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Registered Nurse Programs

Becoming a registered nurse (RN) is now highly sort after as nurses make up the bulk of employees in the heath care system and the US government predicts a requirement for an additional 1 million by 2016 so studying for your qualification through a registered nursing program is your first step in your career choice.

What Does a Registered Nurse do ?

A nurse is in the hospital to aid doctors and patient care. Typical duties will be to help patients and their families cope with any illness and post operative care. The range of tasks are restricted by state law but usually include administering drugs, taking blood pressure and are the main link between the patient and the physicians, doctors and surgeons on the ward. They may also assist with operations when the need arises.

Types of Nursing Programs

All programs and degree course should be accredited by the appropriate authority in the US to ensure that your degree is recognized by your employer. The types of qualification you can study for varies on what qualification you already have and what type of nursing you want to be employed for.

No matter which program you follow you'll also need to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX RN) exam.

To become a registered nurse you can study for either a three year diploma or 2 years associates degree.

Nursing Diploma

The nursing diploma is a hands on program based at the hospital you are working in and provides a nursing license upon completion and usually lasts two to three years and is seen as the entry level to becoming a registered nurse. If you only want to take on basic nursing duties this may be a good option and there is little to choose between the diploma and degree route. However, if you believe you want a career that moves you up through extended salary levels it may be best to study for a degree.

Associate Degrees

An associate degree in nursing (ADN) takes around two to three years in total and generally offered at community and technical colleges and is seen as a stepping stone to become a RN quickly and start earning rather than spending the 4 years studying for a BSN immediately. Generally a SAT score of 940 is required although this will vary by college. Once graduated you will receive a Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) or Licenses Vocational Nursing (LVN) certificate.

To further improve your career prospects and include additional duties in your daily routine then the "ultimate" BSN and many nurses start to take the BSN after working as a RN.

Baccalaureate Degrees

A baccalaureate nursing degree (also called Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing BSN) entitles you to have license as a registered nurse and are offered by many colleges and universities in the US and must be achieved first if you wish to then study for a masters program. This is the most popular method of study and lasts about 4 years.

There are also many courses that take you from LPN to BSN so look out for those also.

Other Nursing Qualifications for Registered Nurses

There are extended and additional programs people can follow but are not necessarily required in order to be a registered nurse. These are for specialized areas.

Masters Degrees

The master of science in nursing (MSN) degree program offered by colleges and schools in the US follows on from the baccalaureate degree and provides skills and knowledge in specialized areas such as nurse practioner, midwifery, anesthestist, clinical nursing and more. Most people already have the BSN there are programs to take you from ADN to MSN.

Where Can I study for My Degree ?

There are literally thousands of schools, colleges and universities to choose from around the US and these now include online nursing schools where most of your study can be undertaken at your own pace. Of course the traditional universities still take students but their fees may be higher (although traditional universities also offer online learning facilities in some cases). See the complete list of nursing schools and colleges by state to find one near you.

Registered Nurse Earnings Potential

Once you have qualified you'll be able to practice nursing as a career. The latest average salaries in the US as mentioned on indeed website are as follows (these vary greatly by state so use these as a guide):

The RN salary is approximately 7% above the average of all salaries in the US.

 

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