Which Courses You'll Take:
Becoming An RN With An
Associates Degree in Nursing

Most nurses begin their careers by getting an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), which qualifies them to give treatments and medications to patients and consult with physicians about a patient’s case. Because registered nurses (RN’s) must also explain test results and treatments to patients in many cases, they receive a good deal of course training in communication as part of their ADN degree, in addition core courses on clinical topics.

The ADN degree can help you to get an entry level job relatively quickly in many parts of the country, because demand for nurses has been strong in the US for many years. In fact,employment opportunities for registered nursing are predicted to grow "much faster than the average for all occupations" between now and 2018 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A drawback in this picture, however, is that nursing degree programs are becomming so popular that schools - particularly state universities and community colleges facing cuts in government support - can't accept all the students to want to get an associates degree in nursing.

First, The NCLEX Exam
Before you can actually start working as a nurse, however, you will need to get a license to practice your home state by passing what’s called a NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination) exam. All 50 states administer them (many, by the way, include a criminal background check). Nursing is a career that requires real commitment, but a typical registered nurse’s salary is good: the national median, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics from 2010, is about $64,600.

An RN is qualified to administer medication and other treatment to patients, as well as consult with physicians regarding patient care. He or she must also explain the results of diagnostic tests and long term treatment options to patients and their families. When you have your license, you will be qualified to work in a hospital, nursing home, clinic or even home care setting. Once you’ve built up experience as an RN, you may want to pursue a additional degree like an RN TO BSN, with course work that will prepare you for an advanced nursing job as a clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist or nurse-midwife.

Prerequisites
Virtually all schools will require you to take certain general required courses before starting your core nursing courses for the ADN. A typical list of prerequisite courses, which may schools will insist you have a grade of at least “C” in to count towards your nursing degree, might include sociology, basic algebra, writing or English literature, a social studies course and a computer literacy requirement. A community college is often the place where aspiring nurses get these courses taken care of (in fact, many successful RN’s take they associate’s degree courses at community colleges as well).

The classic Associates Degree of nursing is a two-year program. However, many schools now offer faster track options if you want to move through a program quickly, or allow flexibility to get your degree over three years if you need to take a break in the middle to handle family or career responsibilities.

Once you get into nursing school, here are some of the typical core courses you’re likely to be choosing from:

• Nursing skills
• Math for medical personnel
• Disease processes
• Nutrition
• Speech communication or communication
• Pharmacology
• Human growth and development
• Developmental psychology
• Maternal and newborn nursing or nursing care of the child-bearing family
• Microbiology
• Fundamentals of communication
• Medical terminology
• Anatomy and physiology
• Mental Health Nursing
• Microbiology
• Chemistry

Indiana State University
ISU is the state university of Indiana, located in Terre Haute. It has received high ratings for many years from Princeton Review and other publications. Right now it's one of the most progressive state schools in terms of online learning, with a variety of degree progams. It's nursing program offers up to 10 hours of credit via a "professional portfolio evaluation," a mechanism through which experienced nurses can demonstrate their knowledge to receive credit in certain areas. Indiana State offers LPN to BSN and RN to BSN programs online.
Get Free Information on Indiana State University Nursing

Kaplan University
Kaplan is a large school specializing in online career training, owned by the Washington Post Company. It offers degrees in many different areas. For licensed nurses, if offers an RN to BS program, or an RN to MS "bridge" degree. Nursing master's degrees are also offered in:
- Gerontology
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- MS Nurse Educator
- Informatics
- Nursing Administration
Get Free Information on Kaplan University Nursing

Georgetown University
Georgetown, located in Washington D.C., is one of the oldest and most famous private universities in the country. In the online world, it specializes in masters of science programs for nurses:
- MS Adult Gerontology
- MS Family Nurse Practitioner
- MS Nurse Educator
- MS Nurse Midwifery
Get Free Information on Georgetown University Nursing

American Sentinel University
ASU is a popular choice among our readers, partly due to the great affordability of it's online RN to BSN program. RNs can enroll with no work experience, and may get credit transfer for any previous courses they have taken. American Sentinal's nursing programs have accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Get Free Information on American Sentinel University