Required Education for Nurses

Nurses care for a variety of patients in a variety of settings. They may work in hospitals, doctors' offices, clinics, free standing urgent care centers, ambulatory surgery centers, residential treatment facilities, mental health or substance abuse treatment centers, elementary or secondary schools, colleges, home health care agencies or hospices. They provide direct care to patients, assist physicians with examinations and treatments, administer medications, educate patients and families and provide emotional support to patients. In some settings, they supervise certified nursing assistants or home health aides, as well.

Licensed Practical Nurse

To become a licensed practical nurse, you need to complete a diploma program that takes about one year. You'll learn about anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic pathology, body mechanics, pharmacology, the normal aging process, medical ethics and how to perform basic nursing procedures. In addition to classroom learning, you'll get hands-on experience caring for real patients in a clinical setting.

Registered Nurse

To become a registered nurse, you need either a two year degree or a four year degree in nursing. While registered nurses with two year degrees and those with four year degrees often work in similar jobs, those with four year degrees may have more job opportunities and more room for advancement. They may also earn greater salaries. When earning your degree, you'll study anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, pathology, body mechanics, pharmacology, the normal aging process, nutrition, psychology, medical ethics and how to perform both basic and more complex nursing procedures. You'll also get hands-on experience in clinical settings.

Advanced Practice Nurse

To become an advanced practice nurse, you need a graduate degree in nursing. Advanced practice nurses usually specialize in a particular area of nursing care. For instance, you could become a family practice nurse practitioner, a mental health clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse midwife or a certified registered nurse anesthetist. When earning your degree, you'll get an in-depth education in your chosen area of specialization.

Continuing Education

All nurses must become licensed by the states in which they practice nursing and in order to maintain their licenses, they must get continuing education every licensing period. That way they keep up to date on the latest developments in their fields and keep their skills current. The amount of continuing education required varies slightly from state to state. In the state of Iowa, for example, nurses must earn 36 hours of continuing education every three years. You can choose from a wide range of subject areas when earning continuing education hours.

Sources:

Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos102.htm . Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses.

Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm . Registered Nurses.

All Nursing Schools. http://www.allnursingschools.com/faqs/apn . Advanced Practice Nursing.

Iowa Board of Nursing. http://www.iowa.gov/nursing/continuing_ed/basic_requirement.html . Continuing Education Basic Requirements.