The Different Levels of Nursing: From CNA to BSN and Beyond

May 29, 2026 | RN to BSN

Operating room nurse monitoring medical equipment while assisting during a hospital surgical procedure.

The nursing profession spans a wide range of roles, each with its own education requirements, scope of practice, and opportunities for growth. Understanding the full landscape of nursing levels offers useful professional context, whether you are considering your next step, thinking about specialization, or simply looking at how your role fits within the broader healthcare system.

For working nurses ready to move forward, earning a more advanced degree can be an important next step. The RN to BSN online program at Nevada State University (NSU) gives licensed registered nurses (RNs) a flexible way to further their education while continuing to work, supporting long-term career advancement.

What Are the Levels of Nursing?

Defining the levels of nursing generally boils down to three key factors: education, licensure, and scope of practice. Each nurse level prepares nurses or nursing support professionals for a different kind of role in patient care. Some positions focus on daily support and observation, while others involve care planning, leadership, diagnosis, or research. Looking at the levels side by side can make it easier to understand how one step often leads to the next.

So, what are the levels of nursing, specifically? The main nursing levels covered in the sections below include:

Certified nursing assistant (CNA)
Licensed practical nurse (LPN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN)
Registered nurse (RN)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)
Doctoral-level nursing (DNP or PhD)

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Certified nursing assistants are frequently the first point of contact for patients during daily care. This is considered an entry-level healthcare role, but it is still essential. CNAs work under the supervision of nurses and help patients with basic needs that affect comfort, safety, and dignity.

Typical Responsibilities

A CNA may:

Take vital signs.
Help patients bathe, dress, eat, use the restroom, or move safely from bed to chair.
Observe changes in condition.
Report concerns to the nursing team.

Because they spend so much time with patients, they are often the first to notice when something seems off, be it a change in mood, pain level, appetite, or mobility.

Education Requirements

To become a CNA, students usually complete a short state-approved training program and then pass a certification exam. Program length varies by state, but the training period is much shorter than that of other nursing roles. For some people, this is the starting point for exploring the different levels of nursing and deciding whether they want to continue into practical nursing or registered nursing later on.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) / Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

Licensed practical nurses, known as licensed vocational nurses in two states (California and Texas), provide basic nursing care under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians. This role comes with a wider clinical scope than a CNA position and tends to require more direct involvement in routine treatment and monitoring.

LPN Responsibilities

LPNs and LVNs may work in hospitals, long-term care settings, clinics, and home health environments as they:

Administer certain medications.
Monitor patient health.
Perform wound care.
Assist with procedures.
Document patient information.

Their work helps keep care organized and consistent, especially for patients who need ongoing support.

Education Requirements

To enter this role, students complete a practical nursing program and then take the NCLEX-PN licensure exam. These programs are typically shorter than RN programs, which can make them appealing to those who want to enter the workforce more quickly. Many LPNs later use bridge programs to become RNs, which shows how nursing levels often connect rather than stand alone.

Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered nurses play a central role in modern healthcare. While providing comprehensive patient care, they coordinate with healthcare teams and help patients and families understand treatment plans. In many settings, RNs are responsible for balancing direct care with clinical judgment, communication, and coordination.

RN Responsibilities

Because their role is broader than that of CNAs and LPNs, RNs are often seen as a major turning point in the levels of nursing. Their responsibilities may entail:

Assessing patients
Creating and updating care plans
Documenting care carefully
Administering medications
Monitoring recovery
Educating patients
Communicating with providers and other team members
Responding when a patient’s condition changes

RN Education Pathways

RNs enter practice through one of two educational pathways:

An Associate Degree in Nursing, or ADN
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN

Both pathways lead to NCLEX-RN eligibility and RN licensure, but they are not equivalent in the eyes of many employers. BSN-prepared nurses have completed broader coursework in leadership, research, public health, and systems of care, which is why a growing number of healthcare organizations prefer or require a BSN for hiring and advancement.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

A BSN builds on core nursing education and expands it. That broader preparation can help nurses take on added responsibility and prepare for future advancement. In addition to clinical knowledge, BSN programs often cover:

Leadership
Evidence-based practice
Public health
Healthcare systems
Ethics
Communication across care settings

Why Many Nurses Pursue a BSN

Many nurses pursue a BSN because it can support career mobility and present opportunities that may not be available to nurses with less education. A BSN can reinforce preparation for leadership and community health roles as well as graduate study. It can also help nurses feel more confident when navigating complex care environments that require both clinical skill and a solid understanding of the bigger healthcare picture.

