Education of nurses

Nursing is the art and science of caring, health, nursing, healing and providing information to patients of all ages in different areas of health care. It strives to develop holistic patient care, health preservation, improvement of nursing practice and patient outcomes, further developing competencies for modern practice, management and research. Nursing plays an important role in fulfilling difficult tasks in the complex health care delivery system.

Undergraduate studies in the USA
Basic education for the nursing profession in the US is at the undergraduate level.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN)

 * Bachelor's Degree in Nursing.
 * The study program lasts 4 years.
 * Available at Universities and Higher Vocational Schools.
 * The first 2 years focus on teaching natural, humanities and social sciences. The last 2 years are focused on teaching as well as on clinical practice in hospitals, clinics and outpatient centers.
 * Bachelor's degree holders are prepared to practice in areas such as critical care, public health, primary care and mental health. In addition to providing greater job opportunities, a bachelor's degree serves as a foundation for graduate education.

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

 * Associate Degrees in Nursing
 * the program lasts only 2 years

Diploma

 * This program is run by hospitals and lasts 2-3 years.

These 3 ways of education allow you to become a Registered Nurse (see below).

Graduate studies in the USA
Specialization in nursing can only be obtained at the master's level of education.

The Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN)

 * Master's Degree in Nursing.
 * The program lasts 18-24 months.
 * It includes theoretical teaching and clinical practice.
 * The curriculum includes nursing science theory and its application, health care, management, research, and student specialization courses.
 * A master's degree graduate becomes an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN).
 * Areas of specialization:


 * - Nurse Practitioner
 * - Clinical Nurse Specialist
 * - Nurse Administrator
 * - Adult Health Nursing
 * - Primary Nursing
 * - Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
 * - Certified Nurse Mid-Wives
 * etc.

Doctoral programs

 * Doctoral programs last 5-7 years.
 * Graduates receive a Ph.D
 * It prepares nurses for health administration, faculty positions, clinical research and leadership positions in clinical practice.

Licensed Practical Nurses
After completing the 12-month LPN program, students must pass the state exam to obtain the Practical Nurses license - National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurse - NCLEX-PN. They are employed in hospitals and provide basic care at the patient's bedside. They are more limited than registered nurses. They work under the supervision of doctors or registered nurses.

Registered Nurses
After completing one of the above-mentioned undergraduate programs, students must pass the state exam to obtain the Registered Nurses license - National County Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses - NCLEX-RN.

Advanced Practice Nurses
Students become Advanced Practice Nurses after completing a master's degree program. The most common is the aforementioned Nurse Practitioner (NP), which is a registered nurse with advanced clinical skills such as performing physical examinations, prescribing medications, diagnosing and treating patients, communicating laboratory test results, and advising patients on health care options. 18 of the United States allow NPs to work independently of a physician.

Nursing education in the Czech Republic
A fundamental change in the education of nurses in the Czech Republic occurred after the adoption of Act No. 96/2004 Coll. on non-medical health professions.


 * The professional qualification to perform the profession of general nurse is obtained by completing:


 * - an accredited health bachelor's study field for the preparation of general nurses, the study lasts at least 3 years and includes 4,600 hours of professional teaching, relatively divided into theoretical and practical parts, or
 * - at least three years of study in the field of certified general nurse at higher medical schools

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