How Are Nurses Trained In The US?

Nurse Training In The US

Nursing is one of the most in demand vocations worldwide. The number of registered and practicing nurses in the United States is at present not enough to cater to the needs of hospitals and communities. Currently, there are only 2,927,000 nurses available to address the health issues in the country.

Compared to the total population of the US, only 98 nurses are available for every 10,000 individuals. The American Nursing Association stated that around one-third of the current nursing force will be old enough to retire 10 to 15 years from now. (1)

The increasing population and lack of nurses have now made the demand for them as high as ever. This opens a great opportunity for people who are still looking for something to be passionate about. Nursing is more than just a high paying job; it is one of the most important driving forces of the human race.

Requirements To Enter Nursing

Unbeknownst to many, nurses are actually divided into various types, specializations, and rankings. However, each and every one of them is required to undergo rigorous training. Some of them are also obliged to get certified by various organizations

Listed below are the required certifications and training necessary for some of the common types of nurse:

Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurses

1. Diploma in Practical Nursing– A degree in practical nursing often takes between 2 to 4 years.
2. Pass the NCLEX-PN– the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses is administered by each states’ board of nursing. It is done to ascertain whether an individual is prepared enough to practice vocational nursing

Registered Nurses (2)

1. Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing– before taking the NCLEX-RN an individual must first finish at least an associate degree in nursing. However, many states and institutions prefer people that graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing
2. Pass the NCLEX-RN-the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses is annually administered by various states. It is often harder to pass than the NCLEX-PN.

Nurse Practitioners (3)

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing– before earning a master’s degree, an individual must first be a certified graduate of a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
2. Master of Science in Nursing– a master’s degree is a specialized type of education which usually takes two years.
3. Doctor of Nursing– a doctorate degree is optional for a nurse practitioner. However, obtaining one makes it easier to get a job in most hospitals.
4. Sufficient Experience- some schools require nurses to have a few years experience first before being allowed to take a graduate degree in nursing
5. NCLEX-RN-this is necessary before a person can take the Nurse Practitioner Licensure Exam.

Academic Training for Nurses

The minimum educational attainment required for someone to become a nurse is an Associate degree. However, furthering one’s educational background can open up opportunities not available to those who did not. Taking up a higher degree will make you a more in demand commodity in the market, thus increasing your leverage to ask for higher pay.

Here are the different levels of academic training nurses can get:

Associate’s Degree in Nursing

An associate’s degree in nursing usually takes 2-3 years to complete. The length of time may vary depending on which state one belongs to, and on which university one applies to. Obtaining an associate’s degree is sufficient enough for one to take up the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) or National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

A bachelor in nursing teaches students the principles and sciences of nursing. Most universities offer a 4-year course in BS Nursing. However, there are also some schools that offer accelerated courses which may only take 3 years to complete.

Getting a bachelor in nursing is a necessary prerequisite before one can take up a higher master’s degree in nursing. It is also the preferred, though not required, educational attainment for Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses.

Master of Science in Nursing

A MS in Nursing is an advanced post-graduate degree that registered nurses may take if they wish to become a Nurse Practitioner. They may also earn this degree for them to advance their position in the institution they work in.

A master’s degree typically takes 2 to 3 years. Some universities require students to first earn a few years of work experience before they take the master’s degree.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

“The knowledge required to provide leadership in the discipline of nursing is so complex and rapidly changing that additional or doctoral level education is needed.”

–The American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Having a doctorate is the highest educational attainment a nursing practitioner can have. According to the AACN, some of the advantages of getting a doctorate include: (4)

• expansion of knowledge and training to tackle increasingly complex faculty, clinical and leadership roles
• the ability to contribute to the growth of the nursing profession
• improved leadership skills to strengthen health care services
• to be in parity with other health professions that require a doctorate for practice

Becoming a nurse is not an easy path. It requires determination and hard work to go through all the education requirements, training, and certifications necessary to become a full pledged nurse. Contact your local university to know their policies when it comes to earning an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing.

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