Learn more about nursing careers

Ever considered becoming a nurse? If so, now is the perfect time to do that. Becoming a nurse may look a little complicated at first glance. You will have to start by deciding whether you want to be a BSN, a RN or a LPN. Each of these is a different nursing degree you can earn which will lead you to a specific career path. RN is Registered Nurse, LPN is Licensed Practical Nurse and BSN is Bachelor's in Nursing. The choice you make will affect your advancement opportunities, income and area of practice. Most people make their nursing career choice based on their age, amount of time and available finances.

In order to become a LPN you will need a couple of years of training in areas such as practical patient care, pharmacology, physiology and anatomy. A LPN's common responsibilities include: measuring temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, dressing wounds, administering medications, maintaining patient records, an collecting samples. The average income of a licensed practical nurse is $ 40,000.

A Registered Nurse has to complete a 2-year program and earn an AND, in order to be able to practice. There are other options as well including: a 4-year Bachelor's degree in Nursing or a 3-year course of study. Registered Nurses usually work for surgical centers, schools, attorneys, insurance companies or as independent medical consultants. Registered Nurses can expect an income of $66,000.

You need a 4-year course of study to become a BSN. A BSN has similar job responsibilities and duties with a RN but BSNs have a larger role in assisting doctors during complex surgeries. BSNs earn around $ 66,000 per year.