How to Become a Nurse [Registered or Not] Degree, Programs ?? Tips

How to Become a Nurse [Registered or Not] Degree, Programs ?? Tips Want to know how to become a nurse? How long does it take to become a nurse? Whats the typical registered nurse salary?Youve come to the right place.Figuring out how to become an RN can feel like trying to diagnose a mystery disease.There are sooo many answers online and dozens of nursing careers.How can you know if nursings right for you if you cant learn the basic facts?The short answer?In two years, you can be wearing bright blue scrubs and earning $50K a year as an RN.But stay with me to make the smartest choice.This guide answers:How long does it take to become a nurse?How to become a registered nurse in 1 years.How much do nurses make with different nursing degrees and nursing careers?The best online RN programs and RN degrees.How to Become a NurseHow hard is nursing school? Is it hard to become a nurse? How long does it take?In short, whats your quickest path to nursing like Ann Traeger?The good news? Most people can start working as a nurse in just two years, even straight ou t of high school.How to become a registered nurse:Earn a nursing degree (1 4 years)Pass the NCLEX exam (a few weeks)Receive your RN license (a few weeks)Simple, you say? Well, hang on.There are lots of different nursing degrees. Youll need to decide which is right for you.How long does it take to become a registered nurse?1 4 years.It takes 1 years for an accelerated degree (with an existing, unrelated BSN).An ADN takes 2 years.A BSN takes 4 years.An MSN takes up to 7 years.How much do nurses earn?$40K$208K.RNs earn $40K$80K depending on location and training.Nurse practitioners and anesthetists earn $90K$208K.Can you be a non-registered nurse?A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) (same thing but in California or Texas) is technically a non-registered nurse. Theyre licensed and they have to take the NCLEX-PN exam, but theyre not RNs. Their training can be done in as little as 13 months.Dont worry. Learning how to become an RN isnt as confusing as it so unds. Ill show the different nursing degrees next.Pro Tip: What is the difference between a registered nurse and BSN? RN is a title. A BSN (bachelors degree) is how to get the title. Another way is an ADN (associates degree).Plan to work as a CNA while you get your degree? Left nurse school and need a resume? See our full guides:Nursing ResumeNursing Student ResumeCaregiver ResumeCNA ResumeMedical Assistant ResumePhlebotomy ResumeICU Nurse ResumeMed-Surg Nurse ResumeCharge Nurse ResumePediatric Nurse ResumeOR Nurse ResumeLabor and Delivery Nurse ResumeNurse Practitioner ResumeLPN Resume1Choose a Nursing Degree and Complete ItStep one for how to become a nurse? Get an RN degree.But which nursing degrees pay the highest registered nurse salary? (The range is $40,000$80,000.)This section shows the easiest path and quickest way to earn the highest RN starting salary.Use any of these three nursing degree programs to get your RN license. There are great online RN programs for all three.As youll see, there are three different answers to, How long is nursing school?2-Year Nursing DegreesADN RN DegreeRegistered Nurse Salary Range: $40K$80KAn ADN (Associates Degree in Nursing) takes 2 years. Some experts say its harder to get hired with an ADN. Others disagree.prosIts how to become an RN in 2 years.Many nurses consider ADNs just as qualified as BSNs.Can get it with online RN programs.Can upgrade to BSN with online classes in 2 years or less.Can advance to MSN (masters degree) in some nursing programs without BSN.consSome employers wont hire ADNs.Harder to advance to higher-paying RN jobs.Cant work in a Magnet certified facility. (8.3% of hospitals.)But arent ADNs on life support? The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) prefers nurses with bachelors degrees. PlusSeveral states introduced legislation to ban ADNs in 2010, but it failed to pass. ADNs are frowned on by some, but a national nursing shortage means theyre here to stay.Most nurses feel bachelors- prepared nurses dont have much more prep than associates-prepared nurses. Ive worked as a travel nurse with an ADN in Washington, Virginia, and West Virginia and never had any trouble