FAQs

FAQs from the Nursing School Hub answer frequently asked questions about nursing school and the nursing profession. The decision to study nursing gets you into a career path with a high demand for jobs. The challenge is recognizing the branches of nursing and obtaining the level of specialization you need to focus on your personal interests. It brings up a simple question. What are the different types and levels of nursing? By learning about the different options available for your career, you can obtain the right type of certification and training to accomplish your goals.


What Are the Most In-Demand Nursing Certifications?

The highest level of nursing is a specialized nurse doctorate; however, you do not need to go as far as a doctorate-level education to start your career or gain specialized skills. Specialist nurses can start working in their field with certification and appropriate training. Generally, you will need to obtain your license to practice before you obtain specialized skills in your field.

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Genetics nursing is a specialized field of nursing that focuses on specialized training in genetics. Your training gives you advanced knowledge of the role genetics play in medical treatment and medical conditions. In particular, genetic nurses analyze risks to a patient based on their family history and genetics to provide specialized counsel and advice to obtain and maintain the best health.

When it comes to the different types of nurses and descriptions that are in high demand, a nurse-midwife certification is a good choice for your career. The role of a nurse-midwife focuses on providing care to female patients who are planning to have a baby or who are already pregnant. They may assist with questions about fertility and family planning as well as prenatal and postnatal care. A nurse-midwife will also deliver a baby and provide appropriate care to the child and mother during and after birth. While current nurse midwives may have an MSN, the national standard is shifting to a DNP.

Nursing specialties in demand also focus on anesthesia. A certified nurse anesthetist administers anesthesia to patients under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. The specialized skills mean a nurse works directly with surgeons and dentists to ensure that patients remain comfortable during a procedure. The demand for certified registered nurse anesthetists is growing, particularly in rural environments. In a rural location, a CRNA may be the only professional administering anesthesia to patients.

Informatics is also a growing area of specialization within nursing that focuses on the point where technology and nursing intersect. Specialist nurses who focus on technology and informatics advise hospitals and companies that develop new technology for medical care about the way a tool may help patients. They also identify the uses of new technology for patient care to ensure that medical facilities are providing the best care available with modern technology. In some cases, they may work on networks within a hospital to ensure that technological tools continue to run effectively over time.

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How Do I become a Nurse Anesthetist?
How do I become a Nurse Practitioner?
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What Does a Nurse Paralegal Do?
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What is Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN)?
What is Gerontology Nursing?
What is Holistic Nursing?
What is Nursing Informatics?
What is Orthopedic Nursing?
What is Ostomy Nursing?
What is Perioperative Nursing?
What is Travel Nursing?
What is Triage Nursing?
What is Case Management Nursing?


How Do You Become a Nurse?

When you want to know how to become a nurse, it begins with your education. How long does it take to become a nurse? That depends on your area of specialization, your goals, and your state laws. In some states, you need an associate’s degree to qualify for the NCLEX exams and obtain a license. Other states may require a bachelor’s degree before you qualify for the exam and are able to start working as a nurse.

The steps to becoming a nurse after high school depend on your state, so you will want to look into the details regarding your state laws to determine if you need an associates degree or a bachelor’s degree. As a general rule, an associate’s degree will take around two years to complete and a bachelor’s degree will take around four years to complete. You do need to complete the degree from an accredited school to ensure that you qualify for the NCLEX exams and can obtain your license. If you want to learn how to become an RN fast, you should focus on accelerated programs. An accelerated nursing program may allow you to complete your associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree at a faster pace.

What qualifications do you need to become a nurse after you finish a degree? The first qualification is that you must pass the NCLEX exam. In some states, you may be given a temporary license to practice nursing under the supervision of a nurse while you wait for the results of the exam, but most states will not allow you to practice as a nurse until you pass the exam and receive your license.

A license is issued after you apply for the license and pass the NCLEX exam. You need to apply for your license with your state’s board of nursing or the board of nursing where you plan to practice. If you are not sure about the state where you want to work, then you can apply for your license with the Nurse Licensure Compact. The Nurse Licensure Compact applies in 29 states, and 10 states have either proposed legislation to allow the NLC to apply in their state, or have passed legislation that is still pending. If you plan to work in a state that is not part of the NLC, then you will need to obtain a license in that state through the board of nursing.

The process to obtain a license differs for each state. In most cases, you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam and fill out the application for your license. In most cases, the state will run a criminal background check on you before you qualify for your license. Some states may also ask for your biometric data, or your fingerprints, before issuing your license. If you decide to obtain your license through the NLC, then you will need a criminal background check as part of the process.

