Nursing Degrees
Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN)
An Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree, also known as an ADN, is considered to be a stepping stone for many targeting for their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. This course runs for two years and focuses more on technical skills. Upon graduation, graduates become registered nurses and can begin working immediately. Many choose this option as it allows them to start earning money at a greater pace than if they were to undertake a four-year BSN program.
Although ADN programs are only available in the US, enrollment for international students is also available. Also, requirements may differ between institutions, but generally candidates have to complete one form of preparatory course or another in related fields, in addition to an SAT score of at least 940. For foreign candidates, a minimum of five Cs on the GCSE is required.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree
In the field of nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is the requirement most sought by employers in the job market. From vacancy ads, you will notice that the BSN is a job requirement for many positions related to professional nursing. This happens due to good cause.
While you can earn your RN by obtaining a nursing diploma or an associate's degree in nursing, a BSN program is the way to go if you want to advance your career and increase your salary. The management and leadership lessons provided in a BSN program will put you into supervisory and lead roles while in your nursing career.
Paths to a BSN Degree
Depending on your situation, there are many ways to earn your BSN. Different programs cater to different situations, while the same programs may also contain different requirements depending on specific schools.
For many people, earning a BSN is a step towards getting into a management position. These people are veteran registered nurses who have worked in a medical environment and have experienced years of nursing hands on. Thus, there are many programs offered by American universities that bridge the gap between an RN and a diploma or associate's degree in nursing to a full BSN.
RN to BSN programs are typically designed with the working person in mind. It provides credit for nursing skills acquired through school or work experience, in addition to very flexible hours catered to working nurses. The classes may be in the evenings or only on weekends.
Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN)
A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is typically a 18- to 24-month program that allows a nurse to specialize in a particular area, such as healthcare administration. If you need a Bachelor of Science degree in healthcare administration, California Coast University offers an online program.
While most people working towards an MSN would already have a BSN, there are programs out there that allow a nurse with an ADN to earn his/her bachelor’s and master’s degree withinin a single curriculum. There are also programs available that accept graduates from non-nursing backgrounds.
Program Types
The most common master's degree in nursing program is the standard two-year master's program at a graduate university. Students attend these programs after having completed their bachelor's degree in nursing programs. However, there are some alternatives to this method of obtaining an MSN.
The RN-to-MSN program is a popular choice among many nursing students. This program allows an RN who possess an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing to earn a master’s degree immediately after completion of a BSN program. The programs are usually tailored in a way that would meet the specific needs of the student with no overlap between BSN and MSN coursework.
Another alternative is the direct entry MSN program. Similar to the accelerated MSN, this option allows graduates from non-nursing fields to earn their MSN by crediting their liberal arts coursework into the program. Students in this program will have to complete one year of undergraduate nursing coursework combined with obtaining RN-licensure, followed by two years of master’s level nursing coursework. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required by most institutes that offer this program.
Degree Specializations
A nurse working toward a Master of Science in Nursing degree has an array of specializations from which to choose. These specializations can be lumped into the following groupings.
Advanced Specialist Role
These programs prepare nurses who wish to take on leadership roles within the nursing profession. Therefore, the coursework for this focuses on administration, education, informatics or research areas. Also, this is the most common area of specialization chosen by most students.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Programs under this category prepare the nurse for a leadership and organizational role within a highly specialized field. The focuses for these programs include adult medical and surgical nursing to psychiatric and mental health nursing.
Nurse Practitioner
These groupings of programs focus on skills necessary to identify health risks, promote wellness, diagnose and manage illnesses, prescribe medication, and mobilize resources for patients. With this, there are four areas of focus — acute care, adult, family, and pediatric and psychiatric primary care.
Nurse Anesthetist
