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By Jeff Morrow, December 31, 2008

Why Consider Earning an RN or BSN Degree?

By far the most popular profession among nurses is the Registered Nurse (RN).  An RN is a highly trained health care professional who has earned the education, skills and competency to ensure that patients receive care that is appropriate, timely, and professional, in a variety of settings.

Registered nurses engage in a number of essential functions, including treating and educating patients, recording symptoms and medical histories, performing diagnostic tests and analyzing the results, and under the supervision of a physician, they administer treatment and medications.

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Registered Nurses Are In-Demand

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)  reported that in 2004, about 2.4 million people were currently employed as registered nurses, which makes being a registered nurse the single largest occupation in the health care. Of that number, almost 60 percent of RNs were employed in hospitals.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), registered nursing employment is expected to grow “much faster than average for all occupations” during the upcoming decade. Because of the extremely large number of nurses who will be needed, RNs are expected to encompanss the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations in the U.S.

Job opportunities for registered nurses will be superior because of the aging of the US population, and the dire need for new nurses.

Registered Nurses Earn Great Salaries

U.S. Department of Labor figures indicate that the median annual salary of registered nurses in 2004 was $52,00, with a range running from less than $37,300 to a high of more than $74,000. The highest median wages were paid by employment services ($63,170) and hospitals ($53,450).

RN’s Have Hundreds of Specializations to Choose From

The scope of an RN’s employment possibilities are wide and varied. Going far beyond the stereotypical bedside employment at hospitals, registered nurses are employed by attorneys, insurance companies, private industry, school districts, ambulatory surgery centers and fire departments, among hundreds of other nursing specialties.

Some registered nurses are independent consultants who work for themselves, while others work for large manufacturers or chemical companies. Research Nurses conduct or assist in the conduct of research or evaluation (outcome and process) in many areas such as biology, psychology, human development, and health care systems.

How to Become an RN

There are four educational pathways that lead to a Registered Nurse certification. These paths begin with an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing (BSN), or an RN diploma.

Associate of Science Degree in Nursing (ADN)

The quickest and most frequent educational path to an RN degree begins with a two-year Associate of Science in Nursing.  About 850 community and junior colleges currently offer ADN programs.

LPN to RN (ADN)

Innovative online program for an LPN to RN (ADN degree) is now offered with No classroom attendance needed from an NLNAC Accredited University via The College Network. You can earn your degree in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs, and the best part is there is no WAITING LIST. Learn more.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN)

There are currently more than 670 accredited nursing programs that offer a four-year course of study culminating in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

RN Diploma Program

Also referred to as a “hospital diploma,” these specialized programs last about three years, with a strong focus on core studies, intensive nursing classes, and clinical training and internships. Until about a decade ago, most RNs in the U.S. were initially educated in one of these diploma programs.

Although requirements vary from state to state, licensed graduates of any of these three programs usually qualify for entry-level positions as staff nurses. In all 50 states and the District of Columbia, once the student has graduated from an approved nursing program, he or she must then pass the NCLEX-RN, a national licensing examination, in order to obtain a nursing license. Most states also have their own additional qualifying requirements beyond these national requirements. There are also numerous opportunities to move beyond these basic degree programs with more than 400  nursing schools currently offer master’s degrees, and more than 90 that offer doctoral degrees in nursing.

Explore Career Opportunities in Registered Nursing

Numerous specializations lie within the scope of the RN, including:

Other popular specializations for Registered Nurses include:

Emergency Room Nurse

Medical emergencies requiring immediate treatment can occur at any time. Emergency room nurses work with emergency room physicians and with paramedics to ensure timely care in crisis situations.

Hospice Nurse

Hospice nurses work for hospitals or services evaluating and providing care and emotional support to the terminally ill. They also provide grief counseling to critically ill patients and their families.

Rehabilitation Nurse

These registered nurses specialize in restoring physical functionality to patients who have suffered from some form of physical disability, due to illness, stroke, or accident.

School Nurse

Many elementary and secondary schools, and most colleges and universities, are required to have a registered nurse on site to provide immediate care to students suffering from illness or a medical emergency.

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