What is needed education wise for a career as a registered nurse?

To get your Registered Nurse (RN) degree you must complete either 2 or 4 years of schooling. Both the 2 and 4 years of schooling will include English, History, Sciences (chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology), Algebra, statistics, psycholoogy, nutrition, speech to name just a few. The link at the bottom lists the course requires at one college for a 2 year degree. The 4 year degree then adds more theory and managment courses. The practical courses of nursing are basically the same between the 2 and 4 year programs. There used to be 3 year RN programs but most of those were hospital sponsored and have been phased out as the community colleges started the 2-years programs.. However, just because the course description says 2 years, doesn't mean it will take 2 years. Most of the students in my RN program had been in school for at least 1-2 years before even being accepted into the RN program. Most of them, like myself had done a lot of the general education courses before starting the actual nursing program. Check with the counselor at the school of your choice.

If you are interested in going into school nursing, working in a Veteran's Administration facillity or in the military, occupational health, nurse practioner (master's degree), clinical nurse specialist or several other more specialized areas of nursing most of those reguire a bachelors degree at the very least and some require you to progress to a Masters. I just finished my BSN a year ago after being a 2-year RN for a number of years. I did it through the University of Phoenix Online program for working adults. It took 2 years and LOTS of money. I hope that I will make the money back over the next few years and not just have a pretty piece of paper hanging on my wall.

You can either get your associate degree (2 yrs) or you can get your bachelor's degree (4 yrs). Since graduates from both programs take the same state boards, both are considered RN's. To be able to work in management as an RN though, most employers/hospitals want the RN to have their bachelor's degree. There are pro's and cons to both programs.