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By Jeff Morrow, December 8, 2008

Featured LPN to RN Online Program

8 Reasons to Get Started Now

  1. Save 50% over Traditional Universities
  2. Your Place, Your Pace
  3. Nation’s only Online LPN/LVN to BSN
  4. Academic Success Guaranteed+
  5. NLNAC Accredited
  6. No Classes to Attend
  7. No Waiting List
  8. Guaranteed Financing+

Learn more about this innovative LPN RN online degree program

Related LPN and RN Programs

LPN to RN

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.

RN Diploma to BSN Online 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. Nurses who posses an RN Diploma can now earn their BSN online from.

RN to BSN
With 30 FREE credits with your active RN license we make going Back to School easy! Earn both your BSN and MSN egrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs. The Regis University (AACN-CCNE) accredited RN to MS in Nursing. Learn more about this innovative RN to BSN or MSN online degree program.

RN to BSN / MSN
RN can take the fast track to earning an MSN Online. Earn both BSN and MSN degrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs. Local clinicals and No Clinical Testing, and no waiting lists. Learn more.

Why Consider Earning an RN or BSN Degree?

Of the several types of nurse, by far the most predominant is the Registered Nurse (RN), a highly trained health care professional who possesses the education, skills and competency to practice all aspects of the care and recovery of the sick and the maintenance of well-being in the healthy. RNs ensure that patients receive care that is appropriate, timely, and professional, in a variety of settings.

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

RNs are not limited to employment as bedside nurses in hospitals. Registered nurses are employed by physicians, attorneys, insurance companies, private industry, school districts, ambulatory surgery centers and fire departments, among others. 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.

Find the right accredited registered nursing degree, rn to bsn, or rn to msn degree for your career goals.

Registered Nurse Degrees, Education and Training

There are three major 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 846 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 674 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 qualify, generally speaking, 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, as about 417 nursing schools currently offer master’s degrees, and 93 offer doctoral degrees in nursing.

To find out more available certificates and degrees that can lead to a RN degree, visit the Nursing Degrees and certifications page

Registered Nursing Career Opportunities

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2004, about 2.4 million people were employed as registered nurses, making this the single largest occupation in the healthcare field. Nearly 60 percent of RNs were employed in hospitals.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of registered nurses is expected to grow “much faster than average for all occupations” during the upcoming decade. Due to the large number of nursing jobs that will be created, registered nurses are predicted to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations in the U.S. Job opportunities for registered nurses will be excellent, to the point that the industry is even now experiencing difficulty attracting and retaining an adequate number of RNs.

U.S. Department of Labor figures indicate that the median annual salary of registered nurses in 2004 was $52,330, with a range running from less than $37,300 to a high of more than $74,760. The highest median wages were paid by employment services ($63,170) and hospitals ($53,450).

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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