By: The Capella University Editorial Team with Lisa Kreeger, PhD, RN, Executive Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Reading Time: 11 minutes
Every nurse has a moment that sparks their calling. Maybe it was calming someone in pain or watching a skilled registered nurse (RN) step in at exactly the right time.
If you’ve had a moment like that, you already know nursing is more than a job. It’s a path that asks for commitment, skill and compassion.
What many people don’t realize is that nursing offers multiple ways to begin and grow. You can start as an RN, advance with an RN-to-BSN or prepare for leadership or clinical excellence through specialized graduate programs.
Each option prepares you for different responsibilities and patient needs. And because nursing career paths and degrees are vast and varied, it’s crucial that you research all the professional and educational options available to you.
Many aspiring and current nurses choose online programs because they want to keep working while building new skills and clinical experience.
Explore the different online degree options for a career in nursing and the paths you can explore after graduation.
The first step to becoming a professional nurse is education. Let’s explore the types of nursing degrees and programs that can help kick off your career.
Certificate programs for nursing offer the fastest path to entry-level patient care roles like Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). These programs can be completed in a shorter time than formal degree programs, after which you can sit for the CNA Certification Exam or the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) to become an CNA or LPN/LVN, respectively. Keep in mind that an LPN/LVN is a licensed professional, while a CNA is not.
These programs typically take about one year and teach essential nursing skills, including:
While certificate programs allow you to begin working quickly, they are often just stepping stones. Many nurses return to school for an associate or bachelor’s degree to expand their skills, pursue career opportunities and qualify for advanced or specialized roles.
An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) combines classroom learning with clinical experience in medical-surgical nursing, mental health, maternal health and other areas.
After you graduate, you’re eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN to become an RN.
ADN programs are a great way to start your career, but employers may require BSN qualifications, even for entry-level roles. As a result, many nurses eventually pursue RN-to-BSN bridge programs.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is for those who have already earned their associate degree and gives a comprehensive education and practical training in clinical care, leadership, public health, research and evidence-based practice.
BSN graduates may have broader employment options, since they learn and practice more advanced skills during their course. Many healthcare organizations might also prefer nurses with a bachelor’s degree.
But if you’re a working RN, you may be concerned about how to combine your job with advancing your education. That’s where the RN-to-BSN degree comes in. An RN-to-BSN is a bachelor’s degree specifically for nurses with an ADN/ASN, and online, flexible programs allow working professionals to pursue their bachelor’s degree without taking a career break.
For instance, Capella University offers an online RN-to-BSN program that you can complete at your own pace through the FlexPath learning format. Our career-focused curriculum is designed for licensed RNs and will help equip you with the latest nursing standards to meet the evolving demands of healthcare.
More than 700 healthcare organizations support their employees by partnering with Capella University to offer access to discounted education programs.
A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree prepares you for advanced or specialized positions. It includes advanced coursework in assessment, leadership, administration, legal and ethical standards, pathophysiology and pharmacology.
An MSN prepares you for specialized positions in leadership and administration, education, informatics and care coordination. It’s also mandatory for advanced roles like nurse practitioner (NP), including specific departments or units like an urgent care NP, cardiology NP, palliative care NP or primary care NP.
If you hold a BSN, you can apply for online MSN programs to gain in-depth knowledge of your specialty and get closer to your career goals.
If you don’t have a BSN, you can apply to RN-to-MSN programs that could help you get a master’s degree without a BSN. Capella University has online RN-to-MSN programs for multiple nursing specialties, including leadership and administration, care coordination, nursing informatics and nursing education.
All of Capella’s nursing master’s programs, except the adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP), psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner specializations, are available in the FlexPath learning format. This format allows you to complete your education through self-paced learning, so you don’t have to put your life on hold.
Doctoral programs represent the highest level of nursing education. If you want to become a high-level leader who impacts the future of healthcare systems, then a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree could be the right path for you.
A doctoral degree in nursing focuses on clinical leadership and advanced practice. You learn how to improve healthcare systems, advocate for patients and drive healthcare policies.
Led by expert faculty with years of experience in nursing and healthcare, Capella’s skills-based DNP program can help you reach your career goals without putting your life on hold.
Now let’s look at the different career paths you can explore after graduation.
Nursing offers expansive career landscapes in healthcare, with roles that range from hands-on clinical care to leadership, coordination, education and technology. Here’s a list of common roles you can explore after graduation:
Entry-level patient care roles are ideal if you’re just beginning your healthcare career. These positions help aspiring and new nurses develop essential clinical skills, gain confidence in a patient-care environment and understand how healthcare teams work.
Common entry-level positions include:
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) help patients with basic daily tasks such as bathing, feeding and mobility. They monitor patient comfort and assist nurses in maintaining a safe environment.
To become a CNA, you must complete a state-approved training program and pass a state-administered certification exam. Each state has different requirements for CNA certifications. You can find out more here.
This role is often a first step for individuals planning to continue into LPN or RN programs.
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide nursing care under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians.
