How to Become a Nurse: Nursing Programs & Careers

What Does a Nurse Do?

Nursing Career Basics

Nurses' responsibilities vary by specialization or unit, but most share more similarities than differences. Nurses provide and monitor patient care, educate patients and family members about health conditions, provide medications and treatments, give emotional support and advice to patients and their family members, and more. They also work with healthy people by providing preventative health care and wellness information.

Nursing In-Depth

护士执行的任务——以及他们执行这些任务的环境——至少在一定程度上受到专业、工作经验和教育的驱动。虽然大多数护士在医院工作，但也有一些在学校、私人诊所、疗养院、安置机构、企业、监狱、军事基地或其他雇主工作。拥有大专和学士学位的护士经常提供实际护理，尽管这种护理的范围因州和雇主而异。那些有更多经验和研究生学位的人可能会监督其他护士，教护理，成为护士从业人员或做研究。

Many nurses spend long hours on their feet. Although nurses working in physicians' offices, schools, corporate settings or other places with traditional hours may work regular shifts with set schedules, those working in nursing facilities and hospitals providing round-the-clock care often have to work long weekend and holiday shifts. It is not unusual for some nurses to work 10 to 12 hours a day, three to four days each week.

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Nursing at Every Level

Readers hooked by articles ranking the “best” and “top” jobs are likely already savvy to the idea that health care is one of the fastest-growing and highest-paying industries in the nation, and that nurses are leading the charge. From diploma to doctorate, the nursing field offers rewarding careers for nurses at every education level. Learn more about some of the most popular nursing careers below.

Licensed Practical Nurses

Licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses are entry-level nurses; which title they use is dictated more by geography than job function. LPNs and LVNs provide basic patient care, though specific duties are dictated by each state's board of nursing. They might feed or bathe patients, monitor patient vitals and check and apply bandages. Some states also permit practical nurses to administer certain medications. Practical nurses must usually complete certificates or associate degrees and the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses, or NCLEX-PN

Registered Nurses

Registered nurses are the most prevalent nurses in the profession and often serve as a fulcrum of patient care. They work with physicians and communicate with patients and their families. They engage in more sophisticated care than LPNs. Board certification allows RNs to become highly specialized in areas like critical care, oncology, geriatrics, neurology and other key health disciplines. All states require RNs to earn at least an associate degree, but some employers prefer candidates with bachelor's degrees. RNs must also be licensed to practice, a process that requires that they complete an accredited nursing program and pass the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses, or NCLEX-RN.

Neonatal Nurses

Neonatal nurses are typically RNs who are certified to care for infants born prematurely or with other health complications. Neonatal nurses may also calm anxious parents, explain conditions and procedures and teach families how to care for their babies upon discharge. Some neonatal nurses offer lactation support to moms visiting and feeding patients in the intensive care nursery. Working with small and sometimes underdeveloped infants and newborns requires specialized skills, training and equipment. Because they are RNs, neonatal nurses must earn at least an associate degree in nursing and pass the NCLEX-RN. Organizations like the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the National Certification Corporation offer additional RN certifications in neonatal care, pediatrics and critical care.

Nurse Practitioners

As some of the most advanced nursing professionals, nurse practitioners make more decisions when it comes to exams, treatments and next steps. They go beyond the reach of RNs and may work with physicians closely. Some states with large rural populations or shortages in primary carephysicianhave even passed legislation allowing NPs to stand in for physicians in certain situations. Nurse practitioners typically earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or, increasingly, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). They also earn additional certifications in specialized disciplines such as critical care, family medicine and pediatrics.

Licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses are entry-level nurses; which title they use is dictated more by geography than job function. LPNs and LVNs provide basic patient care, though specific duties are dictated by each state's board of nursing. They might feed or bathe patients, monitor patient vitals and check and apply bandages. Some states also permit practical nurses to administer certain medications. Practical nurses must usually complete certificates or associate degrees and the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses, or NCLEX-PN

Career Trends in Nursing

Hot Jobs in Nursing

长期以来，护理一直是热门职业，但婴儿潮一代的老龄化、医疗改革和医疗进步推动了对这些专业人员的需求，使其达到了更高的水平。美国劳工统计局(BLS)预计，在2022年之前的10年里，注册护士、执业护士和职业护士以及高级执业护士(包括护士从业人员和临床护理专家)的就业将显著超过全国平均水平。These groups also include a number of more specialized nurses, such as the following:

Hot Nursing related careers

Travel nurses
Nurse midwives
Nurse anesthetists
Case management nurses
Forensic nurses
Informatics nurse specialists
Legal nurses
Research nurses
School nurses
Corporate nurses
Agency nurses

Spotlight-Careers

As the list above suggests, nursing is a tremendously diverse field extending well beyond the traditional hospital circuit. It is not uncommon for new nurses and nursing students to stumble across fields they did not even know existed. Here are just a few of these specialized professionals, along with their job functions, earnings and training requirements.

