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Student
Nursing Forum - discussion of nursing degrees, education and
nursing careers.
There are many levels of nursing degrees. Each requires a specific
educational program, and each provides a different set of nursing jobs opportunities.
With the growing popularity of distance learning, several online
nursing degree programs, even online
masters-in-nursing programs, have been developed - the quality
of these programs can vary, so its usually advisable to stick
with well-established programs.
LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse or LVN - Licensed Vocational
Nurse
Training for LPNs lasts
about 1 year, and includes both a classroom segment and a patient-care
segment. LPNs are licensed by each state, so requirements vary by
location. The LPN provides general care for patients, including taking
vital signs, changing wound dressings, basic phlebotomy, and daily
intake-outtake monitoring.
According to the US
Dept.of Labor Statistics most new LPN jobs will from nursing care
facilities. However, it is also appears that hospital jobs for LPNs
will be decreasing. On balance, demand for LPNs is expected to decrease
in the coming years.
The median salary for
LPNs in 2002 was $31,440, with the top 10% making $44,040 or more, and
the bottom 10% making less than $22,860.
RN - Registered Nurse
There are three different nursing degrees that lead to an RN.
To become an RN, nurses need to graduate from a 4-year Bachelor
of Sciences in Nursing (BSN), an Associates of Nursing (ADN),
or a Nursing Diploma program offered by hospitals. In addition,
there is a national licensing exam (the National Council Licensure
Examination - NCLEX-RN exam).
Because the RN nursing
degree has a national licensing component, it is easier to get licensed
in multiple states. As a result, RNs are heavily recruited for travel nursing
positions.
According to the Dept.
of Labor Statistics, RNs will be in heavy demand for the foreseeable
future. More new RN nursing jobs
are expected to open up than any other type of job. Given the recent
tightening of restrictions on foreign nurses entering the US, demand
for RNs will grow even stronger.
The median nursing
salary for an RN is $48,090 (as of 2002, US DLS), with the top 10%
making more than $69,670 a year. Because of the broad range of jobs
that an RN can take, salaries widely by job description.
Nursing degree programs
are available at a variety of schools, but you should confirm if they
have the program in which you are interested - some have only BSN to
masters, others can get you to a BSN.
References
- U.S. Department of Labor
Statistics - LPN and LVN career information
- U.S. Department of Labor
Statistics - RN career information
- Nursing Jobs -
information on the variety and outlook for Nursing jobs in the U.S.
- Travel Nursing
- information on traveling nurse programs and nursing recruiters across
the country
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