National Nurses’ Week begins May 6 and ends on Florence Nightingale’s birthday May 12, a celebration demonstrating appreciation and acknowledgment for nurses. Some people have always known they wanted to be nurses, perhaps born into families in which nursing and medicine are a tradition. As a trauma nurse, nursing represented doing the impossible, beating the enemy, giving family members a second chance at new beginnings, or providing the opportunity to say goodbye. Why nursing? I did not choose nursing, it chose me, and I am proud and grateful for the experience.

You probably already know that RNs have greater income earning potential and enjoy more on-the-job respect. But apart from those considerations, one huge benefit to becoming an RN is the expanded career opportunities. You can specialize in a number of diverse fields, each with its own challenges, rewards and further opportunities for career advancement. Take a look at the stories of three former LPNs who are now RNs.

Nurse-managed health centers are becoming more common, and thanks to recent healthcare trends they are likely to keep expanding the range of services they offer. Read this Exclusive Interview with Donna Torrisi, M.S.N., the Founding Director for the first Nurse-Managed Federally Qualified Health Center.

“Buyer beware” never applies more than when your education is at stake. A degree from a non-accredited institution or degree mill may cost you thousands and take your career nowhere. But what about online degrees? Are they good value? Before deciding, it’s worth taking a closer look at the cost, convenience, and quality of online LPN-to-RN programs. With there three factors in mind, here’s how online LPN-to-RN programs stack up against traditional on-campus programs.

After a few years on the job, many paramedics are more than ready to cut down on work-related stress. Becoming a registered nurse is a natural career transition, as the hours are typically more predictable and the work can be just as rewarding while less emotionally confronting. If you’re a battle-weary paramedic ready for gentler hours and a fatter paycheck, the first thing you’ll need to do is obtain the required education. Here’s everything you need to know about leveraging your paramedic experience to become an RN.

For underpaid and overworked LPNs, an RN degree opens the window to more attractive salaries, interesting nursing specialties, and professional growth opportunities. With the rising vogue of online education, LPNs have more options than ever before when it comes to choosing the best degree program. Here are the top ten benefits of online LPN-to-RN programs.