Nursing Schools

Nurses provide direct patient care in a wide variety of settings. Nurses work in hospitals, community clinics, nursing homes, the armed forces, private residences, and hospice settings. Nurses can also specialize in virtually any particular medical field, ranging from family practice to surgery, obstetrics to intensive care.

There are several types of nursing programs that lead to different nursing degrees. The Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) program requires two years of study, and focuses on the practical applications of nursing. The Bachelor of Science Nurse (BSN) program includes four years of education, and includes greater depth of study. After completing either of these programs, every nurse takes a board exam to become a Registered Nurse (RN). This exam is known as the NCLEX-RN.

When choosing a nursing school, it is very important to make sure that the program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). This ensures that you will be able to take your board exam. Not all programs are accredited. There is currently an enormous shortage of nurses in the United States, and the shortage is expected to worsen as more nurses retire. This means that employment opportunities for nurses are very good and will continue to improve. Finding the right nursing school for you is the first step to becoming a nurse.