There are several different ways to become a nurse, and while the ultimate base credential is the same, the way you get there will heavily influence your initial experiences.
Choosing the right one is a matter of personal preference, lifestyle requirements, and background considerations. Budget can also play a big role. Earning your nursing credential can cost several thousand dollars or several tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the educational pathway that you select.
In this article, we take a look at the most common initial nursing degree paths to help you figure out which option is right for you.
ASN: Associates of Science in Nursing
An ASN is the most introductory level degree that you can get in the field of nursing. As the name suggests, this is an associate’s level degree, which means that you can earn it in two years with only a high school diploma needed in your educational background. ASN programs are commonly available at community colleges, which makes them a very low-cost way to begin your nursing education.
This is an excellent option for people who are fully committed to the idea of a career in health care but want to avoid the tens of thousands of dollars in student loans typically required to get a BSN.
ASN recipients are able to work in hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices, but their roles are generally much more limited than those of a full BSN recipient.
Many people will get their ASN, find a job, and then, after a year or so, begin working on completing the BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). This is a good route to consider if you’re interested in joining the workforce quickly.
It will also be beneficial if you find a first employer with a tuition assistance program, something that is relatively common at hospitals all across the country. In this way, you can start working at a younger age than most nurses and have a significant portion of your tuition paid for.
The difference between an ASN and a BSN can be broken down into a few different considerations:
- ASNs start working sooner.
- BSNs make more money.
- ASNs take out a lot less in student loans.
- BSNs have wider long-term career options.
Bottom line? ASN programs are the fastest and cheapest way to begin working as a nurse, but if you are serious about a long-term career in healthcare, you probably won’t stop here. Higher pay and more responsibilities await the ASN recipient who is willing to scale their education up to the next level.
BSN: Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing
The next most typical degree path is the BSN. Traditional BSN recipients begin college as freshmen and complete a four-year curriculum that includes both nursing education as well as gen ed requirements. While every BSN program will be a little different, the basic state and federal program requirements mean that regardless of what school you choose, the things you learn will be essentially the same.
BSN recipients are able to work as nurses and will not have the same initial responsibility restrictions experienced by ASNs. If you plan on a long-term health care career, you’ll definitely need your bachelor’s at some point.
A BSN is also a good building block in that once you’ve earned it, you can go on to other things like additional certifications or even graduate degrees, which will both enhance your range of responsibilities and your income.
ABSN: Accelerated Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing
An ABSN is an accelerated version of the BSN. It’s an option available to people who already have a bachelor’s degree in unrelated fields. In this case, you are able to get your BSN in about 1 year, at which point you’ll be a fully certified nurse. ABSN programs are ideal for people who are pivoting into a new career. They are very time-intensive, but they allow you to make the jump much quicker than would otherwise be possible.
An alternative to the ABSN is certification-only programs, also only available to people who already have a college degree.
Certification-only programs focus exclusively on nursing education requirements. The only difference is that you can take the classes in whatever time frame makes sense to you. If you prefer to take one or two classes a semester, for example, that’s an option.
Direct Entry Programs
Direct entry programs are similar to ABSN curriculum but they take things a step further. Here, you are able to get both your BSN and your MSN in the relatively compact time frame of two to three years. Again, you will need a bachelor’s degree to be eligible for these programs.
The direct entry route allows you to begin your health care career in an advanced practice position. Not only will this enhance your range of responsibilities further, but it also allows you to begin your career making around 6 figures. Obviously, that will be particularly enticing to someone who was previously in the middle of a well-paying career and is now making the transition into health care.
Direct entry programs can be challenging, particularly when you are trying to balance other personal and professional responsibilities with your learning. But it is the fastest way to a high-paying health care career.
Emphasis on First
As the title of this article suggests, health care professionals all start somewhere, but that’s often not where they finish. Nurses have tons of opportunities to expand their salaries and their responsibilities through graduate degrees and certification programs.
Not only do these avenues of learning make their résumés more competitive, but they also allow nurses to focus more of their time on the areas of health care that matter the most to them.
As for choosing your initial degree path, keep in mind that where you finish is more important than where you start. You’ve got to get your foot in the door somehow. The good news? There are tons of education opportunities for healthcare novices, both online and in-person. Choose the most accessible route for you and get started.
EDTECH 4 BEGINNERS 