looking to become a RN

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jun 16, 2006

You're right that the associate degree (AS or AAS, sometimes referred to as ADN) is the most popular entry point into nursing. Do you have a particular college in mind? Might be best to sit down with an academic advisor from the school to find out more about their programs. We can tell you some general things though. Usually before you're even admitted to an AS program in nursing there are prerequisitie courses to complete, which can take a year or more, which is why the term 'two-year degree' is a little misleading. Although an AS degree in other fields typically takes two years, an AS in Nursing is often a three-year (or more) pursuit. Your first step, though, is to sit down with an advisor and get a general gameplan.

You might also see if you can do some hospital volunteer work in a patient care area this summer to get a better idea of what nursing is all about. It's an awfully long road to travel if you're not sure of your decision. While there's nothing wrong with wanting a better career, if you don't really enjoy caring for your patients, it can be a hard job to stick with sometimes. You'll likely deal with short staffing, time constraints (not ever feeling like there's enough time to care for each patient), and a much bigger workload than many people expect when they enter nursing. Now, I'm a happy nurse and I consider myself lucky to be where I am, but it's not all roses. Bottom line: You need to check it out first. Make sure that taking care of sick people is really your thing.

Good luck!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2006

here's some reading for you. these sites will give you information on what nurses do and the differences in the nursing programs offered in colleges and hospitals.

http://www.discovernursing.com/

http://www.nursingsociety.org/career/cmap.html

http://www.nursingexamprepinfo.com/ - information on the various pre-nursing exams that you might be required to take before being accepted into a nursing school

http://www.wetfeet.com/content/careers/nursing.aspx - about nursing from webfeet.com

http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm - about registered nursing from the u.s. department of labor

http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos102.htm - about lpn nursing from the u.s. department of labor

http://www.medicalinsiderreview.com/ - information on careers in healthcare field

sddlnscp · Jun 16, 2006

Right! If you want to bite it off in little chunks (which is what I am working on), here is a not too bad game plan: Apply to an Associate's Degree program (typically referred to as an ASN or ADN) of nursing and take all the required pre-reqs while on the wait-list. (This took me about a year to complete.) Once you are accepted, you will go through the school's nursing program (this is generally another 2 years or so depending on if you are full time or part time and the school's curriculum - mine will be 2 years part-time, but we have to go summer semesters also). Upon successful completion of the program, you are able to sit for the boards (called the NCLEX) to become a licensed RN.

If you want to pursue further education, you can do either online or on campus RN-BSN (bachelor's) programs which continues on from your ASN/ADN program. A lot of times, this takes another 2-3 years depending on the school and the requirements. This allows you to work in positions such as health nursing, school nursing, nurse management, etc. It is more theory-based education. (Note: Bachelor's degree RNs still work at the RN level, you get higher education through a Master's degree for further specialized roles.)

If you feel that you want to specialize at a level such as NP, CNM, CNS, etc., you can go on for a Master's Degree which is normally another 2-3 years after your Bachelor's degree. These degrees are intensive education specific to the area you are wanting to study.

Then, if you are interested in teaching at a university or any further training, you can always get a Doctorate in Nursing which is typically 2-3 years past the Master's education.

My plan is to do the ADN (Associates) through my local CC, then I will do the RN - BSN program online and eventually I want to work as a NP, so I will do a Master's degree program as well, probably also online since we do not live in the area of a 4-year college/university.

Hope this helps. Best of luck to you!!! It may look like a long road, but you learn so much at each step that the time will fly (so they say - I hope so, it certainly seems that way so far) and you will be very well prepared as you move up in each level. Enjoy the journey! :)