Kansas

The metropolitan area of Topeka, Kansas, has more than 6,000 licensed nursing professionals. The vast majority fall into one of three common nursing roles: registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), and certified nursing assistant (CNA). These healthcare professionals often earned their certificate, diploma, or degree at a local school, like Washburn University or Washburn Institute of Technology.

There are three basic types of careers within the nursing field: certified nursing assistants (CNAs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered nurses (RNs). If you are looking to launch a healthcare career in Wichita, one of these positions could suit you well.

CNAs provide for their patients' most basic care, assisting them with everyday needs such as eating, showering, and getting dressed. To become a CNA, you must complete an eight- to ten-week program and pass a certification exam. In Wichita, you could expect to earn around $22,400 per year as a CNA.

To become a registered nurse (RN), there are two options for pursuing your education: a two-year associate's degree program or a four-year bachelor's degree program. Although associate's degrees are less expensive and take less time, you should know that employers tend to favor more educated applicants. This gives aspiring RNs with bachelor's degrees a significant advantage in the job market over applicants who have only earned associate's degrees.

Licensed practical nurses are more qualified and have more responsibilities than nursing assistants, but they still work under the authority of registered nurses and doctors. Along with nursing assistants, LPNs provide for their patients' most basic care, helping with everyday needs such as eating and getting dressed. However, unlike nursing assistants, LPNs are also responsible for more technical medical care, such as changing bandages, administering medications, checking vital signs, and monitoring patients' symptoms.