Being a registered nurse means you can pick from a lot of career options and breaks, and even more job opportunities. But chances are, you might get knocked out by the number of choices that will come your way. Every decision made can be costly so every action would mean thorough self-deliberation. Thankfully, there are already wise career moves that can be set as examples for you.
In every nursing job, work experience is the major stepping stone towards broader career horizon and fatter pay check. Hence, nurses who made it earlier generally earn more than their late newer counterparts. They also get to be on the higher steps of the ladder of responsibilities, which extends beyond the common duties a registered nurse such as caring for patients, face to face. However, each single step upwards on the career ladder takes years to happen. If you are a nurse who can t wait, this is simply not the option to take.
Getting certified on a special area in nursing is one of the most effective way for a registered nurse to climb the career ladder fast. Among others, specialization can be on neonatal care, care for patients with kidney problems, or being a surgical nurse. But considering that there are so many areas to choose from, you can trim down the choice list by first identifying the area skills that you want honed, the type of working environment you prefer to be in, and the kind of medical conditions and patient groups you want to be faced with. Also an alternative is the research, consulting and public health education areas. A registered nurse can have specialization whether in working in a hospital, employment sector, or in other health care facilities. On a diseases basis, specialization can be on addiction, diabetes or AIDS and by patient groups it can be on neonatal care, paediatric care or geriatrics care.
But how does an RN obtain a specialization? Generally, special area certifications are awarded by a board to those registered nurses who pass their exams and have completed the necessary education and training requirements. Such requirement vary with the area of specialization (dermatology certification needs at least 20000 practicum hours. Sometimes, the specialization will not need further education such as a BSN (Bachelor of Nursing) degree but in most cases, being an RN would suffice.
On the other hand, there are RN to BSN continuing education programs that exist for registered nurses who wants to jump up on the nursing ladder. A BSN degree generally takes four (4) years to complete but if you are already an RN, it will take only a year or two. RN to BSN programs are very advantageous to registered nurses because they would mean having both education and work experience at the same time, and a lot more opportunities to come such as administrative positions. Aside from that, it would mean that you are getting both experience and education at the same time. Furthermore, it s healthy to the pockets as a BSN can earn as much as $ 70000 (compared to $ 50000 of an RN), on average. Finding an RN to BSN program is easy as there many online and brick and mortar schools everywhere. Just do an online search about them so you can come up with an initial idea.
Indeed, there are countless of opportunities awaiting a registered nurse that you wouldn t even need to seek one out. The only thing left to do is just pick out the best ones, and indulge.
