What are you able to do with a bachelor’s degree in nursing?

Do you would like (or need) to start in nursing as soon as possible? In as little as two years, you possibly can earn an associate’s degree in nursing and hit the job market. Let’s take a have a look at the profession options available to nurses with an ADN.

Career Paths with an Associate Degree in Nursing

For some ADN graduates, becoming a registered nurse is the following step. Once you turn into a registered nurse, you possibly can pick from a wide selection of healthcare settings. The median salary for registered nurses was $80,000, based on our Nurse.com 2024 Nurse Salary and Work-Life Report.

Here are some typical work environments where individuals with a bachelor’s degree in nursing can find employment:

• Hospitals are the most important employers of nurses, offering opportunities in a wide range of departments, similar to surgical wards, intensive care units, pediatrics, or emergency departments. Nurses in hospitals often work in dynamic environments, coping with a wide range of complex patient cases.
• Nurses in these settings take care of patients who don’t require hospitalization. You’ll perform screenings, assist with minor procedures, and administer vaccinations, amongst other tasks.
• As an associate’s degree in nursing on this setting, you’ll take care of patients who need prolonged care attributable to disability, aging, or chronic illness. There is currently a high demand for nurses in long-term care. You may have the chance to construct long-term relationships together with your patients.
• In this hands-on environment, you’ll help patients get better from surgery, injury, or illness. Rehabilitation nurses develop and implement care plans, working closely with physical therapists.
• You will provide medical care to patients who’re recovering from surgery, managing chronic conditions, or receiving palliative care. Home care nurses have significant flexibility of their work schedules and a high level of autonomy of their day by day tasks.

Consider taking the following step

With an associate degree in nursing, nurses can pursue specialized roles that align with their interests or expertise. You will probably want to change your specialty to geriatric nursing, critical care nursing, mental health nursing, or oncology nursing, amongst other options. If you select to specialize, you will have to acquire additional training or certification.

Your associate degree in nursing gives you a solid foundation to start your nursing profession. However, many nurses with an ADN decide to proceed their education by earning a sophisticated degree. Here are some trends in healthcare to think about:

• Some hospitals require nurses to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN).
• Some hospitals hire nurses with an ADN degree with the agreement that they are going to earn a BSN degree inside a specified time frame.
• Pursuant to New York State Law of 2017BSN in 10″ By law, new nurses must complete an RN-BSN degree program within 10 years of becoming licensed.

Here are two career paths for nurses with an ADN:

After earning your associate degree in nursing, you can choose to pursue a BSN. According to American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), most AACN member schools offer RN-to-BSN programs for graduates of ADN programs.

Earning a BSN can improve your job prospects, making you eligible for higher-paying positions. More than 70% of nursing workers have a BSN or higher, according to 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey. If you’re short on time due to a busy work schedule, consider a BSN program that offers online or part-time options.

Earning an MSN opens the door to even greater opportunities, including advanced practice positions (e.g., nurse specialist or nurse anesthetist).

4 Benefits of Obtaining an ADN Degree

1. An associate degree in nursing program typically takes about two years to complete. This allows new nurses to enter the workforce faster than those who earn a BSN, which is typically a four-year program.
2. These nursing programs are often less expensive than BSN programs. This makes them a more affordable option for many students.
3. Associate’s Degree in Nursing programs emphasize practical clinical skills necessary for patient care. This prepares graduates to begin work as registered nurses immediately after passing the NCLEX examIn contrast, BSN programs focus more on topics such as nursing theory or health policy in addition to practical skills.
4. Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates can gain valuable experience working as a registered nurse, which will help them decide whether to continue their education or specialize in a particular field.

Challenges and Considerations

An associate’s degree in nursing offers many opportunities. Holders of this degree can become nurses—you don’t necessarily have to go on to earn a BSN.

However, some employers prefer or require a BSN for certain positions. And in competitive job markets, nurses with a BSN will have an advantage over those with an ADN.

In addition, some advanced practice or management roles require a BSN or higher. Nurses with an ADN would need to continue their education to take advantage of these opportunities.

Not sure whether to pursue an associate’s degree in nursing or a BSN? Consider these questions:

• Do you would like to enter the job market as soon as possible?
• How will the length and intensity of every program fit into your current life situation, including work and family responsibilities?
• What do tuition and charges appear like between programs?
• Do you would like to work in a specialized field (e.g. critical care or public health) that may require a bachelor’s degree in nursing?
• Do you would like to pursue management or administrative positions that typically require a university degree (BSN or higher)?

A invaluable and comprehensive certificate

Associate’s degree in nursing graduates find their careers very rewarding. Working as a nurse, you should have a big impact on the lives of patients. An associate’s degree in nursing opens up many opportunities, including working in a wide range of healthcare settings.

The number of profession paths available to ADN graduates provides great flexibility. You can work within the nursing field more quickly while considering whether it is sensible to pursue additional education to further your profession goals.

Some nurses with an associate degree in nursing may discover a rewarding profession that they decide to stay in without the necessity for added education. Others may determine to pursue further education and/or specialization later in life. Either way, an ADN offers an inexpensive path to a rewarding profession in nursing.