Nurse Education
Your first and most important choice
In orders to become a nurse, you have to go to school. Nurse education in the USA comes in all sorts of prices and sizes. The amount of time it will take you to become a nurse will depend on your career goals and previous education.
You can get your Bachelor of Science in Nursing, your Associate Degree in Nursing, or become a Licensed Practical Nurse (also known as a Licensed Vocational Nurse). The first two types become Registered Nurses (RN) and the third becomes an LPN. While each type of nurse has similar tasks, the LPN's scope of practice is a bit more restrictive than the other two RN types. The education path you choose will depend largely on where you are in your life. Each journey comes with its own benefits and disadvantages. Do your research and the best fit for you will become obvious. Some factors that will affect your decision include costs, future plans for your career and total amount of time you are willing to go to school.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four-year degree. While this path may take you a little longer, it is very helpful if you plan on going into any type of management. A BSN is also required if you ever plan on getting your masters in nursing. This initial type of nurse education is the second most popular type in the USA today. Already have a Bachelors degree of some type? There is an increasingly popular program called an Accelerated BSN program. These high-intensity programs take an average of 15 months to complete and are for those that KNOW they want to be a nurse NOW. Sign up below for Scrub Top Soup (our FREE newsletter) which will include more information on these types of alternative nursing educations programs that seem to be popping up more and more as the nursing shortage continues.
An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN or ASN) is also a very popular choice for those who are coming into nursing as a second career or those who don't want to go to a four-year program. An ADN typically takes two years to complete if you are able to go to school full-time. If you are looking for a part-time option this is also highly recommended. There are now ASN to BSN programs available. They are commonly known as RN to BSN programs. These financially smart programs lets you get your two-year ASN degree and start working as a nurse. Then while you are actually making money, you get your BSN education on the side. I know many outstanding nurses that have taken this option. The final choice is to become a Licensed Practical Nurse, known as LPN or LVN. This nurse education is the quickest, with usually less than one year of training. There are limitations with this type of education, so again, do you research. Worth noting is that LPN diploma programs have begun to decrease in popularity among nursing students and more importantly in hospitals who will be hiring you.
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