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Are you a caring people person? Do you want to be a nurse but don’t know what kind or where to start? You don’t have to be confused any longer because this article will present to you the different kinds of nursing school programs you might encounter.

If you’thought about becoming a nurse assistant, you might want to consider the Red Cross CNA class (Certified Nursing Assistant). The Red Cross class gives you a nationally recognized certification.

The traditional entry-level position in nursing is considered to be the Certified Nursing Assistant. They are also known as a nurse’s aide because they take their orders directly from more highly trained nurses. To become a CNA, college is not required. There are vocational programs available that generally only take a few weeks to fully complete. After your educational courses and practical training are complete, you can become certified in your state and begin work. The CNA, however, has limited responsibility. You will find yourself feeding and bathing patients, checking vital signs, and performing other non-invasive tasks.

Another option is to become a Licensed Practical Nurse or LPN. These caregivers take their orders from an RN and often supervise the CNA. They provide care such as injections, medicating, charting patients’ progress, and assisting other nurses and doctors. It is more in-depth than a CNA position, so the education is as well. The LPN requires either a diploma or associates degree in nursing, and the program usually can be completed within a year. Then, you will take the NCLEX-PN exam. If you pass, you can become licensed in your state and start working.

A Registered Nurse or RN can provide all the care of the CNA, LPN, plus have added responsibilities in patient care and surgery and take their orders directly from physicians. This type of nurse will oversee the LPNs and CNAs. To be an RN, the minimum requirement is an associate’s degree in nursing. A four-year bachelor’s degree, though, is more widely preferred. No matter which educational approach you take to becoming an RN, you will still have to take and pass the NCLEX-RN before licensed and able to work.

If you are already an LPN or RN, universities offer you options to continue your education. There is a program called RN to BSN, which provides a registered nurse with only an associate’s degree to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The same exists for an LPN but is slightly different. If you still want to take your education farther, you can climb all the way up to a PhD with hard work and ambition.

So, now that you know more about the different forms of nurses and nursing school programs, including the Red Cross CNA class, you can decide which one matches your personality. The CNA requires the least amount of education while the LPN and RN take more time and study. The health care field is always growing, so your job outlook is good!