For centuries, the nursing profession has been an honorable and respected career choice for many individuals the world over. Simply mention the name Florence Nightingale and just about everyone knows who she was or, at the very least, what she chose for a career. Since those early days, the nursing field has expanded such that many different options exist when choosing a career path.
Different Types of Nursing
There are different levels of nursing in regard to education and duties. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), known by other names such as Nursing Assistant, Registered (NA/R) or Patient Care Assistant (PCA), assist patients with daily activities, such as bathing, grooming, or feeding.
Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) require further education than the CNA and are given more duties with higher responsibilities such as administering medication and/or injections, oversight of CNAs, and general bedside care. Accordingly, the pay scale for an LVN is greater than that of a CNA.
The next level of nursing is Registered Nursing (RN). RNs require an even greater level of education than LVN, adding greater earning potential and a wider variety of career paths to choose from. Research, ambulatory care, crisis care, consultation work, hospice, home health, and medical-surgical care are just a very few of the career options for Registered Nursing. RNs are patient advocates, managers, planners, and often a shoulder to lean on for the patient and/or the family. They are responsible for the assessment, planning, and implementation of patient care.
Registered Nurse Responsibilities
Registered Nurses generally oversee the duties and performance of the LPNs in a hospital, care facility, or clinical setting. They are also responsible for different aspects of patient care and work closely with doctors and other health care professionals to ensure the patient's needs are met. Although RNs are fully capable of performing the same duties as an LPN, RNs pass those duties on to LPNs so that they themselves can tend to the more specific needs of the patient. As a result of this, RNs are often the "liaison" between the health care world and the patient; explaining procedures, possible outcomes, problems or side-effects, options, and providing support.
SJVC's LVN to RN Program
No matter what specific career path is chosen, Registered Nursing can be a rewarding and satisfying profession. SJVC's Visalia campus offers a unique program for LVNs in California to take the classes required to pass Registered Nursing licensing. For more information on this exciting RN program, please
click here. We look forward to hearing from you.
Join Our Online Communities
San Joaquin Valley College: Career Training in Temecula, CA
