What is the difference between a diploma in registered nursing and recieving a associate degree in nursing?

getting a diploma in nursing takes 18 mos and an associate degree program takes 2 yrs whats the difference?

in the 2 yr associate degree program you earn your RN license at the end when you take the NCLEX exam. none of this is to be an LPN

the difference is that you learn more and can command better pay,

Actually to become a Registered Nurse, you will be in school for 4 years. The other programs allow you to become an LPN (or LVN depending on the state). I think the 18 month program is the one you want in order to be the LPN/LVN, and the 2 yr program is the basis for the 4 year RN program.

I've never heard of a nursing diploma program without a degree, unless you mean the18-month thing is a Licensed Practical Nurse, and I know the Associate Degree is a Registered Nurse. Either way, the difference is better job opportunities and higher pay for the Registered Nurse. Two totally different ballgames there.

You can get a 2 year or a 4 year RN. In most cases, the 4 -year will bring better jobs and higher pay, but where I live, the 2 year graduates from the local community college get the jobs way faster than the university graduates, because all the area hospitals and clinics know that the community college grads received FAR better training. It all depends on where you live, but once you get the field experience, the 2-year vs 4-year thing isn't as important.

I have heard of those programs before. I've heard of some hospitals having their own diploma program and training their staff (LPN/LVN's or sometimes CNA's) to become RN's. Those who go through this training can get their license as a registered nurse, but do not have an actual degree in the field. Having a degree in the field can give you better career opportunities.

If you want to stop at being an RN without any more growth in the nursing field, then the diploma would be just fine to take. But if you want to go further, take the associate's degree program.

IN the "olden days" there used to be 3 ways to become a RN:
1. a 2 year AA RN program from a community college; where you had to do other classes for the AA degree besides the nursing core ones (associate degree).
2. A 4 year, Bachelors RN where you get a BSRN and have to take all the requirements of a bachelors degree.
3. A certificate program.(3 years). This is a very old program when hospitals (a lot of them catholic) had their own nursing programs and you lived in the hospital dorms etc. You learned only at that hospital & did not do any other general knowledge classes for a degree. This was also how many of the European nursing schools were run. Los Angeles County Hospital had a certificate program in the 80's, as did Queen of Angels, as I recall. Now most programs have closed due to money and college and universities have taken over.

A LVN/LPN program is different from a 2 year RN program

There is no difference, honestly