What are the levels of nursing degrees?

like what is the diffrence between LPN and an RN ,and a BSN and a MSN ? what are the levels and amount of schooling needed ? which one are you after four years of school (i know you have to take the test) ? any websites and hotlines would be a great help . Also how much school do you need to become an RN ?

An LPN is different from an RN. They are two different levels of licensure. An RN is more highly trained and carries more legal responsibility. An LPN is generally a 9 month to 1 year school program with no pre-requisites, and I do not believe you earn any formal degree (maybe an applied science degree at the most, but I don't think so).

An RN can be an RN with as little as a 2 year Associates Degree from a community college. Most of the time though it takes 3 years because there are prerequisites you need before starting in the nursing program.

A higher RN degree is the BSN, which is a 4 year degree in nursing. You take the same license exam regardless of which degree you earn, but BSN nurses are eligible to become certified as a Public Health Nurse. They are more highly trained in nursing theory and history, nursing research, and leadership / management than a 2 year RN, and it is easier to get a management job as a RN with a BSN. As a regular staff nurse, a BSN doesn't make you any more money to make it worth it - my hospital only pays $1 per hour more for a BSN than an Associates Degree.

A MSN is advanced beyond the BSN by about 2 years. You usually specialize in an area and choose a degree track like some form of a Nurse Practitioner (pediatric, neonatal, etc), Nurse Educator (teaches nursing school or works at a hospital training their nurses, etc.), or Nursing Leadership & Management (grooms you for higher positions that are less bedside nursing and more administrative).

You can also earn a PhD in nursing, which is good for advanced areas of research or higher institutions of learning, like working as a Dean at a nursing school, etc.

I've done so much researching on this career bc this is what im going for. well to be an LPN u pretty much just need a associates in nursing and take a LPN licensing exam. To be an RN typically u need 4 years of school but apparently u could take the exam after just 2 years of nursing. I wouldnt recommend that go for BSN which is a bachelors of science in nursing. take the exam and then ur a registerd nurse.
A MSN is masters degree in nursing. You get better jobs with a masters and definetly a higher pay. I plan on getting a masters degree to be a CRNA( nurse anesthetist). CRNA's make a TON of money!

Jill is CORRECT! I second everything she says.