| Some students who have earned a nursing assistant | | | | easy. However, because you already have an allied |
| certificate from an allied health college might want to | | | | health certificate in the nursing assistant field, you |
| add to their educational credentials. The question | | | | have some advantages over the other students. You |
| they most often ask, however, is "How will this work | | | | already have some training in the nursing field, and if |
| for me?" | | | | you work your way through school, you will begin |
| That's a complex question to answer, too - because | | | | your career as a registered nurse with significant |
| it has so many components. Below, we will explore | | | | work experience. Ask any employer today - |
| the most common concerns, attitudes, and | | | | experience counts when making hiring decisions. |
| perceptions towards combining career and education | | | | Working part-time as a nursing assistant while going |
| to advance in the nursing field. | | | | to class on a full- or part-time schedule might be your |
| What are the advantages to earning a degree in | | | | best option. That way, you can more easily balance |
| registered nursing? | | | | your work, your homework, and your personal life, |
| The primary advantages to earning an associates | | | | which is important for mental health and for avoiding |
| degree in registered nursing are a higher income and | | | | burnout. Consult your academic and career counselors |
| greater job responsibilities. After working in a nursing | | | | for assistance with balancing your budding nursing |
| career for a few years with only a nurse assistant | | | | assistant career and the process of seeking a college |
| certificate, allied health professionals might feel that | | | | education in nursing. Take advantage of the flexibility |
| their careers are somewhat limited. This is because, | | | | of many nursing assistant jobs by scheduling yourself |
| by law, nursing assistants are only able to perform | | | | for weekend hours, or second/third-shift schedules. |
| certain tasks - most of those tasks are designed to | | | | Or, you can opt to work part-time/full-time during |
| help the nurses, rather than allowing nursing | | | | the week and take your registered nursing college |
| assistants to function as nurses. With an associates | | | | courses evenings and Saturdays. Again, it is best to |
| degree in nursing, students have a much greater | | | | ask a career counselor for advice and assistance in |
| range of job functions. A person who has received a | | | | planning your career path. |
| two-year nursing degree can provide total patient | | | | How can I avoid burnout? |
| care delivery, including medicine administration; wound | | | | Approach your continuing nursing education with |
| care; patient counseling and support; lab work; and | | | | pragmatism and common sense. If being short on |
| patient evaluation, examination, and treatment. | | | | time is a major concern, enroll in a part-time, or |
| Nurses can also specialize in a particular area of | | | | non-traditional school for working adults. Many |
| nursing, allowing them to move further away from | | | | community colleges, also, allow students to take at |
| the routine bedpan, bathing, and feeding schedules | | | | least some of their core classes over the Internet. |
| that are part and parcel of the traditional nursing | | | | These arrangements can save you many hours each |
| assistant role. | | | | week, because you won't deal with the hassle of |
| Because the amount of education necessary is | | | | commuting to or from class, and can schedule your |
| greater, registered nurses receive higher salaries than | | | | learning at your own pace. |
| nursing assistants do. They are salaried, rather than | | | | Make sure you take care of yourself. It might sound |
| hourly, with the average starting salary beginning at | | | | like most common-sense, health-preserving tips take |
| around $40,000. Their careers are at least as secure | | | | a lot of work to actually carry out, but overall, your |
| as other allied health professionals, and because there | | | | nursing education and your work as a nursing |
| is a greater commitment to training, registered nurse | | | | assistant will be easier. That's because when you are |
| careers might even be more secure. The nursing | | | | healthier and in better shape overall - mentally and |
| assistant certificate is one of the best ways to break | | | | physically - you are a better student and more |
| into the nursing field - but some students want more | | | | efficient worker. Your goals when completing your |
| education, so a continuing education as an RN might | | | | nursing associates degree are similar to the goals you |
| be the best choice for them. | | | | set for yourself when you began classes at your |
| But I need to work. How can I balance this with | | | | allied health school of choice: combining education, |
| school? | | | | internship experience, and career passion to make |
| Balancing full- or part-time work with school is never | | | | the most of your nursing training. |