• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

SuccessDegrees

  • Search All Online Degrees
  • Affordable Nursing Degrees
  • Affordable Bachelor Degrees
  • Online Nursing Masters Degrees
    • Nursing Informatics Degrees
    • Best Reasons To Get A Nursing Masters Degree
    • Advanced Care Nursing Careers
    • Masters In Nursing Education Careers
    • Why Become A Nurse Educator?
    • Transferring Credits From One Nursing Master’s School To Another
  • Low Cost Online MBAs
You are here: Home / Archives for and coursework

and coursework

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

By Paul Mannet

“Online

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

Salary & employment statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Filed Under: Nursing Tagged With: adn nursing, and coursework, associates nursing degree, nursing student

Primary Sidebar

CHOOSE AN ONLINE VALUE SCHOOL

Good Low-Cost Bachelor's & Associate Degrees

Low-Cost MBA Schools

Non-Profit Internet-Based Colleges

Affordable Online RN to BSN Degrees

How To Check A School's Accreditation

Key Schools Offering Online Degrees

Sponsored Schools Ashford University San Diego, CA-based school, Ashford University offers a vast array of online degrees across the range from associate to bachelor and masters. Degrees available in: - Business Management - BA & MBA in different specialties - Early Childhood Education - Marketing - Health Care Studies - Homeland Security - Psychology - Sports Management Get information on Ashford's online programs (Ashford University is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001, www.wascsenior.org.) Certain degree programs may not be available in all states. Purdue University Global A very large and well-known school with over 40,000 students on 11 campuses and in a large online degree program, and regional accreditation. Offers a very wide range of degrees in: - Criminal Justice - Education - Health Care - Nursing - Computer Technology - Information Systems - Legal Studies Learn more about Purdue Global's degree programs transfer to Trident at American Intercontinental University Trident at American Intercontinental University is a private for-profit online university based in Cypress, California. It is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission - North Central Association of colleges. Trident focuses on bachelor's degrees online: - BSBA Business Administration - BSCS Computer Sciences - BSHA Health Administration or Health Sciences - BSHLS Homeland Security - BSHRM Human Resources Management - BSITM Information Technology - BSL Leadership Get information on Trident at AIU

Success Degrees Privacy Policy      Terms of Use     Affiliate Disclosure
Copyright © 2022-2023, All Rights Reserved Rum Point Digital, Inc., P.O. Box 162, Peconic, NY 11958
Contact Us