Thinking about getting a nursing degree but confused about which is suitable? Let this article serve as a guide.
The Nursing Diploma
A nursing diploma, achievable in just 2 – 3 years, qualifies individuals to work in a hospital or clinic setting immediately. It’s what entry-level nurses earn after graduating from a nurse’s assistance program, but it’s not a nursing license. A nursing license is granted to individuals who’ve passed the NCLEX-RN exam and is required for anyone wishing to work as a registered nurse (regardless of degree type).
The Associates Degree in Nursing
An Associates Degree in Nursing is achievable in 4 years, and it too, qualifies individuals to work in a hospital or clinic setting. Nurses who’ve earned an associates degree often go on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree – especially since credits earned with the associates degree are readily applied to a BSN nursing program.
The BSN Degree
A Bachelors in Nursing Degree (BSN) is achievable in 4 years and it qualifies individuals to work as a nurse supervisor in hospitals, nursing homes, home health services and doctor’s offices. Nurses with a BSN earn more than CNAs, LPNs, and RNs. They also qualify themselves for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctoral Degree in Nursing.
The Masters in Nursing Degree
A Master’s in Nursing Degree (MSN) is achievable in just 2 years, but only after you’ve completed a BSN nursing program. You can’t simply earn an MSN after two years of study. A BSN or Associates Degree in Nursing is a prerequisite for this gem – especially since it qualifies individuals to work in advanced clinical training situation and research.
The Doctorate Degree in Nursing
A doctorate degree in nursing is achievable in a course of about four to six years, and like with the preceding degree, it requires a prerequisite as well: the MSN. If your BSN studies are extensive enough, an MSN might not be required, but that’s the exception and not the norm. However unlike with other nursing programs, you aren’t issued a degree at the end of your training. There’s a bit more work to do. Earning a doctorate degree in nursing additionally requires your own unique dissertation — a heavily research-based treatise that introduces your own unique solution to a health-related problem.