To become a registered nurse (RN), there are two options for pursuing your education: a two-year associate's degree program or a four-year bachelor's degree program. Although associate's degrees are less expensive and take less time, you should know that employers tend to favor more educated applicants. This gives aspiring RNs with bachelor's degrees a significant advantage in the job market over applicants who have only earned associate's degrees.
If you aspire to become a nurse, the fastest way to launch your career is to pursue an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) at a community college or technical school. Usually, associate's degrees take two years to complete for full-time students. Alternatively, many schools also have part-time programs and offer night classes. Although this approach takes longer to complete, taking classes part-time is an excellent option if you are working to put yourself through school. Tuition at community colleges is usually less expensive than at four-year universities.
Licensed practical nurses are more qualified and have more responsibilities than nursing assistants, but they still work under the authority of registered nurses and doctors. Along with nursing assistants, LPNs provide for their patients' most basic care, helping with everyday needs such as eating and getting dressed. However, unlike nursing assistants, LPNs are also responsible for more technical medical care, such as changing bandages, administering medications, checking vital signs, and monitoring patients' symptoms.
There are a variety of nursing roles in the Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island area that students can consider before selecting a nursing school.
Nursing assistant
South Bend is the cultural and educational center of northern Indiana, and the healthcare industry is one of its major economic contributors.
The city of Gary, Indiana, ranks among the top three in the state in number of nursing jobs available, alongside Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. It also ranks near Indianapolis and Elkhart in highest median salaries for registered nurses.
Fort Wayne, a historic business and educational hub in northeastern Indiana, is home to some of the state’s top colleges and universities with nursing programs, aimed at providing aspiring nurses with a rewarding career path. As the second largest city in Indiana, Fort Wayne is a great place to start a nursing career, with demand for nurses growing steadily and expected to increase by 22% by 2018.
Job prospects for nurses in Evansville, Indiana, are promising at the moment, with the demand for nurses expected to increase by 22% in the next five years, faster than the projected trend across the country. For anyone interested in pursuing a nursing career in the state, the first step is to enroll in a school that offers the training and preparation for the specific role you want.
If you’re a nurse looking to advance your career by enrolling in a postgraduate program, then a master of science in nursing degree (MSN) could be your best option. A postgraduate education represents a significant investment in your career that can prepare you for a management position and earn you a higher salary in the long run.
The cost of college tuition in the US largely depends on two factors: whether a university is public or private, and whether the degree you’re pursuing lasts two years or four. Besides tuition, the overall cost of higher education includes many more expenses, like the room and board often charged by four-year universities. Two-year colleges often do not include this fee since most students live off campus, and state universities may offer substantial discounts for in-state residents.