Do not leave any information out on your application for your license. You may be denied a license if you leave out information or give falsified data on your application. If you are unsure about a question, then you will want to contact your state’s board of nursing to clarify the details.

The final step of becoming a nurse is obtaining employment. You are qualified to work as soon as you receive your license; however, some states may issue a temporary license while you wait for the results of your exam. Keep in mind that your license will be denied if you fail the exam.

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Do I Need A Degree To Be A Nurse?
Do I have to Complete an Internship to be a Nurse?
How Do I Become a Nurse?
How do I become a Registered Nurse (RN)
How Do I Get a Nursing Scholarship?
How long do I have to go to school to be a nurse?
Is There Financial Aid Available to Nursing Students?
Is an Affordable Online BSN a Good Investment?
Is it hard to get into nursing school?
What is Nursing?
Why Is Psychology Important for Nursing?


How Much Do Nurses Make?

When it comes to nursing salary information, you can expect a wide array of results. Nurse salary details depend on your level of education, your specialized skills, and your experience. Your location may also impact your salary.

When it comes to the average nursing degree salary, you can expect around $70,000 per year across the nation. When you ask what do nurses make, you do want to consider the state where the nurse lives and works. While the national average for registered nurses across the United States is around $70,000 per year, the salary range for different states is between roughly $55,000 and $102,000 per year. In most states, you can expect to earn around $65,000 to $75,000 per year as a nurse with a few years of experience. Keep in mind that starting salaries are lower than the average salary in most states.

Your level of education also impacts your salary expectations. The salary of a nurse practitioner is higher than the average salary for a registered nurse because of the higher level of education. The average nurse practitioner salary is around $103,000 per year across the United States. The salary range for a nurse practitioner is around $93,000 to $125,000 per year.

If you are looking at different levels of nursing and salaries, then you will notice that specialized skills increase your salary potential. A certified nurse anesthetist, or CRNA, earns an average income of roughly $157,000 per year. The salary range for CRNAs in different locations is between roughly $105,000 to $242,000 per year. The specialized skills and high level of education to qualify for the role results in high demand for nurse anesthetists.

A certified nurse-midwife is another specialized area of nursing with a high salary potential. The average income for nurse-midwives across the United States is roughly $107,000 per year. The salary range for a nurse-midwife is between roughly $99,000 and $122,000 per year. Since the career requires specialized certification and training, it allows a nurse-midwife to earn more on an annual basis.

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How is the Job Market in Nursing?

The job market in nursing is positive due to the current shortage of nurses and the growing demand for skilled professionals in the field of nursing and medicine. While the exact details depend on the specific career goals of a nurse, the nursing job outlook described by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is positive. Nursing as a field is expected to grow by 15%. The job market for nurses is showing a positive trend; however, part of the opportunity stems from the shortage of nurses throughout the United States.

The nursing shortage stems from the aging population and the growing population. As more Baby Boomers decide to retire from their jobs as a nurse, younger nurses will have more opportunities to start their careers and advance in their jobs. The problem is that the aging population also means there is a growing demand for professionals to offer care to those older individuals. Geriatric care is a fast-growing field due to shortages in the number of nurses available to provide care.

Even though there is expected growth due to the aging population, there are also opportunities in other areas of nursing due to the growing population. The United States has a large population and it continues to grow through immigration and new births. Midwives, anesthetists, and nurse practitioners are in demand due to the limited number of nurses with specialized skills. The job outlook for nurse anesthetist professionals is around 31%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 31% job outlook also applies to nurse practitioners and nurse midwives who have specialized training and certification.

Advancement opportunities for nurses are not limited to advanced degrees and positions. The nursing shortage also means that the LPN job outlook is growing. A licensed practical or vocational nurse has growth opportunities for his or her career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the LPN jobs are expected to grow at a rate of 12%. That is higher than the average for jobs across the United States and it means there are many opportunities to start working in nursing with a lower level of education while students work on more advanced degree programs.

The job outlook for nurses is positive at every level of education and skills. As more nurses retire, new vacancies become available for young nurses to start their careers. The high rate of older adults and the growing population also impact potential opportunities in nursing and provide a chance for nurses to build a long-term career based on their goals and interests.

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How Do I Make Sure I Will Be Able To Find A Job After I Complete Nursing School?
Will there be jobs available when I finish my nursing degree?


How Do You Get a Job in Nursing?

