The Albany, Georgia, metropolitan area is home to approximately 2,000 nurses. Many of these professionals earned their degree at a local college or university, including Albany State University and Albany Technical College. Graduates of Albany’s top nursing schools are prepared to seek positions at major hospitals and healthcare centers such as Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, East Albany Medical Center, and South Albany Medical Center.
Albany’s nursing professionals work in a variety of roles such as certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), and certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Depending on the role, yearly earnings can range from $20,000 for entry-level roles to $146,000 for high-level roles.
CNA is an entry-level role that involves performing routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and other medical staff. Duties typically include bathing patients, helping them get dressed, serving meals, and transferring them between the wheelchair and bed. LPNs fill a more senior frontline role with patients: they care for the sick or injured under the supervision of registered nurses, surgeons, and physicians. RN is an advanced role that entails administering treatments and medications, coordinating patient care, and educating patients and the public about various medical conditions. CRNAs perform one of the highest-level nursing roles: they provide general anesthesia in inpatient and outpatient locations, patient-centered monitored anesthesia care, or regional anesthesia.
CRNAs must have an advanced or terminal degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program. They must also possess a valid RN license, one year of critical care experience, and a passing score on the national certification examination. RNs typically hold an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), and/or a master of science in nursing (MSN). A valid license is also required to practice in all fifty states, including Georgia. LPNs must complete an accredited, state-approved certificate or associate’s degree program and pass a national licensure examination. CNAs must complete a brief accredited training program of approximately 100 hours and obtain state certification.
If you’re ready to jumpstart your nursing career, we’ve compiled below a list of accredited nursing schools in Albany, Georgia, to help you get started.