Starting nursing school

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Start nursing school in December!!! I am nervous and excited all at the same time

Oh! I think its different in the USA :)

In Canada, Health Care Assistant (care aide) is 6 months and you are not referred to as a nurse whatsoever.

Licensed Practical Nurse is 2 years (only recently, used to be 1 year)

Registered Nurse is 4 years, which requires a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

How is the USA different?

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Oh! I think its different in the USA :)

In Canada, Health Care Assistant (care aide) is 6 months and you are not referred to as a nurse whatsoever.

Licensed Practical Nurse is 2 years (only recently, used to be 1 year)

Registered Nurse is 4 years, which requires a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

How is the USA different?

Nursing Licensure in the US can be achieved in many ways.

First, a nurse can go through a (usually) hospital based diploma program. They are the shortest, and becoming increasingly more rare. Hardly anyone goes through these anymore.

Second, A nurse can get a two year associate's degree in nursing. This usually ends up in three years or more of study because of the prerequisite coursework needed. This education is obtained by about half of all RNs in the US, meaning that it is the most common degree.

Third, Someone can go straight to a baccalaureate program. They are usually 4-6 years depending on the specific program and school. About a quarter to 1/3 or nurses go this route. This is beggining to be considered the standard level of education. Many hospitals are slowly phasing out their ADN RNs and LPN/LVNs.

Fourth, if someone already has a baccalaureate degree, they can attend an accelerated BSN program (ABSN). They are from 16-24 months, and at the end of the program you have a BSN.

All of these options allow one to sit the NCLEX-RN, and become registered nurses, RNs. After licensure, however, there are some differences. For example, a BSN may earn you more money than an ADN, all other things being equal. Baccalaureate degree nurses are also able to work in more areas such as public health and being nurse educators, that ADNs are not.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care.
Knasels.babygirl, congrats! This is great that you are starting now instead of having to wait until Fall, when most Nursing programs begin (from what I heard). Have fun. :yeah:
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Congrats!!!

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