Education Needed to Be an RN
Nursing students must obtain a degree to be eligible to become a registered nurse. Fotolia.com”>
Registered nurses make up a key component of the United States healthcare system. RNs help with various aspects of patient care, such as administering treatment, educating patients about managing medical conditions, and counseling and supporting family members of patients. Obtaining a registered nursing license requires passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and before that, graduating from an accredited nursing program.
Associate Degree
Associate degrees in nursing are available at community and junior colleges and typically take two to three years to complete. These programs cover general areas of science and medicine such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and even sociology. They also cover specific areas of concentration for nurses, such as pediatrics or obstetrics, as well as methods of performing core job functions such as diagnosing patients and administering medication. Graduates are eligible to obtain their RN license by passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Bachelor’s Degree
Prospective nurses also can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a four-year university or college. These programs provide more in-depth education and training in advanced topics such as community health education, nursing research, holistic medicine and pharmacology. Learning to care for specific patient populations, such as psychiatric or geriatric populations, is part of BSN training. As with associate degree programs, BSN programs require the completion of courses in a clinical practice setting as well as the classroom. Some programs provide an accelerated path to a degree for nurses who already have their license but want to become a BSN to advance their career.
Nursing Diploma
Nursing diploma programs take place in hospitals, typically for employees. Compared with the hundreds of available ADN and BSN programs, there are few diploma programs, which typically take about three years to complete. Topics include general health sciences as in ADN programs, along with nutrition, family and adult health, and patient care. Graduates are eligible to obtain their license by passing the NCLEX-RN. Hospitals that offer diploma programs may partner with nearby colleges or universities, allowing participants to simultaneously pursue an ADN or BSN degree.
Additional Considerations
Registered nurses with a BSN generally have better opportunities for advancement than those who have an ADN or diploma because of increased training in areas such as leadership, communication and critical thinking. A BSN program may be necessary for prospective nurses who want to pursue work in a clinical setting other than a hospital, or who might seek to land an administrative position.
Advanced Degrees
RNs may want to get into advanced practice nursing, which positions include clinical nurse specialists, nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists. These positions require a Master of Science in Nursing degree. One plan for obtaining an MSN is to become an RN, with or without a BSN, and then enroll in an accelerated MSN program for RNs. Such a program takes three to four years to finish as a full-time student and awards both a BSN and an MSN upon completion.
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