An Overview Of Several Types Of Nurses
All nurses are not the same, and the many different types of nurses in the workforce reflect differences in educational and training requirements, experience, and of course, need. Some nursing types require post-graduate study or further study and experience in specialized areas, while others require only training for a specified time after which a certificate to practice may be issued.
The salaries which the various types of nurses can command of course vary widely, and to some extent are a reflection of the educational requirements for a particular position. Salary also depends on current demand for a particular set of skills. The skill requirements and commensurate salaries can also vary somewhat depending upon location. While the importance of salary, and the necessity of making a living, cannot be overlooked, many people enter the nursing profession having a genuine desire to work with people and to help other people. Some become nurses having a particular area of interest or specialty on mind.
You'll find nurses working in hospitals and clinics, most will be treating patients, taking vital signs, giving drugs and medicines, and basically looking out for a patient and his or her well-being on a day-to-day basis. Other types of nurses will be found assisting during surgery or looking after patients in an emergency ward or intensive care. Some nurses will spend their time assisting patients in need of rehabilitation and therapy, and still others are employed as hospice workers. You'll find nurses whose primary responsibility is home care or home visits to out patients. Other nurses work for private corporations or for public health or non-profit organizations.
The aforementioned nurses haven't all gone through the same cookie-cutter educational or training regimen. Some started as nursing assistants, and have worked their way up through extended learning and specialized training programs. Others have received a degree in nursing from an accredited university. A professional nurse will display a mix of education and experience, coupled with an ability to relate to and provide needed help to their patients. What then are the major types of nurses we are apt to come into contact with?
The Registered Nurse (RN) - Of the different types of nurses practicing today, the Registered Nurse (RN) is the greatest in number. If you spend any time in a hospital and are unfortunate to have to spend some of that time in an Emergency Room, Intensive Care, Cardiac Care, Surgery or, following surgery, spend some a few hours in Recovery, the chances are very good that the nurses who are there to help you are Registered Nurses. Most of these nurses will have graduated with either a Bachelors degree or an Associate degree from an accredited Nursing school.
Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) And Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - Two types of nurses serve as their primary function assisting the RN. These are the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and the licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The CNA does not require a degree or diploma, but normally receives a certificate after completing a nursing program of the type often offered by a community college, followed by a period of on the job training. The CNA will be found in assisted living facilities and nursing homes, and quite often will be the nurse who will visit patients in their homes, taking vital signs and checking on the general condition of the patient. When something is out of the ordinary and requires the attention of someone with greater skills, the CNA will notify the RN.
The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) will undergo a longer period of formal training than the CNA, though not as much as what a RN requires. LPNs are very often found in the medical laboratories, working as assistants, and performing a number of different laboratory tests. A LPN is often located in a clinic or assisting in a doctor's office, and sometimes will directly supervise one or more CNAs. In some areas of the country, LPNs are called Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN). In hospitals, the LPN very often is assigned the duties of basic bedside care.
The Nurse Practitioner (NP) - A RN may take additional training and further course work with the goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP). A Nurse Practitioner, who normally requires a master's degree in nursing, differs in his or her duties from most other types or nursing in that the NP will often taken on responsibilities normally assigned to physicians. Though it may vary with state law, many PNs can write prescriptions, diagnose illnesses, conduct physical examinations, and treat injuries. The NP will often work in a doctor's office, taking on some of the duties of the doctor, and very often will be found working in hospices, nursing homes, and community clinics. (continued...)