What Education is Needed to Become a Registered Nurse in Today's World?

A nursing career offers unparalleled opportunity and personal satisfaction. But what is a registered nurse (RN)? What are some of the educational requirements for RNs? How does a degree help those who are seeking a nursing career? And how can those who already work in nursing further their career options with advanced degrees?

Education Requirements for RNs

Becoming a nurse is not just earning a degree, although the degree is vital as well. You will have to pass a licensing exam called the NCLEX-RN. Only with the completion of your exam will you be able to seek out employment as a registered nurse.

Career Advantages of a Nursing Degree

Your nursing degree comes with some important career advantages.

• Having a degree qualifies you for a greater variety of positions in the medical field. That means you can use your education to customize your career options. If you’ve always wanted to work as a midwife’s assistant or facilitate geriatric care, you are more likely to land your dream job with a degree.
• Starting with a flexible associate degree puts you in the right place to gain vital work experience. As your goals change, you can leverage your existing credentials into credits towards a bachelors or master’s degree.
• Are you sure you have what it takes to be a nurse? Your degree program is designed to help you find out. Instruction is often offered in a quicker and more condensed format. This not only shortens the amount of time it takes to get qualified for your career, but it also tests your ability to work hard and focus under pressure. This is an important ability in the nursing field.

Your degree program prepares you for the reality of working as a registered nurse in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and care facilities.

Advanced Career Options with Advanced Degrees

The nursing field offers nearly limitless opportunities for advancement and personalized career direction. Those who are already employed as CNAs, LPNs, or MAs can use advanced degrees to help them achieve their long-term career goals.

Accelerated learning programs allow students to use knowledge earned from previous accredited instruction towards their bachelor's or master’s degree after they've had enough work in the field. Online classes and flexible in-class scheduling give students the ability to stay in their current job while working towards a brighter future.

How Will I Use My Education in the Workplace?

Working nurses often use education as a way to secure a promotion in their present workplace. Instead of spending years observing coworkers and learning from the sidelines, these nurses use their degree program to secure the skills and knowledge needed to move up to the next career level. This more direct path leads to positions with greater responsibility and impact on the overall health of their patients.

Getting a degree while already working as a nurse is also a great way to network. Collaborating with students from other hospitals and facilities will expose a wealth of opportunity that you may not have known existed. Nurses who earn an ADN have the option to go back to school for their BSN or MSN, moving forward in their careers.

Are you interested in becoming a nurse? If you want to take that first step towards the nursing profession, consider ECPI University's Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing. For more information, connect with a friendly admissions representative today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Nursing - Associate’s

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