finding work.Jo-Beth StammRNThe best answer for how to become a registered nurse? Get a BSN. But if you lack the time or money, dont shy away from an ADN. You can always take BSN nursing classes online.Accelerated Degree in NursingRegistered Nurse Salary Range: $40K$80KHow do you become an RN fast?With an Accelerated Degree. Its a BSN for students who already have non-nursing bachelors degrees. It takes 12 years.prosGets your BSN in 12 years.No difference from regular BSN.Can be achieved with online RN programs.consMay require extra prerequisite classes, depending on your original coursework.Must have a bachelors degree to start.A BSN will give you more flexibility in scope of practice, better hiring chances, and higher pay. Generally a BSN is seen as better than an ADN, but Ive met some ADNs Id trust my life with and some BSNs I wouldnt trust with my lunch.Craig MNursing Interviewer4-Year Nursing DegreeBSN RN DegreeRegistered Nurse Salary Range: $40K$80KA BSN is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It takes 4 years.prosEasier to find a nursing job.Easier to earn high pay quicker.More options to advance to a masters degree.Only way to work in a Magnet certified facility. (8.3% of hospitals).Can be achieved with online RN programs.consTakes 4 years to start working as an RN.Still no guarantee of getting a job or earning more than an ADN RN.Get the highest-level license you can possibly get now. If you dont, ten years from now youll be behind.Steve DickeyNurse PractitionerPro Tip: How to become an RN comes down to picking a 2-year or 4-year RN degree. Youll also take the NCLEX exam before you start the nursing process, Ill explain that next.Learning how to become a nurse means getting a nursing job too. Start networking during school to make things easier. See our guide: How to Networ k Your Way Into a $100000 Job [Real-Life Story]2Pass the NCLEX and Get LicensedGetting an RN degree is step one for how to become a nurse. ButHow do you get an RN license?No matter which of the three nursing degrees you choose, you need to pass the NCLEX exam. It puts the registered in registered nurse.To take the NCLEX:Register with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCBSN). Theyll send you an Authorization to Test notification.The NCLEX:Is computer-administered.Asks between 75265 questions, depending how well you answer as you go.Takes 6 hours.Has a 25%30% failure rate.Can be retaken 45 days after failure.Is the second part of how to become a registered nurse (after the degree).Costs $200.What do nurses do to get ready for the NCLEX? Study hard and take some test prep.For the NCLEX, Kaplan prep was amazing. It came with my program. As a result I passed the NCLEX at 75 questions. I thought Id failed because the questions seemed so hard! Thats actually a good signits a smart test, so the better youre doing, the harder the questions.Jo-Beth StammRNPro Tip: How long does it take to become a nurse after passing the NCLEX? Its often automatic, but check nursinglicensure.org. Itll show if your state has additional requirements for how to become an RN, like a background check.One more tip for how to become a nursewrite a cover letter. See our guide: Nursing Cover Letter Sample Complete Writing Guide [15+ Examples]3Nursing Degree ProgramsReady to don your nursing clogs and start helping patients?The biggest part of how to become a nurse is earning that RN degree.Here are 40 best nursing degree programsfor in-person nursing degrees, online RN programs, ADNs, BSNs, MSNs, and accelerated degrees.The RN programs below are ranked by cost, job placement, washout rate, and other key factors.Want to know how to become an RN with the most prestigious schools? Heres a list:Top Nursing Degree Programs in the USDuke UniversityUniversity of PennsylvaniaCase Western Reserve UniversityOhio State UniversityUniversity of California Los AngelesNew York UniversityUniversity of MichiganUniversity of WashingtonUniversity of MinnesotaEmory UniversityHeres a complete list of the 50 best nursing degrees/programs in the U.S.The program youre accepted to doesnt have much bearing on your career. Just study hard and be nice. Steve Dickey, Nurse PractitionerNeed to know how to become a registered nurse online? Dont stop at the list below. There are