The high demand for nurses across the country means new graduates can find opportunities for their goals. While the impact of the nursing shortage differs for each state and city, new grads will find that there are numerous positions available.

The best nursing jobs for new grads depend on your long-term goals. If you are planning to focus on getting better jobs over time, then you may need to put time into continuing education and certifications. The challenge is determining when to apply for nursing jobs before graduation and obtaining a job when you do not have any experience as a nurse. Getting your foot in the door is the foundation of starting your career.

When you’re looking at how to get a nursing job with no experience, the first step is ensuring that you apply to the right jobs. Pay attention to the standards set in the job board for the position. Make sure you are qualified for the job before you apply. Keep in mind that some positions may require experience, so you want to check the requirements before applying for a position.

Focus your attention on jobs that are designed for entry-level nurses. A simple solution when you are still in college is focusing on an internship at a hospital or medical facility. An internship gives you two primary benefits: it helps you build up a network and it gives you experience before you finish your degree. Depending on the type of internship, you may be able to start working while you are still in college. For example, working under a hospital administrator may not require a nursing degree for your internship, but it still allows you to gain an idea of the processes involved in nursing. You can meet nurses, administrators, and other staff members who may help you keep up with openings and options when you obtain your license.

If internships are not available, then you may want to apply for a position before you graduate. It takes a few weeks or months to go through the interview process. While the process may become more involved as you gain experience and improve your qualifications through continuing education and certifications, it will still take time before you are hired as a new employee. Cut back on the time between graduating and working by applying when you plan to take the NCLEX exam. In some states, you are qualified to work under a nurse or medical doctor with a temporary license when you have taken the exam and are waiting for your results. You can also inform a potential employer of your graduation date and line up a job after you graduate.

If you’re looking into how to get a nursing job in a hospital, then you want to keep in mind that hospitals are fast-paced environments. You may need to be patient when applying for a new job because it takes time to get through the resumes and applications. You can cut back on the time required for hiring by making connections with appropriate staff members in the hospital. An internship is a good way to make connections; however, it may not be an option in all hospitals. You can also take advantage of professional events and conferences. Go to an event and network with professionals in different medical facilities. Talk to doctors, hospital administrators, and other professionals at the event. Keep a few copies of your resume with you at the event. If a professional asks for your resume, then give them a copy. Hospital administrators may ask for your resume at an event if they are hiring and looking for new nurses.

When it comes to how to get a nursing job fast, the process focuses on building up your connections and talking to hospital staff about available options. You will also want to apply for positions through job boards and official postings on a medical facility’s website. Going through an internship that has placement options after you complete the program may also speed up the process of getting a job. Nursing is a growing industry, but you want to focus on jobs that build up your career and help you reach your long-term goals. By focusing on a specific role and then catering your education to fit your goals, you can move forward with your career plans.

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All FAQs:

Are There Online Degrees Available For Nursing?
Are there any nursing jobs in the military?
Can I Make More Money with an Online RN to BSN?
Do I Need A Degree To Be A Nurse?
Do I have to Complete an Internship to be a Nurse?
How Do I Become a Certified Nurse Midwife?
How Do I Become a Forensic Nurse?
How Do I Become a Nurse Paralegal?
How Do I Become a Nurse?
How Do I Become…
How Do I Get a Nursing Scholarship?
How Do I Make Sure I Will Be Able To Find A Job After I Complete Nursing School?
How do I become a Nurse Anesthetist?
How do I become a Nurse Practitioner?
How do I become a Pediatric Nurse?
How do I become a Registered Nurse (RN)
How long do I have to go to school to be a nurse?
Is Nurse Anesthetist a Good Career Choice?
Is There Financial Aid Available to Nursing Students?
Is an Affordable Online BSN a Good Investment?
Is it hard to get into nursing school?
What Can I Do With an MSN?
What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Nursing?
What Does A Nurse Paralegal Do?
What Does a Nurse Researcher Do?
What Is A Nurse Paralegal?
What are the best nursing jobs for military veterans?
What are the top nursing jobs?
What does an Ebola Epidemic mean to Nurses?
What is Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN)?
What is Gerontology Nursing?
What is Holistic Nursing?
What is Nursing Informatics?
What is Nursing?
What is Orthopedic Nursing?
What is Ostomy Nursing?
What is Perioperative Nursing?
What is Travel Nursing?
What is Triage Nursing?
What is a Case Management Nurse?
What is the average salary for nurses?
Why Is Psychology Important for Nursing?
Will there be jobs available when I finish my nursing degree?

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