DOBSON – The sea of letters can seem baffling – LPN, RN, FNP, CMA….

“Whenever you go into an office, you’re going to see a lot of different faces, and not everyone who brings you back is necessarily a nurse,” Nursing Instructor Lory Puckett of Surry Community College says in the accompanying video.

Puckett explains the various levels of degrees:

• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), an entry-level medical assistant;
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), a one-year program;
• Or various levels of a Registered Nurse (RN), who can have a two-year associate degree, a four-year bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree.