The Associates In Nursing Degree

An associates in nursing or ADN degree can be earned in two years at most schools. It is the leading option for students who want become full fledged RN’s as quickly as possible. Though it doesn't provide the broad humanities type background that a bachelor’s degree will, it offers a solid foundation in nursing and health care management – the kind of skills needed for employment in larger, high quality hospitals and other medical facilities.

Nursing is one of the top growth careers in the U.S. today. And the job pays well -- RNs have a median salary of about $64,000 per year in the U.S. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) (hospitals jobs often provide excellent health insurance benefits as well). Salaries, however, run in a wide range depending on the medical facility and the RN's particular job title.

Considering it's benefits, the investment in an associates in nursing degree can be quite low. State schools and community colleges across the country offer nursing programs that can cost only a few thousand dollars in total. Because the American health care system keeps getting bigger and more complex, nursing graduates are in demand. And because of growing restrictions on how many foreign RNs can come into the U.S., nurses with American citizenship and a degree from a U.S. nursing school are now particularly employable. The long-run benefit of an ADN degree is that it can position you to get a bachelors or even a master's degree in nursing later on, when you have experience and want to move up to a more senior position.

The Exam To Become An RN
Graduates of associates in nursing programs need to pass a NCLEX exam (given by state nursing boards) to get the registered nurse (RN) license. This credential makes a nurse instantly employable - an important factor for those who want to get an an entry level position and start earning a good living quickly. Be aware, however, that in order to qualify for the NCLEX the the RN license, a student must attend an accredited school. School accreditation can be checked with individual state nursing boards. Nursing programs are taught by both online and traditional schools, though most online nursing programs require some work supervised by a nurse affiliated with the college or university.

There are basic prerequisites in almost all two year nursing programs, including math, writing, social studies or other humanities subjects. But the bulk of the study will be in more "technical" nursing topics like anatomy, obstetrical nursing, family health, community health, geriatrics, pharmacology, psychology and the like.

Jobs For Associates In Nursing Graduates
The graduate of an associates in nursing program is generally qualified to be licensed either as an RN or LPN (licensed practical nurse). Several things make the RN license more attractive. First, hospitals are generally cutting down on the number of LPNs (sometimes called "vocational nurses") they employ, and hiring more RNs wherever possible. Most new LPN jobs are being created in nursing homes. Second, and RN with an associates in nursing degree has more options to go into travel nursing, which can be a great way to see the world, or into specialized nursing areas that are more interesting and pay more. And finally, having an RN and ADN nursing degree puts the student in a better position to go back to school and pursue a bachelors nursing degree (sometimes called an rn to bsn "completion" degree) that can lead to management positions in nursing.