Nursing Certificate Programs

Nursing is one of the fastest growing fields in today's job market. With the current shortage of trained nurses, there is no better time to acquire the skills and education necessary to enter the healthcare field.

Acquiring a specialty as a nurse can help augment your skills and make you a more competitive candidate for certain nursing positions. For nurses who are already established in the field, returning to school for a nursing certification can help qualified professionals invest in new skills and advance in the field.

Levels of Nursing Education

To become a nurse, there are several levels of education possible, each one providing you with a more advanced set of skills.

It's up to you to decide how far you wish to take your education and what kind of specialty you'd like to pursue. Below we'll survey a range of possible positions in the nursing field, along with the level of education they each require.

Nurse Assistant or Nurse's Aide

Many students enrolled in general coursework for a nursing program also opt to take part-time work as a nurse assistant or nurse's aide. This is the low end of nursing and does not pay particularly well, but the experience can aid you in acquiring more advanced positions after completing your degree.

Licensed Practical Nurse or Vocational Nurse

The next step in career advancement is to become an LPN/LVN (Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse). This usually takes one year of coursework from a vocational school or junior college. There are now transformational programs specifically designed to take you from an LPN to RN or LPN to BSN, granting you credit for your prior work. For those looking to break into the nursing field, becoming an LPN or an LVN is a good option.

Registered Nurse

The most job opportunities are available to nurses who have completed the education necessary to become an RN (Registered Nurse). You can do this by obtaining either an ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing), which typically takes two years, or a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), which will require four years of education. There are also master's degree programs for nurses, and doctoral programs offered in several states.

After you complete your degree, there is a comprehensive nursing test, called the NCLEX examination, which you must pass to become an RN and get licensed. This will give you entrance to hospitals and healthcare facilities as a professional registered nurse.

Certification: Continuing Education for Nurses

Certification in an area of specialty within nursing can be earned after an RN has acquired practical experience in the nursing field. Those who are certified are highly valued for their specialized knowledge and typically earn higher salaries.

Types of Nursing Certifications

Nursing certifications can be earned in many areas of specialty; more than 200 different areas of certification exist. Here are a few examples of specialty areas in which a nurse can become certified:

• anesthesia
• emergency nursing
• gastroenterology
• hospice and palliative care
• neurosciences
• occupational health
• oncology
• rehabilitation
• school nursing
• wound, ostomy, continence

If you'd like to earn a higher salary, certification is a good way to advance your earning potential. Employers recognize the value of highly educated nurses and reward certified nurses accordingly. In fact, studies show that there are fewer nursing errors by certified nurses and a higher rate of patient satisfaction, so it pays to put in the extra time to get certified.

Although RNs are not required to be certified in any one area, some healthcare facilities may require a specialty certification for nurses to obtain supervisor roles or fill certain positions.

Preparing for a Nursing Certification Exam

To prepare for your specific certification exam, there are several organizations that will provide study guides and help along the way, such as the Health Leadership Associates. These courses vary in cost, so check out the various options. There are review courses, review books and certification study question books to help you prepare for your exam.

Nursing Certification Boards

Different boards provide certification for various specialties within nursing, just as there are different boards for physicians. Here are some of the boards that oversee the nursing field:

• Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
• American Association of Critical Care Nurses
• American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc.
• Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses
• Emergency Nurses Association
• Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
• National Board for the Certification of School Nurses.

These groups set the standards for nursing certifications and hold nurses accountable for their practice.

Advancing Your Nursing Career

If you want to launch a nursing career, there are many different routes you can take. Depending on your financial situation, your energy level and your goals, you can choose to enter the field as a nurse's assistant or an RN upon completion of necessary certification. The nursing profession is undergoing dramatic changes and nurses are now very much in demand. So, check out your local schools for courses and certification programs and start making your plans for an exciting career as a nurse.