RN Nurse Schools

There are three major educational paths to registered nursing-a Bachelor’s of Science degree in nursing (BSN), an Associate degree in nursing (ASN), and a diploma.BSN programs , offered by colleges and universities, take about 4 years to complete. In 2006, 709 nursing programs offered degrees at the bachelor’s level. ADN programs, offered by community and junior colleges, take about 2-3 years to complete. About 850 RN programs offered associate degrees. Diploma programs, administered in hospitals, last about 3 years. Only about 70 programs off diplomas.

Many RNs with an ADN or diploma later enter bachelor’s programs to prepare for a broader scope of nursing practice. Often they take an entry level position and then take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits to work toward a BSN by completing an RN-to-BSN program. In 2006, there were 629 RN-to-BSN programs in the United States. Accelerated master’s degree in nursing (MSN) programs are also available by combining 1 year of an accelerated BSN program with 2 years of graduate study. In 2006, there were 149 RN-to-MSN programs.