Overview
Nursing degree programs allow you to become better prepared to handle the variety of tasks that are required of nurses. The program encompasses legal clinical issues, practical experience, and numerous specialized fields, such as nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner training. An associate's degree in nursing prepares you to become a registered nurse (RN). Associate's degrees are offered at community colleges, technical schools, and related institutions and usually take two years to complete.
Benefits
Nurses are in very high demand and will continue to be so even in future. With the minimal associate degree they can work in hospitals, nursing homes, or in physician's offices. Qualified personnel can work as nurse assistants or administrative workers. The major advantage of a nursing degree is that you will always be able to find a job anywhere around the globe.
Costs
The cost of nursing for each student varies depending upon the tuition fee and the college that you choose. The duration of the program and the type of degree you opt also matters. Most of the states offer discount in tuition fee for students who attend an in-state school. Community colleges usually offer the least expensive degrees, often charging only a few dollars per credit, while four year colleges tend to be the most expensive with the charge for each credit hour running as high as a few hundred dollars. The overall cost includes books, uniforms, and housing expenses and could cost you several thousand dollars.
Schools
Some nursing colleges in the United States are University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, CDI College, Colorado Technical University, and Virginia College. There are numerous colleges around the country which also provide online nursing degree courses to students who wish to pursue a nursing degree.
Testing & Preparation
After completing an associate degree program in nursing, graduates who want to become RNs need to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. The exam is given by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Some of the popular tests for taking up a nursing degree are Nursing Entrance Test (NET), Registered Nurse Entrance Exam (RNEE), Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), Psychological Services Bureau (PSB), Registered Nursing School Aptitude Examination, Critical Thinking Entrance Exam (CTEE,) and Diagnostic Entrance Test (DET). Some of these tests are designed to determine your basic knowledge and skills in nursing.
Financial Aid
Scholarships, loans, and grants are available for nursing students and registered nurses. There are various sources through which students can fund their education. American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) Foundation provides Academic Scholarships for RN's who are working on a bachelors' or master's degree. SGNA RN General Education Scholarship offers funds for students who work on a full-time nursing program. The Peterson's Guide to nursing program lists the resources that assist students who need financial support.