Informatics Nurse Specialist

All nurses working in today's high-tech world must be acquainted with computers and a variety of programs, but informatics nurse specialists take this tech-career integration to a whole new level. These professionals help design, develop and modify software and systems to make them more efficient and improve patient outcomes. In other words, informatics nurses ensure the technology other nurses rely on is practical, reliable and safe. They are also in such high demand that O*NET classifies informatics nursing as a “bright outlook” occupation projected to grow nearly twice as fast as the national average for all fields between 2012 and 2022.

Education and Training:Most employers require bachelor's degrees, but about 25 percent of informatics nurses go on to earn master's degrees.

Nurse Midwife

助产士护士为几乎所有年龄的妇女提供妇科和产科护理，但他们的分娩相关服务在寻求更个性化的分娩体验或较少的医疗干预的妇女中尤其受欢迎。说这一趋势正在为医院、分娩中心、私人诊所甚至家庭护理的助产士创造新的机会，都是保守的说法:梅奥诊所(Mayo Clinic)报告称，在过去20年里，对助产士护士的需求呈指数级增长，预计至少到2022年，这一需求还会飙升。

Education and training:护士助产士必须持有硕士学位才能执业。大约15%的专业人士获得了额外的证书，尤其是硕士研究生级别的证书。

Nurse Anesthetist

There is a reason CNN once named nurse anesthetist among the best jobs in America: These professionals typically enjoy solid earnings and booming demand. Nurse anesthetists support surgeons and physicians in a number of ways, but their primary role is administering anesthesia and monitoring patients during and after sedation. This work carries a great deal of risk, which at least partly contributes to their heftier-than-average paychecks. It also explains why they are considered advanced practice nurses and are required to complete more education than RNs and many other specialized nurses.

Education and training:Nurse anesthetists need at least a master's degree to practice, but about 12 percent of professionals hold professional or doctoral degrees.

Exploring Academic Paths

Nursing can be a tremendously rewarding career both personally and professionally. However, it is also tightly regulated. States and employers have strict training requirements that dictate not only whether nurses can practice, but also what types of duties they can perform. The type of nurse that one becomes often depends not only on whether they have earned an associate, bachelor's or graduate degree, but also on the board or professional certifications they hold. This table helps readers considering nursing school determine which educational path makes sense for them.

Overview of Nursing Degrees

Nursing schools offer an array of degree options, from associate degrees through postgraduate programs. Each level is designed to meet different career needs, so courses, curricula, and skills learned vary. Understanding how nursing degrees differ--and how these differences translate to the workplace--allows future nursing students to choose programs that are in line with their goals and interests. In addition to the degree information provided below, students can visit thisnursing program search tool and rankings pageto help round out their research.

Associate Degrees

护理副学位(ADN)，有时被称为护理科学副学士(ASN)或护理应用科学副学士(AASN)，是注册护士(RNs)的一个受欢迎的培训途径，因为它使他们有资格参加全国委员会注册护士执照考试(NCLEX-RN)。一些持牌护士(LPNs)和持牌职业护士(LVNs)也会获得副学士学位，以在就业市场上获得竞争优势，或进入管理或注册护理职业。社区大学、职业学校和少数四年制护理学校都提供adn。

Associate-level nursing degrees typically require two to three years of full-time study, but some schools offer accelerated programs, including programs for LPNs to get an ADN. Courses vary, but often include foundational science and nursing courses, general education courses, hands-on labs, and a supervised clinical practicum. The following table represents associate degree courses required by nursing schools from all across the country.

Bachelor's Degrees

Bachelor of Science in Nursing(BSN) degrees offer more advanced training than ADN programs, making them a good fit for LPNs who want to become RNs, RNs who want to advance their careers and educations, and aspiring advanced practice nurses. Programs usually require about four years of full-time study, but some nursing schools offer ADN to BSN, LPN to BSN, and RN to BSN bridge programs that streamline coursework and reduce time to completion. Vocational, career, and four-year nursing schools award most BSNs, although some community colleges offer them through partnerships with higher education institutions.

