If you are considering a nursing career then you need to know that there are different types of nursing degrees. In fact there are a quite a number of them. Some are the degrees you need to begin your career while others are more advanced degrees for those who are ready to advance their careers and move up the professional ladder.
Before you enroll at a nursing school you need to decide which program is most suitable for you based on where you wish your nursing career to take you. As well your financial situation will also pay a role in your decision of which program is best for you.
One option is the LPN or LVN education degree. Licensed practical nursing (LPN) or licensed vocational nursing (LVN) programs generally take one year to complete and can be studied for at a community college, a vocational technical school or a hospital. After receiving your diploma or certificate you are then eligible for licensure. To earn your LPN or LVN license you must pass an examination known as the NCLEX-PN.
There are many different types of nursing degrees which allow for flexibility in the route an aspiring nurse wishes to take to earn her degree. The Associate of Science in nursing program (ASN) is a route you may wish to take if you wish to become a registered nurse (RN). The associate program takes two years to complete. The focus of it is on technical skills as opposed to theory. Approximately 30 percent of those who study for their ASN go on to later study for their Bachelor of Science in nursing degree (BSN).
Studying for an associate degree will make it possible for you to look for work as a nurse sooner than if you chose the BSN program. Be aware that the Associate of Science in nursing program is considered to be the entry or starting point for technical nursing practice.
If you are fresh out of high school and/or not in a hurry to start working and earning money then the Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) program may be right for you. Also sometimes referred to as a prelicensure BSN program, this degree program takes four to five years to complete at a university and is the entry point for professional nursing practice. This is the program preferred by those who wish to become leaders in the nursing field because it offers the very best of opportunities in the job market.
There are many different types of nursing positions that make a BSN degree a requirement. In most cases the first one to two years of the BSN program is about satisfying general education requirements while the last few years revolves around nursing education courses.