Advancing With an RN to BSN Program

For licensed RNs already working in healthcare, an RN to BSN program offers a practical way to continue their education without stepping away from their careers. Nevada State University’s program is designed with working nurses in mind, making it easier to build upon existing knowledge while gaining the added education that supports advancement. Among the numerous nursing levels, the BSN generally serves as the bridge between bedside nursing and future opportunities in leadership, education, and advanced practice.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

After earning a BSN, some nurses choose to continue gaining more specialized expertise and pursue a graduate education through a Master of Science in Nursing program. MSN programs prepare nurses for advanced roles in:

Clinical care
Leadership
Administration
Education
Technology-focused areas of healthcare

Common MSN Specializations

Some MSN programs prepare nurses for advanced patient care, whereas others prepare them to lead teams, teach future nurses, or improve healthcare systems through better use of data and technology. Common MSN specializations include:

Nurse practitioner
Nurse educator
Nurse administrator
Nurse informatics specialist

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

Advanced practice registered nurses are RNs who have completed graduate-level education and advanced clinical training. APRNs have a broader scope of practice than staff RNs and may assess, diagnose, treat, and manage patient care in ways that depend on state law and role type. When people compare nursing levels, APRN roles stand out because they combine nursing expertise with a high level of clinical authority.

Types of APRNs

Exemplifying how far the levels of nursing can extend beyond entry-level and generalist practice, the following encompass the four core APRN positions:

Nurse practitioners (NPs) often provide primary or specialty care.
Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) focus on improving outcomes in a specialty area and supporting clinical excellence.
Certified nurse midwives (CNM) deliver care related to pregnancy, birth, and reproductive health.
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) administer anesthesia and monitor patients during procedures.

Doctoral Degrees in Nursing (DNP and PhD)

Doctoral degrees represent the highest formal academic preparation in nursing. Nurses who reach this point often strive to:

Lead change at a systems level.
Produce research.
Influence policy.
Elevate advanced practice.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a practice-focused doctoral degree. It prepares nurses for high-level clinical leadership along with systems change and healthcare quality improvement. DNP-prepared nurses may lead initiatives that enhance patient outcomes, redesign care delivery, or strengthen organizational practices. This degree is well-suited to nurses who want to apply advanced knowledge in real-world healthcare settings.

PhD in Nursing

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing revolves around the core areas of:

Research — how to design it and analyze evidence
Scholarship — contributing new knowledge to the field
Teaching — imparting wisdom to other nursing professionals

While a DNP emphasizes practice improvement, the PhD is centered on producing the evidence that shapes the future of care. Thus, nursing PhD holders may go on to work in academia, policy development, or research leadership.

Why Advancing Through Nursing Levels Matters

Moving through the different levels of nursing can lead to stronger preparation for leadership and expanded responsibility, in turn opening doors to broader career options. Someone who begins as a CNA may later become an LPN or RN — or earn a BSN and move into management, education, or graduate study.

For RNs in particular, advancing to a BSN and beyond is less about a title change and more about deepening clinical knowledge, strengthening decision-making, and gaining a broader understanding of how healthcare systems work. Continued education creates room for growth at every stage, helping nurses serve patients, lead teams, and contribute to their communities more effectively.

Take the Next Step Toward Your BSN

From entry-level support roles to advanced clinical and doctoral positions, the levels of nursing demonstrate how this profession offers a full range of paths forward. If you are already a licensed RN and want to build on your experience, earning a BSN can be a meaningful next move.

At Nevada State University, our RN to BSN program can help strengthen your education as you continue working. To explore this degree program and whether it fits your goals, request more information today.