Bachelor's degrees in nursing usually require students to complete a combination of general education, core nursing, and elective courses. Many nursing schools also offer specialty tracks that allow students to balance general and core coursework with more targeted training in specific areas of the field.

This table details some of the courses BSN students take at nursing schools nationwide.

Master of Science in Nursing

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees prepare students for a variety of advanced nursing roles, including administrative, teaching, research, and direct patient care professions. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) – defined as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse midwives – are often required to earn at least a master's degree to practice, but clinical nurse leaders, health policy consultants, research nurses, and nurse educators often pursue MSN degrees, too. MSN degrees tend to require 18 months to three years of study, depending on the program and individual student. Recent nursing school graduates and practicing RNs can often enroll in RN to MSN or BSN to MSN bridge programs designed to streamline coursework and minimize overlap.

Research and graduate universities as well as career and vocational schools typically offer MSN programs, some of which can be completed partly online. Courses and curricula vary, but most schools offer students advanced training in the theories, research methods, and leadership skills APNs and nursing administrators employ in a wide variety of clinical settings. The table below highlights a few MSN courses offered by graduate nursing schools.

Doctoral Degrees

Doctoral nursing degrees generally fall into two categories: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing degrees. Below is a breakdown of each degree as well as a look at common skills that graduates gain.

SKILLS GAINED AT THE DOCTORAL LEVEL

DNP and PhD in nursing programs may cater to students with different long-term career goals, but they offer many of the same advanced skills and competencies. The following are among them:

Research skills

Ph.D. candidates usually complete a research-intensive curriculum that allows them to participate in, design, and conduct their own research studies, but DNP students also receive their fair share of research training, including instruction in how to critically analyze, interpret, and apply studies within their own clinical practices. Both types of programs emphasize research ethics and practices that promote safety and positive patient outcomes.

Advanced clinical training

DNP候选人学习和应用先进的临床护理通过实习，住院医师，动手实验室和模拟。这些技能涵盖了病人护理的各个方面，从疾病预防和通过治疗进行评估到治疗后护理。对于攻读研究型博士学位的学生来说，大多数实践训练都在实验室和研究地点进行，并强调遵守最佳研究实践、医学研究法律和安全法规。

Specialized knowledge

两个博士学位课程都允许学生专攻医学和护理的某些领域。DNP项目特别倾向于提供一些专业轨道，包括护理管理、助产、重症护理和家庭医学。护理学博士课程经常允许学生专攻反映他们职业目标的领域，如护理研究、医疗保健创新、领导力和护理教育。

Historical and theoretical perspective

Doctoral programs in nursing do not just teach students how to provide care, teach, lead, or conduct research. Students also learn what drives these practices. Knowing how to view training, research, and skills in their proper historical and theoretical context prepares graduates to make better decisions in their own careers and practices, become stronger mentors, and help advance the field of nursing.

Leadership

The careers doctoral nursing graduates assume may vary distinctly, but almost all of them serve as mentors and leaders in some capacity. DNP and PhD in nursing programs usually teach students general and health leadership theories, how and when to apply them in the workplace, and how to promote a safe, collaborative work environment.

Concentration Areas

Nursing degrees offer students the baseline training they need to practice nursing, while concentrations transform them into specialists. LPNs, RNs, and APNs can all specialize in certain areas of health care or in working with certain populations. There are two primary ways students and nurses hone this targeted training: nursing degree specialty tracks and board or professional certifications. In either case, these concentrations can help nurses secure work in the areas that interest them most.

下面的列表详细列出了一些最受欢迎和最需要的护理专业，以及追求他们的护士类型。

Critical, Acute or Intensive Care Nursing

Critical or intensive care nursing specializations prepare students to care for critically ill or unstable patients, usually in intensive care units. Some nurses choose to concentrate on a particular age group, such as adult or pediatric critical care. A 2014 report from the medical recruiting firm HEALTHeCAREERS states that critical care is consistently among the most in-demand nursing specialties in the country.

• Neonatal Nurse

  Neonatal nurses are typically RNs trained in treating critically ill infants, particularly newborns born prematurely or with health complications. They monitor patient vitals and progress, administer treatments, and educate parents about their child's health and care needs. Neonatal nurses may also feed, change, and bathe patients.

