Types of Nursing Degrees & Programs

Find Nursing Schools Near You

Find the right school right now.

ARTICLE TOOLS

What to Look for in a Nursing Program
Are you a caring, empathetic individual looking for a career that values your traits? Are you intrigued by the fast-paced atmosphere of a hospital? Are you simply fascinated by the field of health care? If you said yes to any of these, consider a nursing degree. Nurses have never been in higher demand, and the career options are broader than you’d think. Check out the types of degrees available to see what’s right for you.
Choosing a Degree Level
What types of degrees do nursing schools offer? That depends on the school in question, but these are the types you can look forward to at most of them:
• Diplomas & Certificates: Usually clocking in at less than a year, these entry-level programs focus on very specific sets of readily appliable skills.
• Associates Degree: This two-year entry-level program focuses mainly on hands-on skills, applied sciences, and preparing for the NCLEX exam.
• Bachelor’s Degree: A four-year degree program, focusing on skills and science as well as research, theory, and leadership.
• Master’s Degree: Between one and two years, this degree is primarily research-based and prepares students for roles in administration and education.
Where the Degrees Are
So, you know what sort of degree you want – but where should you go to get it? Trudging through endless college brochures and websites can be discouraging, but narrowing down your choices can be a lot of help toward getting you to exactly where you want to be.
• Diplomas and associates degrees for the nursing field are typically found at community colleges and vocational schools. The most popular associates degree in nursing is simply the Associate of Degree in Nursing (ADN) or the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) — depending on what’s offered at your college, this is the degree level required to become an RN, or registered nurse.
• You will find a bachelor’s degree in nursing at most four-year colleges and universities. The type of degree you will most likely want is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which builds on RN-level skills to prepare stu
• Interested in a master’s degree or higher? These are found at both private and public universities and colleges. You may look into a specialized nursing school, or choose to opt for a college that offers many options for majors. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the most common graduate degree in nursing, focusing on advanced concepts and leadership skills to advance your career, but there are also many specializations available to fine tune the direction of your career path.
No matter what type of degree program you decide to go for, make sure that it comes from a fully accredited institution. Accreditation is what separates the scams from the legitimate colleges: without it, there’s no guarantee that your degree lives up to the standards that prove you’ve truly earned your degree, or that the degree you were granted is worth the paper it’s printed on. When it comes to accreditation, a little bit of research can save you a whole lot of heartache down the road.

What to Look for in a Nursing Program

Are you a caring, empathetic individual looking for a career that values your traits? Are you intrigued by the fast-paced atmosphere of a hospital? Are you simply fascinated by the field of health care? If you said yes to any of these, consider a nursing degree. Nurses have never been in higher demand, and the nursing career options are broader than you’d think. Check out the types of nursing degrees available to see what’s right for you.

Choosing a Degree Level

What types of degrees do nursing schools offer? That depends on the school in question, but these are the types you can look forward to at most of them:

• Diplomas & Certificates: Usually clocking in at less than a year, these entry-level programs focus on very specific sets of readily appliable skills.

• Associates Degree: This two-year entry-level program focuses mainly on hands-on skills, applied sciences, and preparing for the NCLEX exam.

• Bachelor’s Degree: A four-year degree program, focusing on skills and science as well as research, theory, and leadership.

• Master’s Degree: Between one and two years, this degree is primarily research-based and prepares students for roles in administration and education.

Where the Degrees Are

So, you know what sort of degree you want – but where should you go to get it? Trudging through endless college brochures and websites can be discouraging, but narrowing down your choices can be a lot of help toward getting you to exactly where you want to be.

• Diplomas and associates degrees for the nursing field are typically found at community colleges and vocational schools. The most popular associates degree in nursing is simply the Associate of Degree in Nursing (ADN) or the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) — depending on what’s offered at your college, this is the degree level required to become an RN, or registered nurse.

• You will find a bachelor’s degree in nursing at most four-year colleges and universities. The type of degree you will most likely want is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which builds on RN-level skills to start preparing students for advancement within their profession and for taking on leadership roles.

• Interested in a master’s degree or higher? These are found at both private and public universities and colleges. You may look into a specialized nursing school, or choose to opt for a college that offers many options for majors. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the most common graduate degree in nursing, focusing on advanced concepts and leadership skills to advance your nursing career, but there are also many specializations available to fine tune the direction of your career path.

No matter what type of degree program you decide to go for, make sure that it comes from a fully accredited institution. Accreditation is what separates the scams from the legitimate colleges: without it, there’s no guarantee that your degree lives up to the standards that prove you’ve truly earned your degree, or that the degree you were granted is worth the paper it’s printed on. When it comes to accreditation, a little bit of research can save you a whole lot of heartache down the road.

Find Nursing Schools Near You

Find the right school today.

Explore Get Degrees:

Career Education & Articles

  • College Faculty Interviews: Professors, Deans, Phd's & Directors give you unprecedented insight into your favorite school.

  • Career & Job Profiles: Unsure about your career path? Study profiles of hundreds of careers. Know what it takes including Education, Employment and Salary Outlooks.

  • Student Newspaper: Our staff writers serve it up the news on The Distance Daily.

  • Scholarly Articles: Advice and insight for students, grads and hungry career seekers written by the pros.

College Search Tools

Related Nursing Articles

International Resources

Copyright © 2000-2009 Get Degrees ®. All Rights Reserved. Get Degrees is a registered trademark. No part of this web site may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical without permission in writing from the publisher. All logos, trademarks and other propriety marks belong to their respective owners.

Follow Get Degrees on Twitter