Are you interested in entering the health care field? Do you want to help people but are unsure what options you have as a nurse? If so, this article may be able to help you learn about some different nursing school programs available.

If you’re interested in becoming a nurse assistant, you may be interested in the Red Cross CNA class (Certified Nursing Assistant). Though you can get this certification through many nursing programs, the Red Cross offers a nationally recognized program.

The traditional entry-level position in nursing is considered to be the Certified Nursing Assistant. They are also known as a nurse’s aide because they take their orders directly from more highly trained nurses. To become a CNA, college is not required. There are vocational programs available that generally only take a few weeks to fully complete. After your educational courses and practical training are complete, you can become certified in your state and begin work. The CNA, however, has limited responsibility. You will find yourself feeding and bathing patients, checking vital signs, and performing other non-invasive tasks.

The next step up from a CNA is the Licensed Practical Nurse. The LPN are the foot soldiers of the nursing world. They supervise CNA’s and take their instructions from an RN. You would be responsible for patient charts, medicating patients, assisting other nurses, injections, and more. To be an LPN, you must obtain an associate’s degree in nursing, but this can be completed in one to two years. At the end of your courses, you will have to pass the NCLEX-PN exam. Only then can you become licensed and being work.

A Registered Nurse or RN can provide all the care of the CNA, LPN, plus have added responsibilities in patient care and surgery and take their orders directly from physicians. This type of nurse will oversee the LPNs and CNAs. To be an RN, the minimum requirement is an associate’s degree in nursing. A four-year bachelor’s degree, though, is more widely preferred. No matter which educational approach you take to becoming an RN, you will still have to take and pass the NCLEX-RN before licensed and able to work.

If you are already an LPN or RN, universities offer you options to continue your education. There is a program called RN to BSN, which provides a registered nurse with only an associate’s degree to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The same exists for an LPN but is slightly different. If you still want to take your education farther, you can climb all the way up to a PhD with hard work and ambition.

There are many options, including the Red Cross CNA class, if you want to be come a nurse. These are just a few of the nursing school programs but are the most popular. The health care world always needs more caring nurses, so get started in one of these careers today!