• Critical or Intensive Care Nurse

  Critical and intensive care nurses are also trained to care for critically ill or injured patients, but tend to focus on treating adults. They usually work in special intensive care units, where they have access to the tools and therapies they need to provide patients with potentially life-threatening conditions with the best care possible. They monitor, bathe, and treat patients. Critical care nurses can also educate and support patients' families.

• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

  Nurse practitioners sometimes choose to pursue advanced practice certifications in acute or critical care, usually with an adult or pediatric specialty. This specialized training prepares them to work with critically ill or injured patients, but with more responsibilities and independence than RNs. In fact, according to HEALTHeCAREERS, physician shortages have prompted many states to allow NPs to provide much of the same type of care doctors typically offer. ACNPs can assess and diagnose patients, order medications, establish patient treatment plans, and direct RNs and other staff.

Pediatrics

Nursing schools with pediatric specializations prepare students to care for infants and young children, often in hospitals and pediatric medical practices. A 2012 longitudinal study published in the Journal of Nursing Administration reports that pediatrics is one of the fastest-growing nursing specialties in the country, particularly when combined with additional training in critical care. Villanova University notes that pediatrics is a high-paced specialty area that calls for a great deal of stamina and patience.

• Pediatric Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse

  与IV疗法和老年医学等领域相比，执业护士和职业护士获得的儿科认证并不常见，但它们正开始兴起。儿科LPNs和LVNs支持在护理婴儿和儿童的临床环境中，如儿科医生办公室和儿童医院的RNs。LPNs和lvm的职责因状态的不同而不同。有兴趣的人可以联系他们所在州的护理委员会了解更多信息。

• Pediatric Registered Nurse

  Pediatric RNs care for young patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient care centers, pediatric physicians' offices and schools. Like other RNs, pediatric RNs must work under the direction of a licensed physician, but often perform the bulk of patient care tasks, including recording vitals, monitoring progress, administering medication, and serving as intermediaries between doctors and patients' families. Pediatric RNs should be strong, empathetic, patient and gentle.

• Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist

  儿科临床专科护士是高级执业儿科注册护士，这意味着他们需要额外的培训，因此可以承担更广泛的任务和责任。专门从事儿科的CNSs可以指导和协调婴幼儿患者的护理，进行临床评估，并充当医生和患者家庭之间的中介。美国临床护理专家协会(National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists)指出，一些cns会选择第二个亚专科，比如儿科肿瘤学或儿科危重护理。

Nursing Management

Nursing management, administration and leadership specialty tracks are common among MSN and DNP degree programs, but some organizations offer professional RN certifications in these areas, too. The American Organization of Nurse Executives offers nursing management certifications to candidates with an MSN, Master of Healthcare Administration or relevant MBA degrees. These programs teach practicing nurses and students how to lead, organize, motivate, and effectively direct nursing teams in preparation for leadership and executive positions.

• Director of Nursing

  Directors of nursing – sometimes called chief nursing officers or executives – are in charge of all nurses within a health care facility. They often answer to their facility's or health system's chief executive officer or chief organizational officer and act as a link between nurses and executive management. These professionals are typically clinical nurse specialists or nurse practitioners with nursing administration certifications, but experienced RNs with additional leadership training can also rise through the ranks.

• Nurse Manager

  护士经理通常是有经验的注册护士，他们在医疗机构中领导护理单位。他们倾向于向护理主任报告，与管理人员和护士一起工作，以确保单位保持高效率，并始终如一地提供高患者的结果。护士经理还监督其单位的人员编制和预算。

• Charge Nurse

  Charge nurses are the shift managers of the RN world: They oversee the immediate functioning of a nursing unit to ensure nurses and patients are safe and that staff members deliver the best care possible. Charge nurses report to nurse managers. In some settings, this frontline leadership role rotates depending on staffing needs, but RNs with the right training and experience can advance to become permanent members of nurse management teams.

