OnlineNursingClasses.netUndergraduate Nursing Programs
Students with no previous undergraduate work can pursue either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing, in order to get the skills they need to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. Here are the available programs, and the benefits of each.
ADN Programs
If you’re interested in getting your nursing education quickly, the associate’s degree in nursing is your best option. These online degrees are offered by community colleges, technical schools, nursing colleges, and allied health organizations. They last two years when pursued full time; part-time programs make take an extra semester or two to complete.
These degrees require students to take both liberal arts courses, as well as online classes in nursing fundamentals. Students take courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy, and health, and in specific areas of nursing like Nursing Care of Children and Pharmacology for Nurses. Programs usually require students to come to on-site clinicals one or two days a week, to get hands-on experience.
Students enrolling in ADN programs should be aware that this shorter degree can also limit their career and how far they will be able to advance in the healthcare facility where they work. Many facilities require nurse managers or supervisors to have BSN degrees (BLS).
BSN Programs
Bachelor’s programs in nursing follow the same educational philosophy as the ADN program, but with much more breadth and depth in the types of courses that are required. These programs last four years when taken full time; some schools have an accelerated format with no summers off, that allows students to complete the degree in as little as three years.
In BSN degrees, students take a more extensive set of liberal arts courses, potentially including math, English, psychology, economics, and the humanities. Similarly, the nursing requirements include more clinical time and more course work in specific nursing issues. Clinicals usually begin in the second year of study, and take place in a variety of settings, not just in the hospital. For example, nursing students may also work in community health centers or urgent care centers.
Bachelor’s degrees can be a solid foundation for a nurse who wants to retain the possibility of applying for administrative nursing positions or entering a nursing graduate program later on. The liberal arts core of the BSN provides a greater emphasis on decision making and critical thinking, which employers value and look for in job applicants. The wider variety of clinical experiences also makes those with a bachelor’s degree stronger job candidates (BLS).