{"id":8402,"date":"2024-07-15T14:00:05","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T14:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/?p=8402"},"modified":"2024-10-21T17:39:20","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T17:39:20","slug":"5-levels-of-nursing-practice-roles-and-degrees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/healthcare-education\/5-levels-of-nursing-practice-roles-and-degrees\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Levels of Nursing Practice: Roles and Degrees"},"content":{"rendered":"

A nursing career has something for everyone. This healthcare profession offers a well-defined career ladder with options to suit a range of aspirations and ongoing opportunities for advancement. If you complete the requisite education and pass the appropriate exam, you can move up to a higher level of job responsibility, which typically offers more autonomy and higher pay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vivian Health explores the primary five levels of nursing practice and the nursing degrees that make them possible to help you understand your career progression opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Initial Considerations for the Various Nursing Levels<\/b><\/h3>\n

On the lower level, such as <\/span>certified nursing assistants<\/span><\/a> (CNAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), you can start working sooner via certificate-based education programs. Such pathways can be useful if you need to start earning income quickly or don\u2019t have the time, financing or desire to pursue more advanced education. You get to work directly with patients but without some of the added responsibilities of a registered nurse (RN). Yet, the door remains open to pursuing further education and a higher-level job later, which will likely offer better pay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, roles at the RN level and above often have hourly pay or annual salaries above the national average income. These positions usually offer nurses more autonomy and potentially a path to supervisor or management positions. Higher-level nurses take on much more responsibility in patient care. These roles require a considerable <\/span>investment in time and money<\/span><\/a> to complete rigorous academic training, especially for those pursuing a master\u2019s degree or higher for advanced practice (AP) roles, such as <\/span>nurse practitioners or other APRNs<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Defining the 5 Levels of Nursing<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"Graduates<\/p>\n

1. <\/b>Certified Nursing Assistant<\/b><\/a><\/h4>\n

CNA positions<\/span><\/a> represent an entry-level role that\u2019s vital to the healthcare system. These healthcare professionals (HCPs) provide basic care to patients and assist them with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, grooming, dressing, eating, toileting and general mobility. CNAs also measure and record patient vital signs and observe patient conditions throughout the day. Informally, they provide ongoing emotional support and companionship and tend to the general comfort of patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

CNAs work in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home healthcare. RNs or LPNs supervise CNAs who have a narrower scope of care.<\/span><\/p>\n

CNA Education and Job Prospects<\/b><\/h5>\n

CNAs must typically complete a state-approved certificate program through a community college before seeking employment. Alternatively, they may complete a program through their future employer, such as a hospital or nursing home. Online CNA training programs also exist but still require students to complete in-person clinical practice.<\/span><\/p>\n