LPN to RN

What are the Career Opportunities for Registered Nurses Compared to LPNs? (RN - Registered Nurses)

Individuals holding a license as a registered nurse cover a wide spectrum of job titles in healthcare. Since the career of an RN can lead in many different directions, labeling an RN as a generalized career should be avoided. In order to understand the many aspects of RN careers, we will take a look at just a few of the specializations available to an RN. Careers in home health, intensive care, surgical, pediatrics, administration, ambulatory care, emergency medicine, and long term care are just a few options an RN may have available to them.

Nursing is one of the oldest professions in the world. Some of the first nurses were those that would help mothers attend to their children, often times by assisting with breast feeding (nursing). As these simple caregivers evolved and expanded their roles in providing care for the sick and injured, they began to create basic careers out of their desire to help others. By the 16th century, the term "Nurse" was synonymous with a woman that would tend to the sick and injured, and were considered to be healers among societies. By the late 1800's, a young woman named Florence Nightingale was beginning to prove to the world that woman would play a vital role in health care, and is now thought of as the founder of modern nursing. Today, nurses are thought of highly skilled individuals that work almost every aspect of healthcare, and in most cases, work alongside physicians as part of a team that administers quality medical care to patients. When one thinks of a nurse, they generally consider all nurses to be RNs, but that could not be further from the truth.

RNs can be found in every departmental niche within the healthcare system. As a student attends the required education to become a registered nurse, they must consider what aspect of nursing they will utilize their new skills and knowledge. Most specialization of nursing require additional educational curriculum or even just on the job training.

Nurses that desire to serve in legal capacities can become legal nurse consultants. Training in legal aspects of nursing and healthcare provide nurses with new career option. They may serve as consultants to attorneys, medical and legal research, and assisting insurance companies. Salaries for Legal Nurse Consultants range from $50 per hour to over $200 per hour. They are generally considered to be privately employed, but may serve as part of a legal team of experts.

Many nurses may choose to work with the elderly by providing care to geriatric patients. Although much of nursing revolves around caring for geriatric patients, RNs can choose to refine their knowledge by attending training that is specifically designed to give them advanced knowledge in caring for our nation's elderly population. Certificates in Geriatric Care Management are available online, and will prepare students for careers that earn salaries of over $50 per hour.

Administration positions can be opportunities for nurses that would like to work in the management and finance niche of the nursing industry. RNs with a BSN or MSN degree can find stable jobs in healthcare administration. Duties may include supervision of staff nurses and faculty, as well as financial planning for facilities, create and develop new patient care plans, and research and implement new strategies for safety and healthcare programs. Healthcare administrators will earn salaries in excess of $100,000 per year. Degrees in healthcare administration can be taken through distance education programs available at many different accredited colleges.

Emergency room nurses play a vital role in the care and treatment of patients that have suffered sudden trauma or illness. ER nurses not only provide quality patient care during emergency situations, they must also be skilled in virtually every other specialized aspect of nursing. Patients that require treatment in an emergency room may be pediatric, geriatrics, obstetrics, or have severe trauma injuries. While many emergency rooms hire RNs with only an associates degree, most prefer to hire nurses with a BSN degree or MSN degree. A study showed that at the beginning of 2007 the average salary in the USA for an emergency room nurse was $67,500.

Another specialized career in nursing may prepare nurses to work in intensive care units. ICU nurses work in intensive care units of hospitals and long term care facilities. Job duties include caring for critically ill patients under dire circumstances, overseeing the long term care of critically ill patients, administering medications, interpreting EKG rhythms and evaluating diagnostic reports, monitoring patients for sudden changes in status, record keeping, and communicating with physicians and surgeons regarding continued care for patients in the ICU. An ICU nurse must be well versed in emergency care, as well as long term care, and must be able to think quickly when the need arises, while making sound judgments on treatments under varying degrees of stress. Average salaries for an ICU nurse in the USA start around $60,000 per year, and can very depending on the size of facility. Educational background for ICU nurses covers several different degree levels, but advancement opportunities are generally given precedence to those with higher level degrees of training. RNs working in an ICU may hold ASN, BSN, or MSN degrees, while others may be specialized in administration.

Occupational health nurses (OHNs) specialize in providing health care and safety protocols in the workplace. They primarily focus on safety and prevention of illness or environmental injuries of employees while at work. Occupational health nurses are also responsible for staying current with OSHA and other governing agencies policies and safety protocols. The OHN uses the information from the research they acquire to plan and implement new standards in their workplace environments and to teach employees of the facility how to adequately complete their duties while maintaining secure and safe work practices. Though the educational requirements for an OHN state that they must complete only an accredited registered nurse program, it usually necessary for the individual to have at least a BSN degree or higher. RNs that wish to advance into occupational health are also strongly encouraged to obtain a certification in occupational and environmental nursing. Students may obtain their certification through after having at least 4,000 working hours and completing a 50 hour ceu course. On average, an OHN will see starting salaries around $25-$28 per hour, along with competitive benefit packages.