Nursing Technician or Degree? Which course should I choose?

Choosing between a nursing technician or a nursing degree is not as simple as it seems.

A career in nursing

It is practically impossible to talk about health without mentioning nursing.

This is because it is common knowledge that this is one of the most important areas within a hospital.

Whether in direct patient care, carrying out procedures or even in administrative routine, technicians, assistants and nurses are essential for general functioning.

Therefore, it is possible to say that a hospital cannot function without a professional in the field being on the team.

However, anyone who thinks that nurses and technicians only work in hospitals is mistaken.

Nursing homes, home office care, occupational health nursing, beauty clinics, sports areas and many other sectors require nursing.

Therefore, anyone looking for a comprehensive career full of opportunities should certainly consider this option.

But, just as the opportunities are countless, the levels of training in the area are also different.

And, far beyond a simple nomenclature, there is a clear difference between the work of nurses, technicians and assistants.

Therefore, determining which course to take will help you achieve the desired role.

With this in mind, below we will look at each of the categories in detail, in order to help you choose between a Nursing Technician or Degree.

Nursing Technician Course

The nursing technician course is, as the name suggests, a technical level course.

This means that upon graduation, the professional receives the title of nursing technician and is qualified to perform the technical and practical part of the profession.

The course lasts approximately 2 years and can be taken through recognized technical institutions.

For this reason, to be a nursing technician it is mandatory to have a valid certificate in the course.

The level of training in the profession allows the professional to work in hospitals, nursing homes, home care and many other sectors that require the category.

Regarding the professional routine, the technician usually works in direct patient care services with a low degree of complexity.

This includes:

First aid;
Patient asepsis;
Changing the patient's position;
Medication administration;
Assistance to nurses and assistants;
Dressings;
Preparation of hospital equipment;
Collection of examination materials;
Among other functions.

Therefore, for those who enjoy direct contact with patients and want to enter the profession to actually provide care, a technician can be an excellent option.

So, if the question is whether to pursue a nursing degree or a technician degree, it is worth considering your day-to-day activities when deciding.

Nursing Degree

A degree in nursing is the name given to the completion of a higher education course in Nursing.

The course lasts an average of 4 to 5 years, and upon graduation the professional is included in the professional council and receives the title of nurse.

Graduation allows professionals to continue their studies, which guarantees improvement and evolution in the profession.

Therefore, it is possible to start as nursing assistant, and reach the level of head nurse.

Within a hospital, the nurse is the one who coordinates and manages the nursing team, which includes technicians and assistants.

Therefore, the nurse can work both in the practical part and in the administrative routine.

For this reason, the nurse is responsible for controlling and granting permissions to carry out procedures.

Furthermore, the team's activities are your responsibility, so you must supervise and ensure that the procedures are carried out correctly.

It is part of the nurse's routine:

Screening;
Completing medical records;
First aid;
Collection of exams;
Monitoring the patient's health status;
Medication administration;
Among other tasks.

Therefore, if you want a more comprehensive area of expertise, a degree in nursing may be a good idea.

Therefore, between a technician or nursing degree, it is worth choosing the option that allows you the desired work routine.

Which to do: Nursing Technician or Degree?

At this point you already know a little more about nursing technician or degree.

This makes it easier to understand which path to follow, after all, your professional routine must be considered when choosing a career.

And, as we can see, although they are part of the same team, the performance of the technician and the nurse are not so close.

This is because the technician works in direct patient care, carrying out low-complexity procedures that require closer contact.

Nurses perform more complex activities, which involve release, administration and recorded care.

Therefore, if you prefer the practical side of things, a technician may be ideal for you.

However, it is worth mentioning that technicians have some disadvantages when compared to nurses, especially when it comes to salary.

Therefore, if you enjoy caring, but want to achieve more complex procedures and have the possibility of progressing in your career, a degree is the best path.

It is worth mentioning that it is perfectly possible to start with a technical course and then move on to a degree.

Therefore, if you make a good career plan, it is possible to go through both professions and obtain complete knowledge in both.

In any case, both areas are essential and very rich for health as a whole, so this choice is quite personal.

Therefore, a nursing technician or degree are good paths to follow, it all depends on your professional projections.

Tips for deciding which path to take

After everything we have seen, it is now clear that deciding between a technician or a nursing degree is a very personal thing.

This is because both formations have their advantages and disadvantages.

There are those who think that it is worth investing in a degree from the beginning, but it is important to remember that with a technical degree you graduate in less time and can already work.

Therefore, it all depends on the chosen career plan, which will determine which training to choose.

If you are looking to quickly enter the field, the technician can help you get started and give you experience for a degree in the future.

However, if you prioritize starting with more concrete opportunities and with greater possibilities for growth, a degree will always be the best path.

Therefore, we have two main tips for making this choice:

Determine how soon you want to start acting.
Map out your career plan.

Therefore, by prioritizing these points, it will be easier to decide which path to follow.

It is worth saying that there is no right or wrong, as everyone has their own professional projections!

So, think carefully, and you will certainly make a good choice that will allow you to achieve your desired career goals!

Roberta

I am a member of the O Administrador team and I produce content about career, personal finance, financial education, productivity, and professional development. My goal is to share clear and practical information to help readers with their day-to-day decisions.

August 31, 2023

Career