Following is three of the most common nursing career paths to consider.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) complete a certificate program. CNAs do not need to be licensed to practice like some other nursing professionals. However, they must obtain certifications to prove competency.
Some of the tasks CNAs can perform include:
- Bathing and grooming patients
- Changing bed linens and cleaning patient rooms
- Checking vital signs
- Documenting patient information
- Moving or transporting patients
CNAs can work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Salary: $35,000 to $42,000 per year, depending on state.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), complete diplomas or associate’s degrees (depending on school and state of practice) and must pass the NCLEX exam to practice. Some of the tasks LPNs can perform include:
- Changing bandages
- Checking vitals
- Inserting catheters
- Providing basic patient care
- Placing IVs
- Administering medicine
- Obtaining lab specimens
Salary: $42,000 to $58,000, depending on state.
Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered Nurses (RNs) must complete a diploma program or earn either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing. RNs must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to practice. Some nurses start as CNAs or LPNs and work toward their RN licensure to advance their careers.
RNs have more responsibilities, including:
- Administering medications
- Assisting with medical procedures
- Drawing blood and other samples for lab testing
- Creating care plans for patients as part of a healthcare team
- Educating patients and caregivers on treatment plans
- Supervising LPNs/LVNs, CNAs, and nursing students
Salary: $60,000 to $100,000+, depending on state. Mean salary is $78,000.
Master’s in Nursing (MSN)
Some nursing specialties or management roles require additional training and education. Earning your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) allows you to advance your nursing career and expand your scope of practice. Here are three common MSN specialties:
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse who is educated at the master’s level or higher, and represents a step up in responsibilities and autonomy compared to registered nurses. NPs provide an advanced level of care that includes health promotion, health prevention, wellness and disease management, as well as diagnosis and treating acute, chronic, and episodic illnesses.
The average salary for nurse practitioners is $120,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.*
You cannot practice as a nurse practitioner without a degree - you will need to earn an MSN to become a nurse practitioner of any kind.
Nurse Educator (NE)
Nurse educators are essential for ensuring that the RN workforce can meet the healthcare needs of current and future generations. As registered nurses return to school and new students seek entry to ASN or BSN programs, colleges and universities are under increased pressure to find qualified faculty to educate and train future nurses.
Nurse educators also serve an important role within the hospital system. Their depth of knowledge and experience in the field means that they understand how to convey critical and lifesaving information to other nurses and can help improve processes to mitigate risks to the patient, nurse and hospital. An MSN-NE degree can prepare you for educator roles in both academic and clinical settings.
Mean salary: $123,000 per year
Nurse Leadership and Administration
Healthcare organizations need experienced nursing leaders to help them navigate changes in technology and the healthcare landscape. An MSN in Nurse Leadership can help you advance to a variety of management roles, from overseeing a nursing unit to leading the entire nursing department. Possible job titles in nursing administration include Chief Nursing Officer, Director of Nursing, or Healthcare Manager. Learn more about how to become a nursing administrator and what it takes to reach the upper levels of the nursing profession.
Employment for health services managers and executives is expected to grow by 28 percent from 2021 to 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS data also shows that medical and health services managers earn an average annual wage of $119,840 per year ($57.61 per hour). Discover the average salary for nurse administrators and clinical healthcare managers across the U.S.
Post-master’s nursing certificates (PMC)
Master’s level certificates allow working nurses to build on their graduate education with more specialized knowledge and experience.
For example, a Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate prepares APRNs to become board-certified family nurse practitioners. A Post-Master’s Nursing Educator Certificate allows individuals with an MSN to become certified for educator roles.
Mean salary: $130,000 per year