The Lakeland / Winter Haven area of Florida is home to several large nursing employers, such as BayCare Health and Lakeland Regional Health. Nurses in the metro area are competitively compensated. Local certified nursing assistants (CNAs) earn a median annual salary of $23,260. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) earn $38,380 per year, and registered nurses (RNs) take home $57,700 annually. If you’re considering joining the nursing profession in Lakeland or Winter Haven, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with these three nursing roles and their education pathways.

If you are considering joining Jacksonville’s nursing profession, you may find yourself initially bewildered by the array of nursing roles available. Below we review in detail each major nursing role and its educational prerequisites.

The most iconic nursing role is the registered nurse (RN). Registered nurses dispense medication, carry out medical procedures, and lead teams of junior nurses in providing bedside care to patients. Florida’s RNs must pass the NCLEX-RN national licensure exam after completing a state-approved associate’s or bachelor’s degree program.

Scottsdale is home to one of the most revered institutions of American medicine, the Mayo Clinic. Indeed, Scottsdale’s nursing professionals have a broad range of high-quality employers from which to choose. Aspiring nurses must understand the different roles that these employers are seeking to fill, including responsibilities, educational requirements, and compensation.

There are several distinct nursing roles. Each nursing role carries out different duties and thus requires a unique set of qualifications. For those interested in joining the nursing profession, we’ve profiled each role below including the prerequisites for licensure.

The most junior nursing role is the certified nursing assistant (CNA). CNAs help patients with essential tasks of daily living like feeding, washing, and exercising. To gain CNA licensure in Arizona, one must complete a recognized in- or out-of-state program and pass the state certification examinations.