Aspiring to become a nurse is a noble goal, one that will help fill a projected need. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there will be a need for nearly 450,000 new registered nurses from 2016 to 2026. This statistic only scratches the surface of opportunity in the field. There are several nurse levels that nursing students may be eligible for, depending on their education and experience.
A Look at the Levels and Basic Requirements
Nurses can be found at all levels of health care, from delivering patient care in a health care facility to overseeing health care strategies from an administrative position. Regardless of level, the underlying goal of the profession is to provide quality care that improves patient outcomes.
While some of the roles in the nursing profession require different levels of education and experience, a few common prerequisites are found at each level. For instance, each role requires the completion of at least an undergraduate degree. Nurses must also be licensed to practice in their state of employment.
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses (RNs) are responsible for coordinating patient care. This can include observing and assessing patients, administering medications, operating medical equipment, and assisting with diagnostic tests. RNs may also be asked to provide educational information on health conditions, emotional support to patients and family members, and instructions for post-treatment recovery. Sometimes, they may be asked to collaborate with other health care professionals to execute patient care strategies. RNs may focus their skills on a particular aspect of care, such addiction, neonatology, or physical rehabilitation.
While students can enter the nursing field by attaining an associate degree, earning a bachelor’s degree may lead to a broader range of opportunities. Some RN specializations may require licensure and certification in areas such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic life support. The BLS lists the 2017 median pay for RNs as $70,000. It also projects a 15% job growth rate for the position between 2016 and 2026.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners (NPs) can carry out many of the same tasks as RNs, but they may also deliver primary and specialty health care. Their typical duties include diagnosing patient issues, analyzing diagnostic tests, performing physical exams, and creating patient care strategies. They may also be allowed to conduct research, instruct staff on various procedures, and provide consultation services. In most states, NPs can also prescribe medications or work without physician collaboration.
The following are different NP specialties:
● Adult-gerontology nurse practitioner. This specialization focuses on providing care for adults, with an emphasis on aging and elderly patients.
● Family nurse practitioner. This specialization provides care for a broad spectrum of patients, including kids and adults.
● Pediatric nurse practitioner. This specialization provides care to children.
● Psychiatric mental health practitioner. This specialization provides care to patients with mental illnesses.
● Women’s health nurse practitioner. This specialization delivers care to women of all ages.
A master’s degree is required to be considered for a NP role. Additionally, certification is typically required, along with licensure, to demonstrate proficiency in a particular aspect of health care. For instance, a psychiatric mental health practitioner may need to obtain a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center before being allowed to practice.
The BLS projects a 31% growth rate for NPs between 2016 and 2026. This is a substantially faster growth rate than the 7% projected for all occupations. The 2017 median pay for NPs was $110,930.
Nurse Educator
Those who wish to move beyond the NP role can take on an instructional role as a nurse educator (NE). NEs split their time between the classroom and the clinic, leading students through specific nursing courses and supervising their fieldwork in a controlled clinical setting. They also are typically responsible for continuing their education to keep tabs on the latest developments and innovations in the nursing field.
NEs must typically have a minimum of a master’s degree, although a doctorate may be required by some universities. While certification is not required for the position, having certification in the specialization being taught is recommended. According to the BLS, the 2018 median pay for postsecondary teachers like nurse educators was about $78,500. The BLS also projects a 15% increase in job growth between 2016 and 2026.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Students interested in pursuing a terminal degree in nursing may pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). This degree augments the skills and competencies honed through an advanced degree like a master’s degree in nursing, while further developing key skills important for quality health care leadership.
Nursing professionals with a DNP can oversee patient care through NP specializations like pediatrics and gerontology. They can also provide expertise and leadership on the organizational or administrative side of health care, such as the development of health care policy, public health, or health informatics.
Earning a DNP can enable nursing professionals to pursue key executive-level positions in the health care industry, such as chief nursing officer (CNO). CNOs oversee a facility’s full scope of nursing care, from ensuring proper administration of care to working to maintain coordination between nurses and physicians. CNOs can also take on key advisory roles in a health care facility to make sure all clinical practices and strategies run as efficiently as possible. According to PayScale, the average salary for a CNO is approximately $126,300. The BLS also reports a projected job growth rate of 8% between 2016 and 2026.
Finding the Right Ladder
The approach to health care delivery changes with the different nurse levels, but the goal does not. Each level provides students with new and exciting ways to make a positive impact on health care, and the unique challenges found at each level make pursuing a career in nursing one of the most exciting professional goals. See how the online Master of Science in Nursing program at Regis College can play a key role in helping you pursue your nursing career.
Recommended Readings
Degrees Defined: What Does MSN Mean?
How to Become a Mental Health Nurse
The Importance of Teamwork and Collaboration in Nursing
Sources
American Association of Nurse Practitioners, What’s a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?
American Nurse Today, “Your Path to Becoming a Nurse Educator”
American Nurses Association, Workforce
American Nurses Credentialing Center, Our Certifications
National League for Nursing, Career as a Nurse Educator
PayScale, Average Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Salary
Regis College, Nursing (MS)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Interview with a Nursing Instructor
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Postsecondary Teachers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Top Executives
U.S. National Library of Medicine, “Chief Nursing Officers’ Views on Meeting the Needs of the
Professional Nurse: How This Can Affect Patient Outcomes”