- There is definitely a nursing hierarchy. At the bottom of the chain are licensed practical nurses and this position requires the least amount of education. Sometimes registered nurses have the same amount of education as licensed practical nurses, but they often have a bachelor's degree. As such, registered nurses tend to be higher up than licensed practical nurses. Clinical nurse specialists tend to rank above registered nurses and nurse practitioners.
- Licensed practical nurses--LPNs--or licensed vocational nurses--LVNs--generally complete a yearlong training program after graduating from high school. Several institutions offer this type of training, including high schools, hospitals, technical/vocational schools, community colleges and universities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Like registered nurses, LPNs or LVNs must pass a national licensing examination.
- Educational requirements for registered nurses vary depending on whether or not you want to advance in the field. The minimum requirement to be a registered nurse is an associate degree in nursing or a hospital diploma program, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Completing one of those programs will enable you to take the registered nurse licensing exam, but this might limit your options for career growth. If you wish to advance in the field, you should consider completing a bachelor's of science degree in nursing.
- Nurse practitioners, or NPs, and clinical nurse specialists, CNSs, have some of the highest educational requirements of all of nurses. Their post-secondary education generally begins with a bachelor's of science degree in nursing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. NPs and CNSs continue on to a nurse practitioner master's program or a clinical nurse specialist master's program. Some NPs and CNSs might also complete a doctorate program.
- Though education might stop after you complete your appropriate nursing program, many nurses choose to specialize in a field, especially RNs, NPs and CNSs. NPs and CNSs might specialize through their chosen master's or doctorate program. There are certification options for all nursing specialties. The American Nurses Credentialing Center is the foremost organization to offer certifications for RNs, NPs and CNSs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Certification requirements include continuing education hours in the specialty field every five years or so.
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