The first step in launching your Las Vegas nursing career is sorting through the different education pathways available. Simply put, different nursing roles require different skills and training.
Nursing roles and education
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) need only a brief six- to eight-week training program, since they primarily aid patients with daily activities. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) have a wider job scope that includes dressing wounds and inserting catheters. They must earn a certificate that requires 12 to 18 months of fulltime study. Registered nurses (RNs) make independent patient care decisions and manage teams of LPNs and CNAs. Nevada’s RNs can pursue one of two pathways: a two-year associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).
These three nursing roles fall under the same umbrella category, forming a workforce of over 17,000 nurses in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Overall nursing employment is expected to increase 24 percent during the next decade. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), a subset of RNs who hold graduate degrees in specialized fields, will experience the fastest employment growth at more than 30 percent.
Las Vegas nursing salaries
Nursing assistants in Las Vegas earn about $33,000 per year, which is attractive pay considering their very brief certification process. LPNs are also well compensated, with a yearly salary of almost $53,000 in the Las Vegas metro area. The city’s RNs, who invest by far the most in their education, earn more than $80,000 per year. Some RNs pursue graduate education to enter even higher-paid nursing specializations.
Explore the different education paths to a nursing career. We’ve profiled below the top Las Vegas schools that offer state-approved nursing programs.