15% Of ACLS, PALS, NRP, and BLS - Click Here

There is an inevitable need for healthcare; and therefore, an inevitable need for nurses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are roughly 2.6 million registered nurses (RN) in the healthcare field, making nursing the largest occupation in that industry. What’s more, the BLS reports that the fields of licensed practical nursing (LPN) and licensed vocational nursing (LVN) have positive job outlooks; with training programs requiring only about one year and replacement needs leading to frequent job openings.

These can be encouraging statistics for those entering the healthcare field or seeking to switch gears and try out nursing. However, before doing so, it’s helpful to look into what type of training, continuing education and/or certifications you’ll need to enter the nursing field.

Do your homework

If you know which area of nursing you want to check out, or in what type of setting you’d like to work, investigate further to find out what education requirements you need to meet. Having additional certifications, such as basic life support training, can make you much more marketable as a candidate. If you enjoy working with children and infants, becoming a pediatric nurse might be a good fit. In that case, you may need additional trainings that are highly focused on a younger age segment, such as pediatric advanced life support training (PALS).

Round out your schooling with basic life support training

Besides earning a bachelor’s, associate’s or master’s degree to prepare you for a career in nursing, you may want to look into training to provide life-saving care in emergency situations. Basic life support training not only teaches you some of the basic techniques such as CPR and administering first aid, it also instills in you the confidence to be an active member of an emergency response team.

Check out online options

Adding additional certifications and training after completing a degree in nursing or finishing your vocational or technical schooling to be an LPN or LVN can seem like a daunting task. However, online courses offer the flexibility for you to move at your own pace and complete modules in your own timeframe. Furthermore, these types of certification programs can often be completed simultaneously with other coursework.

Basic life support online training is offered by Health Ed Solutions, along with PALS and ACLS training courses. Courses for ACLS, PALS and BLS certification and recertification are also available, as well as CPR and AED training.