Nursing has been a popular career choice for years, and the value of nurses has only been magnified over the past year with the pandemic. It’s also a wise career choice – healthcare is growing at a faster-than-normal pace, so jobs are expected to be widely available and most nurses will enjoy long-term job security. However, the academic and career options within the field of nursing can be confusing. We’ve broken them down to help you understand how the nursing career ladder works so you can choose the best path for your future.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
A certified nursing assistant cares for a patient’s basic needs in a hospital, nursing home, or residential care facility. Duties include cleaning or feeding patients, helping them perform activities of daily living, and offering support to the nursing staff. The job is physically demanding and may require lifting or moving patients. Training programs are only a few weeks long and relatively inexpensive. The average wage for nursing assistants is about $30,000 per year.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
A licensed practical nurse performs basic health monitoring, takes health histories, and provides general patient care to keep them comfortable. Their scope of work is more limited than that of a registered nurse and varies based on the regulations of each state. Like CNAs, an LPN’s job can be physically demanding due to the direct patient care. An LPN program takes about one year to complete, however many require up to two years of college-level prerequisites prior to starting the program meaning the actual time to program completion may be considerably longer. The average wage for an LPN is about $49,000 per year.
Registered Nurse – Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN-RN)
An ADN-RN has passed the NCLEX-RN exam (required for licensing) after completing an Associate’s Degree, which is a two-year degree. However, like the LPN, many programs require up to two years of prerequisites prior to starting their nursing program, so the actual time to degree may be longer than two years. An ADN-RN costs less than a Bachelor’s Degree, but opportunities for advancement are more limited. The average wage for an ADN-RN is about $69,000 per year.
Registered Nurse – Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN-RN)
A nurse who has earned their BSN-RN passes the same licensing test as an ADN-RN (NCLEX-RN). Despite this, nurses with a BSN tend to earn more (about $83,000 per year) and have more job opportunities. A Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing takes about four years to earn and many places are now requiring that their RNs have Bachelor’s Degrees. For ADNs in the field who want to advance their education and enjoy better career opportunities, RN-to-BSN programs are available.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Nurses who want to take on more responsibility may consider getting a Master’s degree. Clinical MSN programs are necessary for nurses who want to become a nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist. A non-clinical MSN program is appropriate for current BSN nurses who want to move into a more supervisory or administrative position. The wage of an MSN varies based on the position, but averages about $113,000.
Ready to take that next step toward a career in nursing? Northwest University offers a BSN program to help aspiring nurses enter the field, an online RN-to-BSN program to help existing nurses climb the career ladder, and an online MSN program to open up a whole new world of possibilities in healthcare. Virtual information sessions are coming up; check out Northwest University to learn more and register for an info session!
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