nurseconection.com
Sponsored Nursing Degree Results:
Nurses » Nurse Education » Nursing Degree

Different Types Of Nursing Degrees

By:

Published: September 27, 2006

There are many options available in the career of nursing. There are LPN and LVN nurses, Registered Nurses, Acute Care Nursing, Forensic Nursing, and Nurse Educators. All of these different nursing professions are dependent upon the type of nursing degree an individual receives. The higher the level of degree pursued the further up the career ladder one can climb in nursing.

The most basic nursing degree is the Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN). This is typically a two year nursing program that can be taken at most junior colleges and universities. The ADN places emphasis on technical skills in nursing and prepares nurses for employment in hospitals and other inpatient settings. Students with an ADN are eligible to take the state boards NCLEX examinations to become Registered Nurses (RN). Nurses with an ADN also have the option of continuing with their education in order to earn their Bachelor's of Science in Nursing or BSN.

The BSN is a more advanced nursing degree. It is typically the nursing degree preferred by the majority of hospitals and medical establishments. The BSN is a four year program in which nursing students learn technical skills and nursing theory. A BSN degree also prepares nurses for employment for all health care fields. Students with a BSN degree are also eligible for the NCLEX examination to become RNs. A BSN will also enable a nurse to pursue a Masters degree.

A Masters is an advanced degree in nursing. It is usually a 2-3 year program, depending on the university's masters program. A Masters degree in nursing or MSN will prepare nurses for more independent roles within the medical establishment. Nurses with a MSN have many different career opportunities including Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse-Midwife, Nurse Forensic, and Nurse Anesthetist. A MSN will also enable nurses to purse employment as expert clinicians, as educators, in administration, or in nursing management.

The most advanced nursing degree is a Doctoral degree. This degree allows nurses to enter leadership roles in the medical establishment and conduct research within the nursing field. Nurses with Doctoral degrees can serve as executives in the health care industry, deans of nursing schools, and researchers.

Nursing degrees are available at many levels. The more advanced the degree, the more prestigious the position a nurse can achieve within the health care industry. Each degree is like a step on a ladder in which one nursing degree can lead to the next.

The most important degree for a nurse to obtain is the BSN. This nursing degree will open many door and career opportunities within the nursing profession.




Nursing: The Basics. Discover Nursing. 2006. Johnson &Johnson Healthcare System. 19 September 2006. <http://www.discovernursing.com/jnj-sectionID_2 -pageID_8-dsc-landing.aspx>.

Types of Nursing Programs. 2006. All Nursing Schools. 19 September 2006. <http://www.allnursingschools.com/faqs/progtype s.php>.
Featured Nursing Degree Products: