nursing schools rn

Nursing Schools | LPN, RN, BSN, MSN Degrees

When you’re looking for nursing schools, there is a lot of information to sort through. Beyond knowing the difference between an LPN, RN, BSN and MSN, what are the names of different types of nursing schools? Which ones are right for you?

This article will answer all your questions about the different levels of nurses and types of nursing degrees including ADN vs BSN.

For starters: An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is usually earned at a community college while a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) can be earned at either a 4-year university or at some community colleges. In terms of salary, an ADN-educated nurse typically makes slightly more than an LPN but less than an RN with a BSN. It takes approximately 2 years to earn an ADN and 4 years to earn a BSN degree.

Study to Become an RN in 3 Steps

To become a registered nurse, you must first complete your formal education. After graduating from high school, you can enroll in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program at a nursing school. At this level of study, you will spend time in the classroom as well as in clinical hands-on experiences to increase your knowledge and enhance your skills. If your goal is to become a nurse practitioner or advance in other ways within the profession after graduation, a bachelor’s degree program may be right for you.

After completing your studies at one of these nursing schools and earning your degree, the next step toward becoming an RN is to take the NCLEX-RN exam. Passing this computerized test licenses you as a registered nurse so that you can find work within the field and begin caring for patients.

With an RN license, there are many different jobs available to you including working with children in pediatrics, managing dialysis machines in nephrology or delivering babies as an obstetrics nurse. Find out more about what it takes to pursue each specialty by reading about some common nursing careers below:

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

• As an LPN, you’ll need to be able to work effectively in a team environment. In most cases, you’ll report directly to either a registered nurse or a doctor.
• While there are many specialized tasks that fall within the realm of what an LPN could be asked to do, the one unifying skill that every LPN must possess is the ability to perform basic patient care. This includes helping patients bathe and dress themselves, taking vital signs (such as blood pressure), administering medication, performing basic diagnostic tests (such as testing blood glucose levels), and assisting with wound care by removing sutures or changing bandages.

The Best Nursing Schools & Colleges for You

To find the perfect school, you need to make sure that it’s accredited and a good fit for you. You also want to be sure that you’ll be able to afford tuition, and consider what its alumni have gone on to do.

As you search for the best nursing school for you, it’s important that your top choices are accredited by a nationally or regionally recognized agency. Accreditation ensures that schools meet particular requirements, such as having qualified faculty members and offering programs that prepare students for their careers.

Beyond accreditation, other factors to consider include:

• Location: Does the school make sense with your transportation needs? Are there things in the area (a museum, sports team or hiking trails) that would make it feel like home?
• Size: Are you comfortable with large lecture classes or do you prefer smaller ones? How many students does the school have overall? What about in your program of interest?
• Diversity: Are there many students who share your background at this campus? If not, is diversity encouraged and celebrated here? You can get a lot from meeting people who are different from yourself—but some people also want to focus on their studies around people they’re already familiar with. It’s up to you whether diversity is an important factor in picking a nursing school.

Nursing School Costs & Tuition Breakdown

When considering nursing school, it’s important to take into account all of the costs that go into getting a degree. For some students, this is just tuition, but for many others there are other fees and expenses that need to be considered. This article will help you understand what these costs are so you can make an informed decision about which type of program is right for you.

On average, a bachelor’s degree in nursing will cost between $100 and $200 per credit hour including books and fees. While some schools offer financial aid packages that can reduce these costs substantially (such as scholarships or grants), others do not. It’s important to note that most programs have tuition rates below their stated price tag once all applicable discounts have been applied; however these discounts may vary depending on whether or not they were awarded based solely on merit (eg GPA) rather than income level as well as if they were received through state-sponsored programs like FAFSA/Pell Grants versus private organizations like Sallie Mae Loans/Scholarships etc…

If you’re unable to pay up front then it’s recommended that students apply early because funding sources such as federal grants (FAFSA), state-based scholarships or loans typically run out before classes start each semester during high demand times like spring break when more people want to start college at once instead of waiting until after graduation when fewer people apply all together because there won’t be any openings available until fall term begins later this summer so don’t miss out!

Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN)

In this article, we’ll cover the following:

• What is an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN)?
• How long does it take to get an ADN?
• What are the requirements to get an ADN?
• What are the benefits of an ADN?
• How much does an ADN cost?

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

The bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program is a four-year degree program. It is common for students to complete the first two years at another university and then apply to transfer into the BSN program at a different university or college.

The difference between BSN and ADN programs is that BSN programs tend to be more academically challenging and offer broader learning opportunities than ADN programs. Classes may include microbiology, biochemistry, psychology, sociology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, nutrition and pharmacology. You may also learn leadership skills through simulation labs and team-building exercises.

Like ADN programs, some BSN programs may require previous experience in the field before you can enroll in the program. For example, some schools will ask that you work as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) for one year or as an RN for two years before beginning your coursework. Other schools will ask that you have an associate’s degree from a community college or hospital school of nursing before entering the program directly after high school graduation.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

To become an advanced practice nurse or nurse practitioner, you must complete a master’s degree in nursing (MSN). MSN programs usually take two to three years to complete and are often followed by post-graduate certification.

All MSN programs include supervised clinical components and a thesis. These clinical components, which can be conducted as distance learning opportunities, provide students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with experienced nurses in their fields of specialization.

A master’s degree in nursing prepares graduates for roles as nurse practitioners, health systems administrators and educators. The most popular specialization is that of the nurse practitioner (NP), which offers advanced training in diagnosis and treatment. With a focus on preventing illness, NPs follow up on patient care after discharge from hospitals or clinics; treat minor illnesses; diagnose medical problems; order medical tests; prescribe medications; and manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes or high blood pressure. NPs may also specialize in providing primary care for women, newborns, children or the elderly at hospitals, schools or private practices. Other specialty areas of practice include nurse midwifery (a field that specializes in pregnancy gynecological care), nursing education and nursing administration. Nurse anesthetists are another specialized type of NP who are trained to administer anesthesia before surgeries or other medical procedures.

Here’s a guide to choosing the best nursing school for you.

Since there is such a high demand for nurses at the moment, you need to make sure that you choose the best program to set yourself apart as a candidate. Here are some things to consider when choosing a nursing school:

• What are your career goals? Think about what kind of nursing you want to do, and choose your school and program accordingly. If your ultimate goal is a master’s degree and a specialization in pediatric means of delivery, go for it! Even if it takes longer or costs more than the local community college option. The important thing is that you know where you want to end up before choosing how to get there.
• Where do you want or need to go? You need physical access to your school—do they have campuses close enough for you? No matter how great the program, if it’s on Mars it won’t do much good here on Earth! Choose from schools within reasonable driving distance of where you live.
• What is financial aid like? Cost can be prohibitive for students looking at advanced degrees—and nurses often have families who depend on their income while they’re in school full time. Make sure that whatever program you choose has good financial aid available so that this doesn’t prevent you from continuing with your education and career plan!