Before we commence, consider the following… How many years of post secondary education are you willing to complete before you begin your career? How much money will you need to support your lifestyle each year? What duties and responsibilities are you willing to perform? Do you have your answers? Let’s begin…

Nursing Career Ladder

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) There are two main types of CNAs Health Home Aides make sure patients take their medication, help them bathe or clean, prepare meals or do light housekeeping. Hospital or Nursing Home Aides answer patients' calls, deliver messages and take temperatures, pulses, respirations and blood pressures. They also help patients get up and move around and might set up equipment or handle supplies.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Education State approved nursing aide program (approximately 12 weeks). Average Annual Earnings: $24,620

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) The main duties of an LPN include Taking temperatures Checking blood pressures, pulse and respiration rates. Dressing wounds Observing patients Administering medications Assembling and using equipment such as catheters, tracheotomy tubes, and oxygen supplies Recording food and fluid intake Checking on IV equipment Appling compresses and hot/cold packs Bathing and dressing patients

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Education State approved program that includes a combination of classroom study and supervised clinical practice (approximately 1 yr) Average Annual Earnings: $40,110

Registered Nurse (RN) The main duties of an RN include Assisting in surgery Giving out medications Observing and monitoring patients Helping with rehabilitation Comforting or counseling patients

Registered Nurse (RN) Education (varies from state-to-state) Bachelor's of science degree in nursing (approximately 4 yrs.) Associate degree in nursing (approximately 2 yrs.) Average Annual Earnings: $65,130

Nurse Practitioner (NP) NPs perform some of the tasks normally performed by medical doctors. This may include: prescribing certain medications setting simple fractures suturing (stitching up) wounds treating minor illnesses such as flu or ear infections performing regular checkups giving health and disease prevention counseling referring patients to community health services

Nurse Practitioner (NP) Education Master’s Degree (approximately 6 yrs) Average Annual Earnings: $65,130 NPs are also referred to as Advanced Practice Nurses (APN)

Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Other APNs include: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) Specializes in the administration of anesthesia (medically induced loss of feeling in a general area or loss of awareness). Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) Specializes in care to women during pregnancy, labor and birth, and during the postpartum period. Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) Focuses on improving nursing programs and practice of care.

Which nursing career best fits you? Facts collected from Bridges.com