Earn Your Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN)

The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree, also known as an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), is one of the most desired nursing degrees for individuals who wish to enter a clinical nursing environment as quickly as possible. This degree runs its course in two years and focuses on technical skills rather than on leadership qualities and philosophical courses. A graduate of an ADN program can become an RN upon course completion and can begin work immediately upon certification. This degree also is considered the first step in obtaining a BSN degree. It is ideal for those who cannot immediately afford a four-year course of education.

Prerequisites for Earning an ADN

ADN degrees are available only in the United States, although students the world over can obtain an ADN through these programs. Generally, candidates must complete one or more preparatory courses in related fields and provide an SAT score of at least 940. Foreign candidates must provide a minimum of five Cs on the GCSE. U.S. high school students may find it possible to obtain a nursing education while still attending high school. Graduates of these programs are presented with an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) certificate, depending upon the institution. This is highly desired by nurse students, as many schools that offer the ADN will accept only those students with the LPN/LVN certifications.

How to Get an ADN

The ADN two-year degree usually is offered through most community colleges and through some four-year universities. Most two-year nursing degrees are hands-on or technical degrees that bypass most basic education requirements to get to the meat of working in clinical environments. Most students who choose this option do so because of financial or time constraints. Interestingly, most ADN graduates earn little less than RNs who graduate from BSN programs; however, the BSN graduate will have opportunities to move on to leadership roles, whereas the RN with an ADN degree will need to obtain further education to meet those goals.

Careers Available After Obtaining an ADN

The ADN degree is considered a standard requirement for registered nurses who seek to enter the workforce as quickly as possible with an accredited degree. Upon graduation, however, many hiring institutions will require that the graduate take the NCLEX exam in a given state after earning the ADN degree. Upon certification after passing the exam, many jobs are open to RNs outside hospital administration and nursing management; with that said, nursing shortages in many environments have pushed individuals with a minimal degree into leadership positions, depending upon experience.

One other way to work up the career ladder outside the BSN is to achieve professional nursing certifications. These certifications are specialized exams that you can take to prove your expertise in a specific field beyond the skills required for an RN license. The exams are provided by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), an organization that offers generalist, advanced practice and clinical specialist exams in almost 30 areas.

Find a Nursing Degree

Top 10 Online Nursing Schools

RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN - Nurse Administration More...	Kaplan University — Bachelor's, and Master's Nursing Degrees. Kaplan's School of Nursing offers specializations for nurse administrators and nurse educators.
LPN to RN LPN to BSN RN to BSN Click for more...	The College Network — Various Degrees from Accredited Universities. Earn your LPN/LVN to RN, LPN to BSN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN and MSN degrees via the College Network and its NLNAC/CCNE accredited university partners with No Campus Attendance, No Wait List, and locally precepted clinicals. Learn at your place and your pace in half the time and cost of traditional programs.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing Nursing Healthcare Certificate More...	University of Phoenix — BSN, MSN, and Certificate. The University of Phoenix is the nation's largest online university and currently offers several nursing programs at three different degree levels, based on previous nursing education and experience.
BS in Nursing RN to MSN BSN to MSN More...	Walden University — M.S. in Nursing (RN Track), M.S in Nursing (BSN Track). Walden offers a wide variety of nursing degrees and certificates that are all accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
BS in Nursing MSN - Nursing Education MSN - Nursing Management	Herzing University — BS in Nursing, MSN - Nursing Education, and MSN - Nursing Management. The BS in Nursing provides license holding nurses with a diploma the opportunity to improve their knowledge and skills on various topics in the nursing field, while the MSN degrees offer further opportunities for specialization.
BS in Nursing MSN - Acute Care	Liberty University — RN to BSN Degree and MSN Degree. The Department of Nursing at Liberty prepares students for baccalaureate level nursing, putting strong emphasis on Christian ethical standards and viewing nursing as a ministry of caring.
MSN - Adult Nursing MSN - CNS/Educator MSN - Nurse Administrator More...	University of Cincinnati — Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN). The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing prepares its nursing students for working with 21st century healthcare technologies to improve patient quality and administer healthcare procedures.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing	Chamberlain College of Nursing — MSN and BSN. Because of the Web-based education that Chamberlain provides, students are able to earn their nursing degree at their own pace. From Chamberlain, students can choose from either a bachelor's degree level or master's degree level, depending on previous experience.
LPN to BSN RN to BSN	Indiana State University — LPN to BSN and RN to BSN. Indiana State offers concentrations in the areas of family nurse practitioner, nursing administration, and nursing education.
RN to BSN MSN - Nurse Educator PhD - Nurse Educator More...	Capella University — BSN, MSN, and PhD in Nursing Education. Capella prides itself on being an accredited online college. With its nurse education programs, Capella offers two levels, master's and PhD. Either is optimal for the working nurse who wants to enter a role as educator in the field.
RN to BSN MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Leadership More...	Grand Canyon University — BS in Nursing (BSN) and MBA/MS in Nursing. Grand Canyon University offers a unique MBA/MS in nursing degree program that teaches students about the business aspect of healthcare, specifically nursing healthcare. Current nurses who want more business experience will find this may be an ideal fit.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing MSN - Nurse Education More...	South University — RN to BSN and MS in Nursing. The nursing programs at South University prepares its student for professions in a wide variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and school health clinics.
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