The nursing field offers diverse pathways that lead to a wide variety of nursing degrees. Everyone knows that there isn’t just one pathway in the nursing profession. As our Admissions Advisor for our nursing programs, Anna Bessey, states, “There are dozens of different directions that one person can take. That, in itself, is complicated. Then you add in different certifications, different licensing exams, and different qualifications, and it can get even more complicated.”
At Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, we came to the conclusion that an official Nursing Pathways chart was needed to understand better how the nursing career paths are organized. As we researched outside resources for a chart, we realized that there weren’t any straightforward diagrams, charts, PowerPoints, or any other explanations that we could find that made this pathway easier to understand. Therefore, we decided to make our own!
With our Nursing Pathways chart, we hope that future and current nurses will be able to see not only the options that they have in their current position but where they could potentially go in the future. Our goal is that this cart will make the process much less overwhelming as a nurse who is trying to choose and create their own path. Anna states, “I hope that it can make the process of choosing a specialty easier for professionals. As well as informing nurses what options they do have within their profession.”
For someone who feels like they are lost in their pathway or for those who don’t even know where to start, Anna recommends doing as much research as you can. She says, “Look into the different areas that interest you and learn what the nurse’s responsibilities are. If you can, shadow a nurse in the specific workplace and with the specific credentials that you are interested in pursuing. After you decide which direction you want to go, do your research for which program would be right for you. You will save yourself time and money in the long run by choosing the program that works for you and your situation.”
At Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, we currently have four nursing programs. Specifically, we have a Post-Bachelor’s to Doctor of Nursing Practice (Family Nurse Practitioner) program. At the end of that program, not only will you have a Doctorate in Nursing Practice, but you will also be a Family Nurse Practitioner after you sit for the National Board exam (Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination).
We hope that our Nursing Pathways chart relieves the stress and anxiety that might accompany the process of figuring out where you would like to be or end up in the nursing profession. In reading this chart, the dotted lines are programs that exist that lead to your DNP. The rest of the lines show how each degree or credential can lead to the next. We made the LPN/LVN a different color because it’s not necessarily a required step to start your nursing career. Most nursing students will start with the Associate Degree in Nursing (AND) or go straight to their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
If you have any questions regarding our Nursing Pathways chart or any of the nursing programs that we offer, reach out to us at dnp(for our Doctor of Nurse Practitioner Program), fnp(for our Family Nurse Practitioner Program), fnpcert(for our Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate), or mentalhealth(for our Post Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program).
For additional information on nursing education (including doctoral degrees and certificates) or to earn a DNP at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, visit:
