Associate Degree Nursing

For someone with a very compassionate nature who truly enjoys helping others, one very lucrative career path to consider is that of nursing. This occupation is growing rapidly, with above average job growth expected for the next decade or so.

One way to enter the field is by achieving an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN). This course of study usually takes between two and three years in an approved program that is often offered by junior colleges and state universities. There are a growing number of community colleges and vocational and technical schools offering the Associate Degree Nursing program, too.

It’s possible to earn an Associate Degree Nursing by studying online. Many learning institutions offer distance-learning opportunities in this field.

Before enrolling in an online course, make sure the online school offering the program is accredited by the state from which it operates. A call to the board of education for the individual state or to its business-licensing bureau is often all it takes to locate the appropriate schools.

The Associate Degree Nursing course of study will qualify the candidate to take the NCLEX-RN, a national licensing examination that is required of all registered nurses throughout the fifty states and the District of Columbia. Once a registered nurse’s license is obtained, it will need to be renewed on a periodic basis. The licensure period varies from state to state and some states require continuing education to take it.

Once an Associate Degree Nursing has been awarded and the state licensing exam is passed, a license to practice will be granted. This license is valid in the issuing state but may also allow for practice in other states as well.

As of 2004, there are eighteen states operating under the Nurse Licensure Compact Agreement, which means a registered nurse holding a license issued by one of the participating states is allowed to practice nursing in the other member states without going through recertification processes.