They take vital signs, administer some medications, provide wound care and support patients in long-term care or clinical settings. To become an LPN or LVN, you must complete an accredited LPN program and then pass the NCLEX-PN licensing exam.
Registered nurses coordinate and deliver patient care in various healthcare settings. They perform assessments, administer treatments, educate patients and collaborate with healthcare teams.
You can become an RN with an associate or bachelor’s degree, but must pass the NCLEX-RN licensure exam first.
If you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, you can explore beyond entry-level roles and consider specialized and advanced practice positions.
As you gain experience and complete higher education, you’ll probably want to transition into roles that involve greater autonomy, specialized expertise and managing teams or entire organizations. Examples of mid-level and leadership roles include:
NPs diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, and manage treatment plans. They provide many of the same services as physicians and often specialize in areas such as primary care, psychiatric mental health or pediatrics.
In many states in the U.S., NPs have full practice authority (FPA), meaning you can open your own independent practice without physician oversight. You can learn which states offer FPA through this guide by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Chief nursing officers (CNOs) sit at the highest level of nursing leadership within a hospital or healthcare system. They oversee all nursing operations and ensure patient care is delivered safely, efficiently and in alignment with the organization’s mission and regulatory requirements.
CNOs typically have advanced education, like a master’s degree, and years of experience, enabling them to effectively manage staff, budgets, policy development and quality initiatives across the organization.
A director of nursing or nursing director is a leader who oversees the daily operations of nursing departments. They bridge the gap between executive leadership and frontline nurse managers, ensuring that patient care standards and workflows run smoothly across units.
To become a director of nursing, you need to have extensive experience as a nurse and in mid-level managerial roles. Many directors also hold doctoral degrees that demonstrate their expertise and lend credibility.
Nursing leaders may go on to become healthcare executives. Roles such as medical affairs or clinical development director can drive large-scale change in organizations.
Not all nursing careers involve bedside care or working directly in healthcare organizations. You can transition into non-clinical roles that use your expertise in education, technology or administration.
These careers are ideal for nurses who enjoy problem-solving, teaching, data-driven work or supporting care delivery behind the scenes. Examples of non-clinical positions include:
Nurse informaticists combine healthcare and IT expertise to design systems that improve healthcare workflows and patient outcomes.
Your career in nursing informatics can include working with electronic health records, analyzing data to identify trends, supporting system upgrades and helping translate clinical needs into technology solutions.
You may train nurses and other staff on how to use new software, ensure documentation quality and collaborate with IT teams to make patient data more accessible to clinicians.
Care coordinators or case managers help patients with complex medical needs navigate the healthcare system and get personalized care.
Nurses in these roles manage care plans, communicate with multiple providers, arrange follow-ups and help patients access insurance or community resources. You play a key role in reducing gaps in treatment and readmissions, and help patients understand their treatment options.
Nurse educators shape the next generation of nurses. They are either teachers in academic programs or clinical instructors who train within hospitals and healthcare systems. They develop curriculum, create teaching materials, lead classrooms or simulation instruction and mentor new nurses.
In clinical settings, educators support staff development and ensure ongoing competency through workshops, continuing education and policy updates.
As a nurse educator, you play a vital role in developing a skilled nursing workforce that will deliver high standards of patient care in the future.
These varied settings may give you opportunities to shape your career in ways that support your goals and lifestyle needs. These examples are intended as a general guide, and specific roles or settings may require prior experience, licensure, certifications or other qualifications. Because many factors influence career outcomes, Capella can’t guarantee that a graduate will secure a particular position. We encourage you to research the requirements for the roles and settings you’re interested in.
Nurses can work in many environments, each offering different daily experiences and patient interactions.
These examples reflect common environments where nurses may work, though availability can vary based on licensure, experience, employer expectations and state regulations. Because each career path is unique, Capella can’t guarantee placement in any specific setting or outcome. It’s helpful to review the requirements for the environments that interest you.
If you value teamwork, lifelong learning and helping others, nursing offers a meaningful career with room to grow. You can begin with entry-level training, but advancing into senior, leadership or specialist roles usually requires additional education.
Working nurses can choose programs that help them build new skills while staying active in the field. At Capella University, your courses are taught by faculty with real-world nursing experience, so you learn practical, career-focused skills that support your long-term goals.
And with Capella’s FlexPath learning format, available for select programs, you set your own deadlines and learn on a schedule that fits your life. That means you can continue practicing while moving toward the role you want next.
Explore online nursing degrees from Capella today.
Ready to take the next step? Explore our online nursing degrees.
Nursing offers career options in clinical care, advanced practice, leadership, education and more. Depending on your education and lifestyle, you can build a career in a work environment that aligns with your long-term goals.
Common career types in nursing include entry-level roles like LPNs and RNs, advanced and specialist roles such as nurse practitioners and nurse leaders, and non-clinical roles like nurse educators, informaticists and case managers.
The best nursing career depends on your interests, strengths and goals. Some prefer direct patient care, while others thrive in leadership, education or technology-focused roles.
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