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Nursing Schools & Colleges
A Guide for Students & Educators
Relevant, reliable and up-to-date career, education and training information for nursing students and educators.
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Ready To Get Started? Nursing Begins With Education
Individuals interested in job security should consider a career in nursing. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, at least a million registered nurses are needed by nationwide 2018 to fill nursing job openings. Students who major in nursing will be prepared for careers with limitless growth and learning potential.
Nursing students have the option of obtaining a practical-nursing degree to complete the training necessary to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN), otherwise known as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN). Nursing students also have the option of obtaining an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) or bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN) to begin their career as a registered nurse (RN). Typically, nursing graduates with bachelor’s and graduate degrees enjoy more job opportunities than those who opt to earn a nursing diploma of ADN.
It takes one year to obtain a certificate in licensed practical nursing. During your education, you will receive classroom instruction in nutrition, anatomy, and other subjects and complete hands-on training in hospitals and other clinical settings. After graduating and passing a licensing exam, you will be permitted to administer patient care and assist physicians and registered nurses.
It takes 2-3 years to obtain an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN). Students enrolled in ADN programs are required to complete numerous science and specialized nursing classes, such as geriatric nursing, pediatric nursing, and microbiology. Students earning ADNs spend more time in classrooms than students completing certificate programs. Nurses holding ADNs are permitted to administer direct patient care in various medical settings. Universities, colleges, and some hospital schools offer associate degree programs in nursing.
Students interested in expanded options, such as graduate study, should earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). It takes 4 years to earn a BSN. Nurses holding BSNs can administer patient care in numerous medical settings. The BSN is the degree of choice among employers looking to fill entry-level nursing positions.
Students completing a bachelor’s degree in nursing will develop leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills in addition to obtain an practical knowledge of nursing science. BSN students also complete advanced nursing classes to learn about complex diseases, advanced medical treatments, and sophisticated medical technology.
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| Nursing Programs and Schools by State |
| Nursing Careers and Education Requirements |
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Before you can decide which nursing certificate, diploma or degree to pursue, it's important know what the educational requirements are for each different career path. Below we've compiled a a comprehensive list of the most popular nursing fields and career specialties. To learn more about a specific nursing career just click on the title in the left hand column. Directly to the right of each nursing career we've listed the minimum education requirements for entry-level nurse positions. However, the education requirements for different nursing careers may vary by state - so you'll want to check with your state nursing board before deciding on a particular nursing program.
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| Clinical Nurse Specialist | BSN, MSN and CNS Certificate |
| Critical-care Nurse | ADN or BSN (Preferred), CCRN Certificate |
| Emergency Nurse | Diploma, ADN or BSN (Preferred) |
| Hospice/Palliative Care Nurse | ADN or BSN (Preferred), Palliative Care Training |
| Labor & Delivery Staff Nurse | Diploma, ADN or BSN (Preferred), Neonatal Training |
| Neonatal Nurse | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) |
| Nephrology Nurse | ADN or BSN, MSN (Preferred) |
| Nurse Anesthetist | BSN, MSN in Nurse Anesthesia |
| Nurse Educator | BSN, MSN (Preferred) |
| Nurse Executive | BSN, MSN, Doctorate (Preferred) |
| Nurse Midwife | BSN and CNM Graduate Program |
| Nurse Practitioner | BSN, MSN, Doctorate (DNP) Preferred |
| Nurse Researcher | BSN, MSN, Ph.D. |
| Occupational Health Nurse | ADN or BSN |
| Oncology Nurse | ADN or BSN, MSN with Oncology Specialization |
| Orthopaedic Nurse | Diploma, ADN or BSN (Preferred) and ONCB Certification |
| Pediatric Nurse | Diploma, ADN or BSN |
| Perioperative (O.R.) Nurse | ADN or BSN |
| Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse | BSN and MSN |
| Public Health Nurse | ADN or BSN (Preferred) |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | Diploma, ADN or BSN |
| School Nurse | BSN and School Nurse Certificate |
| Staff Nurse | ADN or BSN |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Diploma |
| Women's Health Nurse Practitioner | BSN and MSN (WHNP Program) |
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Nursing Degree Finder
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Search our national database of online and campus based nursing programs.
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Nursing Salaries by Field
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| Specialty |
Annual Salary |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist |
$75 - $88k |
| Critical-Care Nurse |
$60 - $75k |
| Emergency Nurse |
$55 - $85k |
| Hospice/Palliative Care Nurse |
$60 - $90k |
| Labor & Delivery Staff Nurse |
$40 - $90k |
| Neonatal Nurse |
$50 - $70k |
| Nephrology Nurse |
$60 - $80k |
| Nurse Anesthetist |
$85 - $150k |
| Nurse Educator |
$35 - $95k |
| Nurse Executive |
$100 - $200k |
| Nurse Midwife |
$65 - $105k |
| Nurse Practitioner |
$70 - $95k |
| Nurse Researcher |
$60 - $75k |
| Occupational Health Nurse |
$60 - $75k |
| Oncology Nurse |
$50 - $80k |
| Orthopaedic Nurse |
$80 - $95k |
| Pediatric Nurse |
$40 - $70k |
| Perioperative (O.R.) Nurse |
$60 - $75k |
| Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse |
$40 - $70k |
| Public Health Nurse |
$65 - $75k |
| Registered Nurse (RN) |
$40 - $100k |
| School Nurse |
$35 - $55k |
| Staff Nurse |
$45 - $65k |
| Vocational/Licensed Practical Nurse |
$30 - $50k |
| Women's Health Nurse Practitioner |
$70 - $90k |
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Learning Anytime, Anywhere.