Online Nursing Schools

Online learning has redefined educational accessibility on a truly global scale, and according to a 2008 study from the Lippincott Nursing Center, nursing schools quickly adopted it in hopes of bolstering enrollments and addressing the looming nursing shortage. Technological advances and innovative programs that allow online students to complete clinical training at local health facilities fueled the movement. Today, online nursing schools are everywhere, but potential students should still make sure the programs they choose are credible and effective. This list oftop online nursing programs是一个很好的研究起点。还应考虑以下标准。

Licensure-Focused Coursework and Exam Preparation

All nurses must be licensed to practice. For registered and advanced practice nurses, that means passing the National Council Licensing Examination in Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN); LPNs/LVNs take the NCLEX in Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN). Prospective students researching nursing schools, online or otherwise, should take the time to learn about the NCLEX and confirm that their chosen program teaches the skills and provides the training they need to pass. Exam preparation support, tutoring, and mentorship programs can also help. Readers can visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing online to learn more.

Accreditation

当一所护理学校获得认证时，这意味着一个独立的组织已经证实其课程、教学方法和其他实践符合一定的标准。认证可以在一定程度上保证质量和一致性，但对护理专业的学生来说，它的意义远不止这些:美国所有州和地区都要求未来的护士在参加NCLEX考试之前完成认证的护理课程。换句话说:没有认证，就没有执照。寻找由国家护理认证委员会联盟(NLNAC)或大学护理教育委员会(CCNE)认证的在线护理学校。

Opportunities for Clinical Training

Nursing is by nature a hands-on career, so it requires some degree of hands-on training. Both the NLNAC and the CCNE require nursing schools to integrate on-site clinical training with real patients in order to be accredited. Most online nursing schools allow students to complete these practical requirements under the supervision of licensed nurses or physicians at local health facilities while tackling their more academic coursework online. Future students should clarify schools' expectations before committing to any one program.

Bridge, Completion, and Accelerated Programs

Almost anyone can benefit from the flexibility of online nursing schools, but for working nurses and other professionals, saving time can be more of a sanity-saver than a perk. Many online nursing schools offer bridge or degree completion programs – such as ADN to BSN, RN to BSN, BSN to MSN, and similar programs – that factor in students' previous education and training when establishing a course of study so that they do not have to repeat coursework. Some schools offer similar online nursing programs for students with degrees in different fields. By not requiring students to retake basic nursing and general education classes, these programs cut down the time to completion.

Components of a Successful Nursing Career

What Kinds of Skills Are Required?

Good nurses:

• Are compassionate, patient, organized and detail-oriented
• Have good critical thinking skills and can think on their feed
• Have an interest in science and math
• Must be able to function in high-stress situations and be willing to constantly learn as medical practices continue to evolve
• 具备与他人协作的能力，并能长时间倒班工作

Credentials

所有的州都要求护士通过认证的护理学校完成一定程度的正式培训，但雇主往往寻找有专业证书的候选人。委员会和专业证书允许护士变得更专业，保持他们的技能最新，并向雇主表明他们对自己的职业生涯投入。证书通常涵盖特定的卫生保健地区或患者群体。以下只是美国护士协会和全国实用护士教育与服务协会等组织认可的众多认证中的一部分。它们的正式名称在括号中注明。

• Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) and Vocational Nursing (LVN) certification in areas such as pharmacology (LPN, NCP), long-term care (LPN, CLTC) and IV therapy (LPN, IVT)
• 注册护理委员会认证(RN-BC)，包括门诊护理，儿科，信息学，school nursing and mental health
• Clinical Nursing Specialist Board Certification (CNS-BC) in areas such as home health care (HHCNS-BC), public health (PHCNS-BC), psychiatric/mental health (PMHCNS-BC), pediatrics (PCNS-BC) and gerontology (GCNS-BC)
• Nurse Practitioner Board Certifications (NP-BC) in many of the same specialties as RNs and CNSs, plus a few more generalized disciplines, such as family nursing (FNP-BC) and primary care (PNP-BC)

Nursing Tools and Technology

Nurses rely on a broad set of tools to do their jobs effectively, including:

• Thermometers, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs and other basic health monitoring tools
• Acute care monitoring units like scalp electrodes, fetal care monitors and bilimeters
• Medical suction and vacuum appliances, including nasal-, oral- and tracheal-suctioning equipment
• Gastrointestinal, colonoscopic and other endoscopes
• Catheters and related intravenous tools

Nurses must also be computer savvy and familiar with several software programs, among them:

• Medical software (IDX Systems)
• Database programs (Epic, Misys Healthcare Systems, QuadraMed Affinity Healthcare Information Systems and Siemens SIENET Sky)
• Office suites (Microsoft Office)
• Spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel)
• Time accounting software (Kronos Workforce Timekeeper)

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