A nursing degree can offer students many wonderful opportunities to enter the medical field. Nurses are one of the most sought after professionals in the medical field. With the field of nursing holding so much promise over the next decade, it is no wonder why so many students are choosing to attend school to become nurses. The Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) offers one of the quickest ways to enter the nursing field. Students receive a solid foundation in nursing that they can use to earn advanced degrees in nursing if they choose.
What is an Associates Degree in Nursing?
The Associates Degree in Nursing is a two-year program that prepares students to work in medical facilities as nurses. The Associates Degree in Nursing focuses on teaching students about preventative care for patients. The aging population of individuals needing nursing care is one of the many factors that drive the need for professional nurses. With a 22% increase in growth through the year 2018, many opportunities are available with the Associates Degree in Nursing.
The program is structured to provide students with the skill needed to work in the nursing profession. The Associates Degree in Nursing helps students gain a wealth of knowledge and skills to provide general nursing skills in a variety of setting. The programs combine classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, patient care simulation, and supervised clinical experiences in a variety of medical facility settings.
Many graduates of ADN programs go on to become Registered Nurses by passing the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). Students may have to meet additional requirements for the state in which they practice nursing.
Online, Traditional, & Night & Weekends Associate Nursing Programs
Students have a variety of education options when it comes to earning their Associates Degree in Nursing. Perhaps the most commonly used educational method is the traditional nursing program. Student can choose between full-time and part-time schooling on a traditional college or university campus. Both options allow students to receive their nursing degree on their own terms in 2 years or less.
The online method of earning a nursing degree is becoming more and more popular. Many students have busy lives that prevent them from attending the campus of a traditional college or university. The online option allows nursing students to attend school when they want to attend. They can choose between full-time and part-time education options just as they can with traditional nursing programs.
Night and weekend nursing programs also offer a great deal of flexibility for nursing students. This option allows students to fast track their nursing education so that they can begin working sooner. The programs offer rigorous training through advanced and accelerated nursing training so that students can work and attend school in order to attain their dreams of becoming nurses.
What is the Difference Between an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) VS Bachelors Degree in Nursing (BSN)?
The main difference between an Associates Degree in Nursing and a Bachelors Degree in Nursing is the amount of time students spend in school. It takes approximately 2 years to earn an ADN and approximately 4 years to earn a BSN.
Students can take the NCLEX-RN after completing each of these programs so that they can become Registered Nurses. The BSN program offers a more in depth educational experience because students learn more skills and gain more knowledge than they do with the ADN nursing program.
Employers are more likely to hire those with the BSN for administrative or management positions than those with only an ADN. Many employers will pay for those who currently have an ADN to go back to school to earn their BSN.
Associate Degree in Nursing Salary Information
The salaries for an Associate Degree in Nursing vary by certification. If the nurses earn the credentials of Registered Nurse, they can earn a median salary of $62,450 annually. They highest 10% earn $92,240 annually, while the lowest 10 percent earn $43,410 annually.
For those with the Licensed Practical Nurse Nurse credentials, nurses can expect to make an average salary of $34,000 annually. The salary range is $32,000 to $40,000 annually with potential to increase the salary with experience.
The Associates Degree in Nursing offers students the option to enter the field of nursing in a shorter amount of time than it takes by earning the Bachelors Degree in Nursing. Students can attend school for 2 years or less, become Registered Nurses, and begin working in medical facilities around the world. Earning the ADN is one of the ways that students can begin a successful career as a nurse.
Thinking about going to Nursing School?
Are you contemplating going to nursing school, or are you actually in nursing school right now? Nursing school can be challenging, especially if you do not know what to expect. Here is a great guide by S. L. Page BSN, RN called “How to Pass Nursing School“. This book gives you detailed information about how to pass nursing school from beginning to end. S.L. Page, the creator of this website, complied all the information students what to know about nursing school into one easy to read guide. She gives in depth information on how to succeed in nursing school.
S.L. Page graduated from nursing school with honors and passed the NCLEX-RN on her first try. In this ebook, she reveals the strategies she used to help her succeed.
Here is what the book looks like: