An RN can earn an associate's or bachelor's degree.
To become a registered nurse (RN), an individual must first earn a college degree. RNs generally choose to earn either an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor's degree of science in nursing (BSN). After earning a degree, both ADN and BSN graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Nursing school candidates should determine which degree is the most suitable choice for them.
Completion Time
An associate's degree in nursing takes a shorter amount of time to complete than a bachelor's degree in nursing. Most nursing students take about two and a half to three years to complete an associate's degree program; it generally takes about four years to complete a bachelor's degree program. The number of courses that a student takes each semester generally determines how long it takes to complete a nursing degree, but some schools require nursing students to attend full-time to remain in the program.
Coursework
A BSN requires students to complete two years of general education courses, while ADN students may need to take just a few general-education courses, such as English and speech communications. Both bachelor's degree and associate's degree students will usually need to take anatomy and physiology, biology and chemistry, in addition to nursing courses. BSN students generally take nursing courses in more areas than ADN students and are generally given the option to choose electives in their areas of interest.
Average Earnings
There's a difference in earnings between registered nurses who have associate's degrees and those who have bachelor's degrees. According to Drexel University, RNs with bachelor's degrees generally earn about $6,000 more a year than RNs with associate's degrees (as of July 2010). Some nursing students may feel that a few extra college semesters are worth the additional earnings that an RN with a bachelor's degree will earn during his career.
Employability
The job outlook for all registered nurses is expected to be excellent. RNs who have a bachelor's degree will find the best job prospects, however, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). A bachelor's degree in nursing can increase a registered nurse's chances of becoming employed in areas where job opportunities are competitive. Some employers may prefer to hire BSN graduates because they are thought to have more experience, as their education generally consists of more nursing courses.
Cost
An associate's degree in nursing is generally more affordable because it's usually earned at a two-year community college in less time than a bachelor's degree. According to the U.S. Department of Education, in 2002--2003, the average cost of a public in-state two-year school was $1,479 a year; the average cost of a public in-state four-year school was $4,059 a year. College tuition varies according to whether the student remains in-state or attends a public or private college.
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