Yes, nursing is demanding and challenging. It is also a career that gives you the opportunity to get started in different ways, and at different rhythms. You may in fact start making a salary after a few weeks into your program.

If you have graduated from High School, if you have a GED, or even while you are still in high school you can study to become a CNA — that's a Certified Nursing Assistant. Offered by area schools such as Joseph P. Keefe Technical School, the Nursing Assistant program takes approximately 12 weeks, or 120 contact hours. If you're interested in the CNA path, make sure you also check out the information offered by the Massachusetts Long Term Care Federation.

In your CNA courses, you'll learn basic medical terminology, understanding the everyday needs of a patient; how to properly help frail and disabled people in and out of bed; assist with feeding and daily hygiene; recond "vital signs" — temperature, pulse and respiration rate; sterilize instruments, and in general how to provide for the patient's comfort. With this training, you can work at extended care facilities, such as nursing homes.

In 10 months of studying you can get a degree as a Practical Nurse at area schools such as Assabet Valley Regional Technical School. You may then sit for the NCLEX-PN State licensure exam that gives you the license to become an LPN, or Licensed Practical Nurse. What will you be able to do as an LPN? You'll provide basic nursing care for patients who have well-defined health problems. You'll work in a structured health-care facility, extended care, hospital, performing direct patient care and with an opportunity to assist in teaching patients and their families. In many facilities, you will also be responsible for managing and delegating tasks to unlicensed personnel.

Want more?
An ADN — a Associate Degree Nursing Program, which will take you 2 years as a full-time student or 3 years if you are doing it part- time at area schools, for example, MassBay Community College. Passing the NCLEX-RN State licensure examination will allow you to become an RN or Registered Nurse. Now you are in charge of observing, assessing and recording symptoms; you assist physicians and other nurses during treatments and exams; and you develop nursing care plans and instruct patients and their families.

A BSN, or Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing, offered by area colleges such as Framingham State College or Regis College, is a 4-year program that opens up great professional opportunities. At the end of it, you sit for the NCLEX-RN state licensure exam to obtain your license as an RN, or Registered Nurse. Both salary and responsibilities increase with the combination of a BSN and the RN, and you can expect to be a hot commodity in today's health care market.

You can also choose to take the ADN to BSN path, and apply the courses you have already taken for your Associate Degree in Nursing towards a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing.

When and if you're ready, you can keep on advancing — there's more opportunities and more challenges. Master's degrees, for example an MSN, or Master of Science in Nursing are what you want if you're planning to work in specialties such as Anesthesiology, or to become a Nurse Practitioner. These programs require two years of studying. If you want to further your career in other directions there's a Doctorate in Nursing degree, which is required for example if you are a nurse educator whose students are already at the Master's level. A Doctorate in Nursing degree is also usually required to specialize in advanced research nursing.

Remember — you can transfer school courses that you may have already taken for your current job or profession, and many programs accept work experience as credits. You are always building up towards your future, no matter which path you take. And — from the beginning, a career in nursing makes you employable, and gives you the opportunity to put your skills and your education to work.

Even more importantly — a career in nursing doesn't have a closed door at the end. The paths you can take are many, the options and settings for working as a nurse grow every day, and, you control your advancement. That's nurse power.

For complete information on nursing programs in the greater MetroWest area please check our school listings as well as our resources page.