which degree for RN?

[sukh2013]

Hi,

I am a high school senior and I want to become an RN. I dont want to spend too much money so was thinking to go to JCTC (jefferson community college) to get basic courses out of the way and then transfer to a university to get Bachelors degree. I am confused if this is the best way to go. At community college, there is Practical Nursing (to become an LPN) and Associate Degree Nursing Program[COLOR=#393331] (to become an RN). Whats the best way to become an RN without spending too much money or maybe get a basic nurse job and then do RN on the side? If i do get bachelors, will I still have to take the RN exam? or is that only required if I do LPN? Thanks in advance!

[erydelle]

Hi,

The shortest RN program would be the Associates Degree for Nursing that you mentioned. Usually it's a joint two year program that a community college has with a hospital with nursing school. You take the pre-requisite science classes in your community college & your nursing classes/clinicals at the hospital, and graduate with an A.S. in Nursing (or sometimes in Applied Science), and a diploma from the nursing school. You will then be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam which, after passing, will make you an RN.

A BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) is a 4-year program at a university. You will have the same pre-requisite science course load and clinical work like the A.S., but much more in-depth. You will still need to take the NCLEX-RN upon graduation & that'll make you an RN.

Although you can start working as an RN with a A.S., having a BSN is highly preferred & also has a higher pay. I look through nursing job listings & see many of them prefer RNs with BSNs.

Hope this helps!

[poppycat, ADN, BSN]

I'm not sure what community college erydelle is talking about where you get a separate diploma from a hospital. That is not how Associate degree programs work. ALL of the classes are taken at the community college & clinicals are done in area facilities. The only diploma you get is for an Associate of Applied Sciences from the community college & that qualifies you to sit for NCLEX-RN.