Although you can become a registered nurse (RN) through a hospital-administered nursing program, most registered nurses earn either a four-year bachelor's degree (BSN) or a two-year associate's degree in nursing (ADN) from an accredited nursing school.

A BSN is preferred in many nursing positions, and an ADN degree holder will often pursue a BSN while working in an entry-level registered nursing position. A master of science degree in nursing (MSN) is also available, and may be valuable for certain specialties.

Registered Nurse Curriculum

The course load for registered nurses varies by school and specialty, but typical classes for registered nursing students include:

• Anatomy
• Biology
• Physiology
• Cardiovascular disease
• Health care delivery systems
• Electrocardiograph analysis
• Psychology and understanding grief
• Developmental disabilities
• Communicable diseases
• Laboratory and diagnostic testing
• Intravenous infusion therapy
• Transcultural and spiritual issues
• Nutrition assessment
• Injury prevention
• Administering medications
• Triage skills

After the classroom-based portion of a registered nurse program, nursing students usually gain real-world experience through an externship in a hospital or other health care facility. The externship may last anywhere from a few months to a year, and nurses may sometimes be placed at the externship site as a full-time employee after graduation.

RN Licensing and Certification

After graduation, nursing students must complete a national licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN, in order to earn a nursing license. Nurses may be licensed in more than one state, but some states allow nursing licenses from other states.

After becoming licensed, RNs sometimes choose to pursue further post-graduate education in order to become one of several types of nurse specialist, including:

• Nurse anesthetist
• Nurse practitioner
• Nurse midwife
• Public health nurse
  

In general, job opportunities are wider for nursing school graduates with more advanced degrees, such as the BSN or MSN. Students looking to specialize in a particular field should research to find out if a specific degree is mandatory for entry.

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