A person who plans to start a career in the patient care industry can choose from any of the nursing courses available. Learning the fundamentals and skills in nursing can be easily acquired through enrolling to essential nursing courses that the school offers. For an individual planning to get a course in nursing must know the following courses in order to determine what her preference would be.
Nursing courses vary from one school to another. Yet, such are still standardized by the state, giving the essential information a student must know. It is important to familiarize the different programs offered for aspiring nurses as each has its own specialization and training procedure. So, here are the common courses one may choose to kick-start her career path in the nursing field.
Bachelors of Science in Nursing
BSN is the most common program for a nurse-wannabe. Acquiring a degree in BSN enables a person to be a Registered Nurse upon passing the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nursing (NLEX-RN). This four-year course consists of classroom lectures on basic biology, anatomy, and physiology as well as necessary nursing skills. At the same time, a BSN student must cover practical classes as this will prepare her to the actual scenario of patient care in different medical institutions.
Associate in Practical Nursing
Running from 12 to 18 months of training, this program is concentrated on practical classes so students can land on a job immediately after graduation. A huge percentage of the course runs in actual trainings. Aside from basic nursing skills for direct patient care, a student is also trained to perform clerical tasks as part of his job description of being an assistant to the physician or RN. To be a Licensed Practical Nurse, a student must pass the NCLEX-PN. An LPN can also become a RN by taking BSN courses while working.
Masters of Science in Nursing
Acquiring a master’s degree enables an experienced RN to focus on different specializations in the medical industry. Taking 18 to 24 months to complete, one can study on advanced clinical training or research. RNs possessing a master’s degree have more room for career advancement. By taking courses on business administration, public health, or hospital administration, one has greater opportunities to have a supervisory position on the hospital.
Other Advanced Courses for Nurse Practitioner
Just like the master’s degree, being a Nurse Practitioner (NP) enables a nursing professional to have higher ranking in the industry. With this come more responsibilities and experiences as well as better salary compensation. Together with other nursing courses, this program lets a student cultivate his passion for patient care.
