Is nursing a job or a life calling? This question needs to be answered by the individual seeker. A person can become confused by all the "hype" of the modern ad people painting health careers, especially nursing, as some "dream" or "glamour" career; it isn't. It's hard, dirty, thankless work, unless a person can land some attractive administrative position, which may take years to get. No, nursing is more than having some letters as a "title," such as R.N. or ARNP; it takes a basic compassion for people and a willingness to be totally dedicated to a profession.
A CNA is a Basic Step for a Nursing Career
A CNA, or Certified Nursing Assistant, generally referred to as a Nurse's Aide, is a person who does the basic physical and rudimentary work required in the nursing field. The duties of a CNA include bathing and in some instances, shaving patients, changing diapers for the incontinent, feeding, some simple charting, performing restraint techniques on the mentally ill and emotionally unstable, changing bedpans, and many other tasks to relieve some of the workload on R.N.s and LPNs.
CNAs who love their work can stay where they are or advance to become higher paid health professionals. Of course, this takes further training. Many institutions of higher learning are available and there are also Adult Education curriculums offered through state, county, and city boards of education, usually for LPN or other vocational medical fields, such as phlebotomists or medical transcribers.
A Health Career in Nursing as a LPN
A LPN, Licensed Practical Nurse, or LVN, Licensed Vocational Nurse, is responsible for the care of patients in a wide array of medical facilities, such as, long term care facilities, doctor's offices, and home care, to name a few. They can supervise other LPNs and CNAs within a healthcare environment and be responsible to an R.N. and physician. They can perform the duties of a CNA but can also perform the functions of a R.N., such as, pouring and administering medications, giving injections, and much more detailed charting on patients. Their work needs to be "signed off" by a R.N.
LPNs need to take "state boards" for licensing purposes. Their training usually lasts for about a year and they can specialize in fields such as Pediatrics and Mental Health. They are paid a much higher salary than CNAs but much lower than R.N.s because of the nature of the nursing care and responsibilities involved. They can perform some processing of patients and administrative functions. They can easily "train up" to R.N. through a transition program that lasts about a year and then get their R.N. licensure.
A Health Career in Nursing as a R.N.
In order for a person to become licensed as a R.N., Registered Nurse, he or she must attend college for a 2 year A.S., or a 4 year B.S.N. degree. The difference between these 2 curriculums and the length of time needed to complete them is that the A.S., Associate in Science, is more concentrated, requiring fewer electives and administration classes. The B.S.N., Bachelor of Science in Nursing, is more detailed in professional administrative courses. If a student's main goal is for upper management in nursing, then attaining a masters degree is advisable.
Any of the aforementioned nursing careers require intelligence, compassion, stamina, and most of all, a guiding standard of excellence for service to humanity. Nursing is not a job, it is a way of life. The highest desire for professionalism is at the core of its proud history. Names such as Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, and Margaret Sanger call out to those who want to heal the sick. Traditionally a female occupation, many more men are choosing nursing for a career. Nursing just may be the right choice.
Source:
Stratford, S.J. Field Guides to Finding a New Career: Health Care: An All-in-One Guide to Navigating Toward a New Career. NY: Ferguson Publishing, 2009.
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