What nursing course can achieve a license quickly?

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I decided to go into the nursing field after debating if i should for 3 years. My friend who achieved her CNA and is now working at a nursing home facility. I would like to achieve my CNA, but if i do, is that another door open for opportunities inthe future to do more? I am also wondering what type of courses or classes that i can take, that will give me a license to work in the nursing field. Problem is i will be moving in June, so i am not looking to go to a school for a year or what not. My moms friend is taking a 3 week course which is allowing her to give medicine to patients, i think it is called a nurse practitoner? Please help if you have any ideas!!!! Thank you

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Specializes in NICU.

CNA is not the same as an RN - they hold a nursing license. And nurse pracitioner takes a ton of schooling following getting your RN and then several years of exp. in an area of nursing, not a three week course.

CNA is a good thing to obtain certification in if you want to get your feet wet in the healthcare industry, but not great for advancement. LVN degrees can usually be obtained faster than ADN or BSN, but with the economy being pretty not great and LVNs having a difficult time being hired in most places, it may not be the best thing to get depending on the area you are in. You really need to look at the area you're in and the demand/where you can work (clinics, hospitals, LTCs, etc...)/amount of nursing schools/nursing unemployment and underemployment when deciding what path to choose. There are BSN degrees which can be obtained in accelerated programs, but these can be difficult because you're learning at a much faster pace than a normal BSN degree program.

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A CNA is a certificate (non college level education).

A RN is, at a minimum, associate degree or bachelor or master

Nurse practitioner is at a minimum a masters degree, many now are doctorate level.

A CNA that can give medication is known as a "medication aid." Many CNAs end up being trained inhouse by their facilities to give medication, typically no formal schooling needed. A CNA license is anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months depending upon the program.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

If you want to become a nurse, plan on a *minimum* of 2-3 years of schooling.

Many places (check your local community colleges) offer 3-6 week courses in order to get your CNA. You won't be passing meds, you'll be doing things like turning patients, giving bed baths, emptying catheter bags and urinals, getting water, changing bed linens, etc.

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and even if there was a school that guaranteed an rn license in a year, i'd run as fast as possible in the opposite direction.

nursing is a profession that requires due diligence...

no quick fixes.

leslie

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Specializes in TELEMETRY.

if you want to be a nurse (registered nurse or licensed Vocational nurse) you need to go to school for a couple of years. a CNA or certified nurses assistant is NOT a nurse and canly only do certain things that is in their scope of practice. A good way to start into nursing is a CNA because it gives you a chance to view what a nurse does. A CNA who give medication is certified to do so, I have worked with med aids before and all they really do is just hand the medication to the person, they do not really know the side effects and things like what a nurse would know. Good luck with your descion

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
My moms friend is taking a 3 week course which is allowing her to give medicine to patients, i think it is called a nurse practitoner?

As someone who is in graduate school to become an advanced practice nurse, I'm not sure if I should laugh or be angry. And then I realize it just comes from lack of understanding, so I chose not be angry, but I still have to laugh ruefully.

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lpn can get degrees in as little as 10 months

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If one already has at least a Bachelor degree in another field you can get your BSN in 12 months at some school. This is possible because the list of prereqs is more extensive than regular BSN tracks and all general education is already done. The courses are then accelerated and completed in a shorter amount of time and is very intense. I loved my program because my class had so many different backgrounds and were serious about nursing. As far as I know, we've all passed NCLEX on the first try.

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
and even if there was a school that guaranteed an rn license in a year, i'd run as fast as possible in the opposite direction.

nursing is a profession that requires due diligence...

no quick fixes.

leslie

i agree with you somewhat but what about the 2nd degree accelerated bsn that is 12-month long or a one year lpn-rn program? should people run from those programs as well?

angel

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Specializes in CNA, Nursing Student.

It should be noted that more and more schools are requiring having a CNA cert in order to get into their programs. At least from what I've been discovering. Either way I'd recommend it, as you will be a step ahead of your first semester of Nursing school, wherever you go.

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i agree with you somewhat but what about the 2nd degree accelerated bsn that is 12-month long or a one year lpn-rn program? should people run from those programs as well?

angel

not sure about 2nd degree accelerated program...

lpn-rn, 1 yr program sounds fine.

still, make sure they're accredited by nln, and check out their nclex pass rates.:)

leslie

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