Nursing Degree Options
Nurses are incredibly important to the healthcare system. Given their role, it is imperative that they get adequate preparation and educational qualifications for the job.
If you are interested in joining the nursing profession, here are a few degree options open to you:
Entry Level
As an entry level nursing student, one of the most significant things you need to know is that you’ll have to pass the NCLEX-RN exam regardless of the degree you get. In order to pass the NCLEX-RN exam, you’ll need to complete an 18-24-month program in nursing at an accredited university and earn an associate’s degree.
This option makes sense for a variety of reasons including:
- The educational commitment is less than it is be for a bachelor’s degree.
- You can get a paid job after a year or two in school and can continue working toward your BSN while you work.
Bachelor’s
If you’re a current or an aspiring nurse and want to expand your career options, then you may find that getting a bachelor’s degree is the perfect option. Nurses with a BSN are qualified for many more jobs than nurses with just an associate’s degree.
While the BSN is typically a four-year degree that provides both classroom and clinical learning, if you are already an experienced nurse with an associate’s degree you have the option to apply to earn course credit for that experience.
An RN has a median salary of $68,450 per year, while the entry-level RN salary for someone with an associate’s degree is about $47,000 per year.
Master’s
To maximize your potential, you can get a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). With this degree you can become a Nurse Practitioner (NP), a Clinical Nurse Specialist, a Nurse Midwife, or a Nurse Anesthetist. Some programs offer the option to focus on a specific specialty such as pediatrics or oncology.
Research has shown that about 94% of Nurse Practitioners already have an MSN degree and earn a median income of about $82,000 per year.
Doctorate
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (or DNP) is the highest-level nursing degree with a clinical focus that you can earn. Although many nurses enter this program after completing their MSN, there are programs available that will accept you with only a BSN and allow you to earn an MSN and DNP concurrently in a single program.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has started a movement to encourage nurses to earn these advanced degrees and go on to become an Advanced Practice Nurse.
