Vocational Nursing Schools

We commonly associate the word "nurse" with a person. But the word historically began as a verb that meant "to look after carefully to promote growth or healing." This original definition sounds exactly like the role nurses play in our medical facilities. It seems like no matter what particular need or ailment we can medically have, there is a nurse who has the training to work with us directly. Nurses possess the knowledge, skills, and character that is perfectly suited for tending to patients' needs. Their caring dispositions are supplemented with strong medical knowledge that let patients know there is someone who is taking care of them.

If you have the desire to work in any number of medical areas and have the type of personality who is naturally considerate and healing, then becoming a nurse is exactly the type of position you are suited for. Consider earning your Associate's Degree in nursing, and when you do you'll find that there are plenty of patients and doctors alike who will benefit from your knowledge, hard work, and compassion. See all school requirements below to get started.

The term "nurse" is such a broad term, generally used for almost anyone who provides care and firsthand treatment for medical purposes. This means that there is a wide array of opportunities for anyone earning an Associate's Degree in nursing. Nurses fulfill many needs in the healthcare industry, and an Associate's Degree equips future nurses with as many applicable skills as possible for these exciting careers. Nurses are best known for taking general care of patients, such as taking their vital signs, changing dressings, basic phlebotomy, and daily monitoring. A degree program teaches prospective nurses the essential components of medical terminology, patient care, science, and technology that make them an effective force of care in any patient setting.

Vocational Nursing Programs

Nurses with this kind of knowledge will find career opportunities in a variety of settings. The most common setting we expect to find nurses is at a hospital, and with good reason. The majority of nurses tend to find employment in this large medical care setting. In additional to hospitals though, nurses will be employed in physician's offices, patient care centers, or medical support businesses. And instead of just working on the basics of taking care of patients, nurses with a background in medical knowledge and healthcare information can serve as midwives, clinical specialists, healthcare administrators, practitioners, and educators.

Thanks to a rapidly aging American population, the need for nurses is rising sharply. Doctors might be needed to tend to the specific treatment plans of patients, but nurses fill in the gaps as the ones who provide the most frequent and direct care to patients. A nurse who can capably provide patients with their daily care needs as well as work alongside doctors and follow their instructions are likely to find employment in any number of healthcare facilities. And the more specialized a nurse's experience and education is, the more qualified that nurse will be for obtaining positions in those exact branches of healthcare. Specific licenses provide nurses with particular titles and responsibilities, such as a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse.

Even though we think of a nurse as a person, we are reminded through these people's work that nurse is actually a verb. Nurses show us that with the right mixture of care and knowledge, it is possible to be healed in many ways from our maladies. When you earn your Associate's Degree in nursing, you will be equipping yourself with a long list of valuable skills that will be utilized to serve both patients and doctors with what they need. So wait no longer, but put your compassion and your mind to work in earning your nursing degree and joining this exciting field of professionals.

The Career as a LVN Nurse

We recently interviewed Debbie Jenson of Los Angeles, California about her nursing career. She has been a vocational nurse in Carson, CA for the past 5 years.

Question: Where did you attend college?
Answer: I enrolled in a community college right out of high school and graduated with my Associates degree. At that point I enrolled in a local vocational nursing school which I was able to get done in about 15 months.

Question: Where do you currently work?
Answer: I was pretty lucky to get hired right when I graduated with my vocational nursing program. The school had a really good relationship with a local hospital here in Carson and they hired me within a few months after I applied.

Question: Do you like being a vocational nurse?
Answer: Yes, I wouldn’t trade it for any other job. I really like the hospital that I work at and the medical staff is like my second family.

Question: What advice would you give to someone just looking into becoming a nurse?
Answer: It really depends on what type of nurse you want to be. If you are looking to become a practical or registered nurse then it involves more training. One piece of advice I would say would be to continue to get other certifications while you are employed. Our hospital for example pays for me to get additional training. I’m currently taking some IV therapy training now offered by NFLPN. Another thing is you really need to be caring towards people. I know some nurses that treat their career just as a job and always complain about work. I really enjoy taking care of people so for me I enjoy it when others feel better and I had a hand in making that happen.

Resources
California approved schools
Texas Nursing Board
Florida Board of Nursing