There are many types of nursing degrees. CNA and LPN certificates allow you to gain healthcare experience without committing to nursing school, while an ADN or a BS in Nursing qualifies you to take the licensing exam to become an RN. The degree for you depends on your career goals.
There are many types of nursing degrees, but which one is right for you? As you start to plan a future nursing career, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the many different degrees and career paths you can take. Do you want to feel the adrenaline rush of being a nurse in an emergency room? Do you want to help bring new life into the world as a certified nurse midwife? Do you want to dip your toes into the healthcare profession before committing to the rigorous education required for nursing?
This blog post will explore the different levels of nursing degrees to help you decide which path is right for you. If you are a career changer who wants to major in nursing and pursue a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nursing, the University of Mount Saint Vincent can help make it happen.
Our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program allows those with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to earn a BS in Nursing in as few as 16 months. Our New York City-based ABSN offers a comprehensive education that prepares students to confidently take the NCLEX-RN and launch their nursing careers.
Consider the degrees for nurses below to determine which nursing education path is right for you.
Understanding the Importance of a Nursing Education
The nursing education you choose matters. Your education serves as the foundation on which you will build your career. To become a registered nurse (RN), you must first earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a BS in Nursing.
If you decide to advance your career and become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), after earning a BS in Nursing, you must return to school to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
However, you do not have to jump immediately into nursing school to start working in healthcare. If there are financial or personal factors that prevent you from committing to an ADN or BS in Nursing program, you can become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). These certificates take less time to earn than RN degrees. Although these positions have a more limited scope of practice than RNs, they can serve as stepping stones toward an RN career.
RN degrees take years to earn because the program must be thorough enough to prepare students for the challenges of the profession. Students must develop clinical judgment and translate nursing concepts to psychomotor skills to deliver competent, compassionate, and dignified patient care.
A BS in Nursing education is even more comprehensive than ADN programs, which is why traditional programs require a four-year commitment. However, accelerated BS in Nursing programs are available for individuals with preexisting non-nursing college credits. These programs leverage your previous education, allowing you to earn a BS in Nursing more quickly.
Nursing is a potentially challenging career that requires thorough training. Learn how long it takes to become an RN here.
Comparing the Different Degrees in Nursing
The best degree type for you depends on your career goals, current availability and level of education. For example, individuals who have graduated from high school qualify for CNA, LPN, associate and bachelor’s degree programs. In contrast, MSN and DNP programs require students to first obtain a BS in Nursing.
Your availability may also influence which degree path you choose. If you are eager to enter the workforce and don’t have four years to commit to school, CNA, LPN and associate degree programs take less time to complete than traditional, four-year bachelor’s programs. However, if you wish to start working as an RN rather than a CNA or LPN, your only degree options are an associate or bachelor’s degree.
The chart below outlines the different types of nursing degrees and the careers associated with each.
| Degree | Program Length | Career Pathway | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA certificate | 4-12 weeks | Certified nursing assistant | $38,130 |
| LPN certificate | 1 year | Licensed practical nurse | $59,730 |
| Associate Degree in Nursing | 2 years | Registered nurse | $86,070 |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing | 4 years | Registered nurse | $86,070 |
| Master of Science in Nursing | 1-2 years | APRN (e.g., nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse midwife, etc.) | $129,480* |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice | 3-4 years | APRN | $129,480* |
*Please Note: The BLS combines median salaries for all types of APRNs. Compensation may be higher depending on specialty and degree.
Career Paths for Different Nursing Degrees
Your career can look very different depending on your chosen degree. Below is an exploration of the career paths available for each level of nursing education.
Certified Nursing Assistant
A CNA is an entry-level nursing position. CNAs work in hospitals and long-term care facilities and play an essential role in delivering patient care. CNAs assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as eating, dressing, bathing, and other needs. They are also trained to support nurses in basic care tasks, such as taking and recording patient vital signs; however, they do not provide medical care.
Licensed Practical Nurse
LPNs are also entry-level nursing positions, but they have a broader scope of practice than CNAs. They work in hospitals, hospice care, and long-term care facilities, assisting patients with ADLs. They are also trained to record vital signs, treat wounds, administer medications, and check IVs. However, LPNs cannot start IV medications or administer medication through the IV.
Registered Nurse
RNs work in a wide variety of healthcare facilities and organizations, at the bedside and beyond. RNs have a much broader scope of practice compared to CNAs and LPNs. RN responsibilities include:
- Patient examinations and medical record-keeping
- Medication administration (including IV push medications)
- Patient education
- Wound care and more
Becoming an RN allows you to play a personal role in patient recovery. Nurses spend more time with patients than physicians, which allows them to have a meaningful impact on people’s lives. Nursing is a gratifying career that lets you make a difference. It is also a highly collaborative and dynamic career, where no day is the same.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
APRNs have a wider scope of practice than nurses. They fall between nurses and physicians and can practice with much more autonomy than RNs. There are several types of APRNs, including:
- Certified Nurse Practitioner (NP): NPs are primary care providers who specialize in family primary care, adult gerontology, psychiatric health, women’s health, neonatal and pediatrics, and more.
- Certified Nurse Midwife: CNMs care for patients during pregnancy, delivery, and post-labor.
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA): CRNAs administer anesthesia to patients undergoing surgical procedures.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): A CNS serves in leadership and educational roles. They can specialize in family practice, neonatal and pediatrics, psychiatric health and more.
Becoming a Nurse with a BS in Nursing
There are two degree options to becoming an RN: an ADN or a BS in Nursing. While both qualify you for the licensing NCLEX exam, a BS in Nursing has significantly more benefits. For example, BS in Nursing-educated nurses are in high demand. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), 96% of BS in Nursing graduates found entry-level positions within four to six months after graduation.
Many organizations prefer to hire BS in Nursing-educated nurses because of their ability to excel in various clinical settings. Recent studies have shown that facilities with a higher proportion of BS in Nursing nurses have higher positive patient outcomes rates.
This is a testament to the quality of a BS in Nursing education. Traditional BS in Nursing programs are four years long, meaning students have more time to participate in a comprehensive curriculum.
Accelerated BS in Nursing programs are no exception. By leveraging students’ previous academic history, ABSN programs can focus primarily on nursing courses, offering the same quality and depth of education as a traditional four-year program.
What is an ABSN? Read more to learn how to choose the right nursing program.
Earn a BS in Nursing Through an Accelerated Program
At the University of Mount Saint Vincent, our ABSN program combines nursing coursework with hands-on experiential learning, enabling students to obtain a well-rounded nursing education. Our curriculum comprises nursing coursework, skills and simulation labs, and clinical rotations.
The coursework includes nursing skills and simulation labs, offering a solid foundation for students to apply their skills. In skills and simulation labs, students practice vital nursing skills like nasogastric intubation and wound care. Interacting with high-fidelity medical manikins, students gain practical experience in delivering patient care in a simulated environment.
Students will also participate in simulation labs, where they must exercise their clinical judgment as a team to respond to simulated medical emergencies. These labs help prepare students for the realities of clinical rotations, where they will provide direct patient care in actual healthcare facilities throughout New York City. They will work under the supervision of trained preceptors and alongside highly skilled nursing professionals.
Now that you understand the differences between the types of nursing degrees, take the first step toward earning one. Contact an admission counselor today to learn how earning a BS in Nursing through our ABSN program prepares you for a rewarding nursing career.