For North Carolina nurses, additional nursing degrees and CEUs are the best ways to fast track your career. Often, they lead to more opportunities, higher pay, and greater job satisfaction–if you know how to showcase them in your job search and how to choose the right educational opportunities for your professional goals.
To make your life easier, here’s some easy ways to utilize your previous education for a better paid and more fulfilling future.
Types of Nursing Degrees
Nursing degrees aren’t a one-size-fits-all situation. There are many different types of degrees which reflect different levels of expertise:
LPNs: LPNs are graduates from associate in nursing programs. Typically, these degrees last two years and prepare nurses for entry level roles.
RNs: RNs have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. They have completed coursework and clinicals which prepare them to take on a more active role in providing patient care.
NPs: NPs (nurse practitioners) have advanced training that allows them to prescribe treatment plans and medications. Often, they have a master’s degree and years of work experience.
DNPs: doctors of nurse practice (DNPs) are the experts in nursing. They have a doctorate in the field and often teach or lead other nurses.
There are a few more degrees, which you can learn about on the North Carolina Board of Nursing’s website, but these are the four main degrees nurses possess.
Nursing degrees and your job search
No matter your degree and license, you have an in-demand skill set. Make sure to add the license type, where you got your degree, and any notable accomplishments during your degree to resumes and career profiles.
That being said, you want to make sure you attend an accredited, board-approved program. Only students from these programs are eligible for state licensure.
An Extra Boost: Nursing CEUs
As you continue your career, you have to get continuing education units (CEUs) to renew your license in North Carolina. It’s easy to view CEUs as an annoying obligation, but they can be an opportunity to get training in areas of interest, such as mental health nursing.
To make continual education more accessible, there’s plenty of free CEUs available in North Carolina.
Nursing Continuing Education Units and your job search
When you’re applying for jobs, add any relevant nursing continuing education units, or CEUs, to your resume. These can help bridge experience gaps and show employers you’re serious about providing the best type of care in a specific area of nursing.
More general CEUs can also be used to showcase leadership and resiliency skills needed for managerial roles and other specialized, high paying opportunities.
How to Showcase Your Education
Now that we understand how your education can propel your career, let’s discuss how to showcase that education for employers. If you’re applying to jobs with a resume, have a section on the resume for your education. List degrees, CEUs, and where you got each respective credential.
If you’re saving time and skipping the resume (aka using the free HireMe Healthcare app), you can display all your education–and write a brief summary of what you learned–in your job profile.
While there are general guidelines on how to best showcase your education, the best way is often a customized approach. Book a free coffee chat with our Director of Nurse Relations, Denise Jones, to discuss your dream nursing job.