hundreds of online RN programs in the U.S.Best Online RN ProgramsSt. Xavier UniversityOhio State UniversityMedical University of South CarolinaUniversity of ColoradoGeorge Washington UniversityJohns Hopkins UniversityUniversity of South CarolinaUniversity of TexasTylerCatholic University of AmericaDuke UniversityHere are the 150+ best online nursing degrees/programs in the U.S.How long does it take to become a nurse? That depends what path you take. The ADN online RN programs below do it in two years.Best 2-Year O nline RN ProgramsKansas City Kansas Community CollegeSnead State Community CollegeHutchinson Community CollegeMitchell Community CollegeWestern Wyoming Community CollegeAmarillo CollegePratt Community CollegeWest Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeSoutheast Arkansas CollegeHolmes Community CollegeHeres the full list of the 25 best 2-year online nursing degrees/programs in the U.S.Trying to get an RN degree on a budget? Try one of the affordable online RN programs below.Most Affordable BSN Online RN ProgramsNewman UniversityLincoln Memorial UniversityBall State UniversityFort Hays State UniversityNorthern Arizona UniversityUniversity of Rhode IslandAurora UniversityUniversity of Northern ColoradoWestern Carolina UniversityClarkson CollegeHeres a list of the 25 most affordable 4-year online nursing degrees/programs in the U.S.Pro Tip: Nursing school requirements for an ADN or BSN include a high school diploma or GED. Youll also need to take the Test of Essential Academic Skills ( TEAS).Applying to different types of nursing jobs means answering interview questions like, Why do you want to be a nurse? See our guide for help: Top 25 Nursing Interview Questions Answers4Also ConsiderTheres a lot more to your career path than simply learning how to become an RN.Will you stop at RN? Will you specialize to earn six figures? Nursing careers can take you lots of different places.ADN to BSNGot your ADN RN degree but want to upgrade to a bachelors?Hundreds of ADN-to-BSN nursing degrees make it easy to switch.Heres a list of the top 100 online RN programs that convert a 2-year degree into a 4-year degree while you work.Chamberlain University does a flexible online RN to BSN, as well as masters programs. Classes last 8 weeks and you take one or more at a time,so you can fit it to your schedule.Jo-Beth StammRNADN to Masters DegreeNurses with masters degrees (MSN) can earn registered nurse salary from $90K$208K. The low-end is for an entry-level Nurse Practitioner. The hi gh-end goes to top-earning nurse anesthetists.Did you know you can jump straight from 2-year nursing degrees to MSN degrees without a BSN?Nurse Journalpublishes a list of the top 12 RN-to-MSN degree programs.Continuing EducationNurses need a certain number of CEUs (Continuing Education Units) every year. The amount depends on the state you work inusually 2530 hours.You can fill those units by attending hospital-sponsored trainings, conferences, and online nursing classes.How Much Do Nurses Make?How Much do Nurses Make?ADN/BSN RN$40K$80KMSN NP$90K$120KMSN NA$150K$208KPro Tip: Whats the fastest way to become a nurse? With a 1 -year accelerated RN degree. It only works if youve already got a bachelors. Starting from scratch, a 2-year ADN is the quickest way to become a nurse.Need a resume to get into RN school? See our guide: How to Write a High School Resume for College ApplicationKey TakeawayNow you know how to become an RN, including the steps to becoming a nurse after high school, how to get an RN license, and how many years it takes to become a nurse.Heres a quick recap of how to become a nurse:Get an RN degree. Choose from an accelerated degree (1 years) ADN (2 years) or BSN (4 years).Take the NCLEX exam. Once you pass the NCLEX, getting your nursing license is automatic in most states.Optional: Since employers prefer BSNs, consider upgrading. Lots of online RN programs turn 2-year nursing degrees into 4-year degrees in as little as 3 semesters.The skys the limit. With an RN degree, you can advance to a masters and become a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist. They make $90K$208K.Do you have questions on how to become a nurse? Still not sure which degree to go for? Give us a shout in the comments! Wed be happy to reply.