Right now, there is a global shortage of nurses. Countries all over the world are trying to educate and hire more nurses. This includes Ireland.

Nursing is reaching an all-time high in an era of quickening medical advancements and improved healthcare. And, if you’re reading this, we’re thinking that you’re interested in the profession, too.

There are plenty of degrees for nurses to choose from. And, they all build on one another. We’re going to go through each nursing degree level of the nursing ladder and discuss some of the things that you should note about the program.

Plus, we’ll include information about each position’s projected salary.

Let’s get started so you can learn how to become a nurse.

1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

The first rung of the nursing ladder is the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). These professionals are similar to nursing aides and orderlies.

CNAs help other medical professionals care for patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

To become a CNA, you must complete the program within your state/country. And, you have to pass the proficiency test.

We recommend getting trained in the state/country that you’re planning to work in. The certification process may vary from place to place.

Overall, it may take a while to learn how to become a nurse. CNAs train for 75 to 150 hours before becoming certified. And, they make €11.90 per hour on average.

2. Medical Assistant (MA)

Medical Assistants (MAs) help all kinds of medical professionals: physicians, chiropractors, nurses, and more. They complete administrative and clinical duties as needed for hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.

Some people don’t consider MAs to be a part of the nursing career, but their responsibilities are similar to that of other nurses. So, we’re listing this profession here to accommodate for those similarities.

To become an MA, you have to complete a postsecondary certificate program. This usually takes about nine months to one year to complete.

MAs have a projected salary of about €13.00 to €20.00 per hour on average.

3. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

Both Licenses Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) are popular nursing jobs. They care for patients, administer medications, and more.

LPNs and LVNs practice nursing under the supervision of Registered Nurses (RNs) and physicians.

To become an LPN or an LVN, you have to complete the educational program laid out by your state/country. And, you have to earn a nursing license. In total, this will take you around a year to complete.

LPNs and LVNs make an average of €16.00 to €24.00 per hour.

4. Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered Nurses (RNs) provide a wider range of healthcare services than lower-level nurses. They help coordinate patient care, educate their patients, provide emotional support, and more. Thus, they have training in these kinds of subjects.

RNs can become licensed after completing an Associates Degree of Science in Nursing (ASN) or a Bachelors Degree of Science in Nursing (BSN). Most ASN programs take two years to complete while most BSN programs take four years to complete.

Either way, professionals who work in these nursing jobs make about €30,000 to €52,000 per year.

5. Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are more specialized RNs. They can order tests, consult other medical professionals, diagnose illnesses, treat illnesses, prescribe medication, and more. They are also trained to promote healthy living and disease prevention.

Nurse Practitioners have to have a license for the state/country that they’re practicing in. And, they have to hold at least a Masters Degree of Science in Nursing (MSN). Along with their BSN, this may take a total of six to eight years to complete.

After their training and certification, Nurse Practitioners make around €29.00 to €49.00 per hour.

6. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) used to be the top rung of the nursing ladder until the DNP and Ph.D. were introduced in the early 2000s. APRNs are even more specialized than RNs and NPs.

APRNs can become Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurses Practitioners, and more. When someone gets to the APRN level, they get to choose the kind of nursing they want to go into and the specialization they want to study.

This is where nurses split off into clinical practitioners, administrative staff, nurse leaders, and other branches. The path that you take will influence the kind of training you need and the amount of time that that training will take.

Overall, APRNs have to hold a national certification for their position. And, they need to have a license for the state/country that they’re practicing in. Plus, they need to hold an MSN in one of the APRN specialties.

All in all, an APRN’s combined training could take six to eight years. And, once they’re working, they’re projected to make about €59,151.

7. Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.)

Now, we’ve made it to the highest existing nursing degrees in the nursing field: the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) and the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.). Once you reach this level of nursing degree, you need to decide which path you want to take.

But, in order for you to do that, you need to know what the differences are between the DNP and the Ph.D.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Nurses with a DNP degree are highly specialized and highly trained Nurse Practitioners. They provide advanced nursing care that other levels of nurses in other nursing careers cannot give.

The roles and responsibilities of DNPs lie clinically and academically:

  • They have enhanced knowledge to improve nursing practice and patient outcomes
  • They have advanced leadership skills
  • They increase the supply of available faculty for academic instruction
  • They have the knowledge needed for complex clinical roles

You may find DNPs working in clinical, research, leadership, or academic roles. Here are some of the responsibilities and roles of DNPs across these settings:

  • Use research to improve healthcare outcomes
  • Develop or update policies and procedures
  • Education patients and the public about healthcare
  • Invent new healthcare strategies
  • Order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests
  • Diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions
  • Record and examine medical history, diagnoses, and symptoms
  • Prescribe medications, including controlled substances
  • Manage patient care
  • Counsel patients and their family members
  • Educate patients on disease prevention and control
  • Monitor and operate medical equipment
  • Perform physical examinations
  • Observe patients
  • Collaborate with other healthcare professionals
  • Detect changes in patient’s health
  • Change patients’ treatment plans as needed

The list goes on and on. But, in some places, this breadth of knowledge allows DNPs to practice independently of physicians. So, they can care for patients on their own.

Becoming a DNP

Typically, DNP programs require 30-40 credit hours and 1,000 clinical hours. And, the amount of time depends on the degree that you’re coming from:

  • ASN to DNP: five to six years
  • BSN to DNP: three to four years
  • MSN to DNP: two years

Most DNP programs will require that you have your MSN already. And, you may need an APRN license, too. But, there are some programs that will make exceptions.

After all of this training, DNPs make an average of €101,860 per year.

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.)

A Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D. in Nursing) focuses more on research and academia than a DNP. In particular, these professionals focus on conducting research that will further the practice of nursing as a whole.

If you’re thinking about getting a Ph.D. in Nursing, you have to be focused on entering into research or teaching students.

Those who start a career in nursing research after their Ph.D. programs may have the following roles and responsibilities:

  • Identifying research questions
  • Designing research trials
  • Conducting scientific research
  • Collecting and analyzing scientific data
  • Publishing scientific reports to detail their findings
  • Writing proposals
  • Applying for grants to fund their research
  • Establishing and maintaining quality assurance throughout their research
  • Writing articles and research reports for publications
  • Presenting findings at conferences, meetings, and other engagements
  • Training and supervising other laboratory staff

On the other hand, those who become nurse educators after their Ph.D. programs may have these roles and responsibilities:

  • Plan, prepare, and revise curriculum and study materials for nursing courses
  • Deliver lectures to nursing students at undergraduate and graduate levels
  • Design curricula and develop programs of study
  • Evaluate student outcomes
  • Research and publish scholarly work
  • Join and participate in professional associations
  • Speak at conferences and other engagements
  • Write grant proposals
  • Writing and/or reviewing textbooks
  • Advising students on different nursing branches
  • Grading work in the class, lab, and clinical settings

Either branch is a great choice. And, you’ll get to do many things that lower-level nurses can’t.

Becoming a Ph.D.

The length of the Ph.D. program will depend on which degree you’re coming from:

  • BSN to Ph.D.: five to ten years
  • MSN to Ph.D.: three to seven years

And, the salary depends on your specialization. Nurse researchers make about €82,530 per year while nurse educators make an average of €68,785 per year.

Choose One of These Degrees for Nurses

Now that you know all there is to know about degrees for nurses, it’s time to choose the path that you want to take and start a career in nursing. And, when you’re done with training, we can help you find a job in nursing practice.

What are you waiting for? The nursing field is waiting for you!  Contact us today using the button below.

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