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    "result": {"data":{"contentfulSkillmeterBlogPost":{"url":"continued-learning-in-nursing-the-critical-role-of-further-education-and-certifications","title":"Continued Learning in Nursing: The Critical Role of Further Education and Certifications","description":{"description":"Contrary to what many in the public believe, nursing is a broad field with a wide variety of career options and immense room to grow. When it comes to advancing as a nurse, education plays a critical role in bolstering nurses’ skills and qualifying them for new exciting roles. "},"body":{"body":"Contrary to what many in the public believe, nursing is a broad field with a wide variety of career options and immense room to grow. When it comes to advancing as a nurse, education plays a critical role in bolstering nurses’ skills and qualifying them for new exciting roles. \n\nThis being the case, veteran nurses, aspiring nurses, and those eyeing [nursing as a second career](https://onlinenursing.baylor.edu/news/what-look-nursing-program) alike should be aware of the ways that furthering one’s education can set them up for nursing success. \n\nHere is the critical role of further education and certifications in nursing. \n\n### Eyeing Advanced Nursing Roles\n\nFor many registered nurses, stepping into an advanced nursing role is a career goal that’s always looming on the horizon. Some popular advanced nursing roles that many aspire to include:\n\n•\t__Nurse Practitioner__: Nurse practitioners are advanced nurses who have greater autonomy and responsibility than their registered nurse counterparts. These professionals can specialize in a variety of different areas such as gerontology and women’s health with many specializing in family care. In many cases, nurse practitioners can act as primary care providers to patients and often cultivate years-long relationships with them. \n\n•\t__Travel Nurse__: Travel nurses are advanced nurses who are trained to step into new facilities and offer nursing teams help. In a time when nursing shortages are on the rise, these amazing professionals are steadily rising in demand. The duration of travel nurse contracts can range from anywhere from a few weeks to several months. These professionals are offered a premium for their services because they must travel on short notice and reside in a new city. \n\n•\t__Nurse Educator__: Nurse educators play a vital role in the nursing and healthcare ecosystem. Essentially, these professionals are responsible for training future nurses and imbuing them with all of the skills they need to thrive as healthcare professionals. To be a great nurse educator, nurses must have several years of experience working as an RN, a wealth of technical knowledge, and great leadership skills. \n\n•\t__Nurse Anesthetist__: Nurse anesthetists are advanced healthcare professionals responsible for administering anesthesia and aiding other professionals in their duties. Often, these professionals work with dentists and various types of surgeons. Nurse anesthetists have specialized skill sets that allow them to successfully administer anesthesia without harming patients. \n\n### Educational Options for Nurses Looking to Advance Their Careers\n\nWhile many nurses are certain they want to pursue advanced positions, many are unaware of which educational path is right for their unique goals. This being the case, any nurse can benefit from understanding what educational options are available to them. \n\nHere are some great educational paths nurses should consider if they’re intent on stepping into an advanced nursing role. \n\n### Advanced Degrees\n\nThere are a variety of advanced degrees that nurses can pursue. Which one nurses should pursue will depend on their specific career goals. \n\nSome amazing advanced nursing degrees include:\n\n•\t__Master of Science in Nursing__: An MSN is a master-level degree that can prepare nurses for a wide variety of advanced roles. While a doctorate can make one more qualified for advanced roles, many are hired into these roles with an MSN and several years of nursing experience. \n\n•\t__Doctor of Nursing Practice__: A DNP is a doctorate-level degree that can prepare nurses for a wide variety of advanced careers. Many nurse educators and nurse practitioners obtain this degree before stepping into their laudable roles. \n\n### Certifications\n\nAs has been noted, there are a wide variety of [nursing specialties](https://online.arbor.edu/news/nursing-trends) that nurses can pursue. In these cases, certifications play a key role in preparing and qualifying registered nurses to step into new careers. \n\nSome amazing nursing certifications include:\n\n•\tHospice nursing certification\n\n•\tNursing informatics certification\n\n•\tAmbulatory care nursing certification\n\n•\tPsychiatric nursing certification\n\nUltimately, there are a wide variety of different types of certifications that nurses can pursue to advance their careers. Determining which roles one would like to step into can help one figure out which nursing certification is right for them. \n\n### Nurses Should Never Stop Learning\n\nNurses have an abundance of career opportunities at their disposal. From stepping into roles that are more lucrative to stepping into roles that offer more autonomy, there is no shortage of advanced options for these admirable healthcare professionals. As the demand for advanced nurses continues to grow, many in the healthcare space are hopeful that nurses will continue their education and qualify themselves for amazing new healthcare careers. \n"},"authorName":"Andrew Deen","authorBio":null,"publishedOn":"2024-02-03T00:00+01:00"}},"pageContext":{"id":"2f10895a-9233-5e15-acb6-974905f852c5"}},
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