notice positions in hospitals and clinics, they oft find employment nursing homes and residential care facilities.
Working in an assortment of settings, from hospitals and clinics to residential care facilities and schools, registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate treatment, perform and analyze tests, and educate patients and the general public nigh healthcare concerns.
While several pathways lead to an RN license, a nursing diploma from a hospital-administered programme or an associate caste in nursing (ADN) provide the quickest way to entry-level RN jobs. About students complete these programs in ii years or less before taking the NCLEX-RN exam — a requirement for state licensure. Earning a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), which likewise prepares graduates for RN licensure, usually requires four years to complete. However, many schools offer ADN-to-BSN and other accelerated programs that shorten the time to complete a caste.
Types of Entry-Level Nursing Degrees
While students tin complete licensing and certificate requirements for NA and LPN/LVN positions in ii years or less, a college degree opens broader career opportunities. Earning an ADN or BSN caste does not require prior nursing experience. Both degrees prepare graduates for the NCLEX-RN license and entry-level jobs, and provide the necessary background to pursue more advanced educational opportunities.
The college the caste one earns, the more possibilities for advancement in the nursing field. The BSN degree in particular establishes the academic foundation for a master of scientific discipline in nursing (MSN) or a doctorate in nursing. These graduate degrees prepare learners for specialized advanced practice nursing, which also offers some of the highest paying and most in-demand nursing careers.
The ADN curriculum includes courses in the fundamentals of nursing, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, and nutrition. Like nigh two-yr, threescore-credit associate degrees, the ADN includes general education requirements that may transfer into 4-year bachelor's programs. Many students enter nursing jobs immediately after earning their ADN and successfully passing the NCLEX-RN examination, while others go along on to earn BSN and graduate degrees.
RNs who accept earned ADN degrees find ample employment opportunities in a variety of healthcare settings. Depending on the specific work environment, their roles and responsibilities include collecting patient histories, performing concrete exams and diagnostic tests, administering medication and treatments, and consulting with doctors and other nurse supervisors.
Equally nursing roles evolve within the electric current healthcare environment, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing has begun to advocate for the BSN as the minimum caste requirement for RNs. While the ADN even so leads to numerous job opportunities, employers prefer to hire BSN graduates for entry-level jobs. The BSN serves as a prerequisite for advocacy into leadership positions and the stepping stone into graduate programs for advanced practise nursing.
While a BSN unremarkably requires learners to earn 120 credits across four years, RNs with nursing diplomas or ADNs may earn their bachelor'south in ii years. In addition to the full general didactics and nursing courses covered in the ADN, the BSN curriculum permits students to pursue courses in clinical specialties such equally pediatric or geriatric nursing.
Earning an MSN provides the minimum educational requirement for advanced practice registered nursing (APRN). As the highest paid nurses in the field, APRNs acquire specialized training and certifications in population areas such as pediatrics or women'south health, or medical areas such every bit mental wellness or acute care. APRNs may as well enter nonclinical roles in health management and nursing education.
An MSN may take up to iv years to complete. Even so, bridge MSN programs enable students to reduce the fourth dimension needed to complete their chief's, depending on their previous degree and license status. Direct entry programs — for students with non-nursing available'due south* degrees and no prior nursing feel — may take ane-3 years. RNs with a nursing diploma or ADN may complete an RN-to-MSN program in two-three years. Most BSN-to-MSN programs take ii years.
*Span programs still require the degree candidate to complete the curriculum required of RNs earlier obtaining an MSN. Typically, the first year of a two twelvemonth bridge program will be the BSN/RN curriculum, and will culminate with taking the NCLEX at the end of the start year. The second year is the MSN/APRN curriculum and practicum hours.
Job Prospects for Entry-Level Nursing Careers
Employment prospects in the nursing field continue to grow faster than the national average for all occupations. Earning a nursing assistant certificate provides the quickest path to a nursing career. The BLS projects about 174,000 openings for NAs through the decade, primarily in residential care facilities and domicile healthcare. NAs earn less than nurses with college degrees, with mean annual salaries of $29,640
LPNs and LVNs work in the aforementioned settings equally NAs besides as in outpatient facilities. By the end of the decade, LPNs/LVNs will fill up 787,400 positions. Their median bacon of $47,478 ranks above NAs but not as high every bit those with ADNs or college degrees.
RNs can expect about 175,900 openings each twelvemonth through 2029, making a median salary of $73,300 yearly. RNs who concord a BSN or graduate caste experience better job and salary prospects than those who enter the field with a diploma or ADN. Employers generally prefer RNs who accept some work experience, and/or an in-need specialty such equally gerontology.
Paying for Nursing Schoolhouse
Concerns about the cost of a nursing educational activity should not discourage prospective nurses from pursuing their career goals. Several fiscal aid opportunities support deserving students at every caste level, fifty-fifty for short-term NA and LPN/LVN programs. Nursing students may apply for federal and private loans, or scholarships and grants that exercise not require repayment. Some schools offering work-study programs to help students offset the tuition costs.
The search for fiscal aid begins by filling out the Gratuitous Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) to decide ane's qualification for federal loans, loan repayment plans, or assist to military personnel and veterans. Some grants and scholarships provide funding for specific nursing programs or specialties while others offer aid to applicants based on race, ethnicity, gender, or geographic location.
Common Questions Well-nigh Entry-Level Nursing
What is an entry-level nurse?
Entry-level nurses begin their careers after completing a certificate or licensing program, a nursing diploma or associate degree, or a college-caste. These nurse training programs and degrees do non require prior nursing teaching or work feel. Because of the continuing need for healthcare professionals, entry-level nurses find aplenty job opportunities as NAs, LPNs/LVNs, and RNs.
How can I get a nursing job with no experience?
While not required for all positions, some employers prefer to hire experienced nurses. Nursing students can increase their marketability by volunteering at a local hospital or clinic or pursuing an internship while completing their studies. Nurses entering the job marketplace for the commencement time should consider taking beginning positions to proceeds feel, even if the jobs practice not come across their personal goals.
How much money does an entry-level nurse make?
While nursing salaries have generally kept pace with the cost of living, bounty varies significantly by degree level, years of work feel, and geographic location. As a general rule, the higher the degree 1 earns, the higher their salary. The top-paid nurses generally possess MSN degrees and certification as APRNs.
How exercise I survive my first year nursing task?
New nursing professionals experience considerable job-related stress as they adjust from the bookish setting to existent-world experience. Kickoff-year nurses can accept proactive steps to cope with the challenges past participating in volunteer or internship experiences prior to entering the workforce. Once employed, they should network with more than experienced nursing colleagues, develop their time management skills, and pay attention to life/piece of work remainder past practicing self-care.
Reviewed by:
Elizabeth Clarke (Poon) is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who provides chief and urgent care to pediatric populations. She earned a BSN and MSN from the University of Miami.
Clarke is a paid fellow member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. Learn more virtually our review partners.
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What Are Some Methods Of Entering The Field For A Registered Nurse,
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