What to expect in nursing programs

Students can follow several different paths that lead to licensure as a registered nurse (RN). Aspiring RNs may earn a diploma, an associate degree in nursing or a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN). For many students, the path to obtaining licensure as a registered nurse involves successfully completing a two-year associate degree program. Diploma programs may also be available through hospitals, and those typically last three years or so.

At nursing schools that offer associate degree programs, you might take the following courses. These are also many of the same courses you might take in the first couple of years in a bachelor’s degree in nursing program.

Associate degree in nursing training courses might include:

• Pharmacology
• Principles in Nursing
• Nursing Lab
• Nursing Concepts
• Non-Critical Adults
• Family Health
• Mental Health Concepts
• And more

When you work toward your bachelor’s degree, you’ll take higher-level nursing classes. Your courses will also be more specialized, and you could have a variety of options for your focus. For instance, if you want to work with women or children, or in a particular type of practice, such as rehabilitation, you might be able to find courses that align with your career intentions.

Some Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) programs are offered in an accelerated format. If you already have a bachelor’s degree in another area, this helps get you on the fast track toward a nursing career. This is another reason why we always tell people to check out all their options. You never know the best path until you speak with advisers at several nursing schools.

Examples of Bachelor of Science in nursing training curriculum:

• Therapeutics
• Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice
• Microbiology
• Nursing Anatomy
• Nursing Informatics
• Professional Nursing
• Life Span Development
• Pathophysiologic Foundations

Those are just several examples of nursing classes your school could offer. Nursing can also lead to a seemingly endless variety of career opportunities down the road. Nurses often become respected leaders, managers, doctors and executives who make a big impact in their health care organization.

Nursing is one career field where people often continue their education (from associate to bachelor’s degree and even to master’s degree) because more career paths may be open to them, offering greater opportunities for advancement and higher earning potential. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects job growth for nurses to be 6 percent from 2021 through 2031. BLS data also shows the median wage for RNs in 2021 was $77,600 per year.

Nurses can also find work in a variety of health care environments, including:

• Hospitals: state, local and private
• Nursing and residential care facilities
• Physicians’ offices
• Home health care services
• Government

In their roles, nurses juggle a variety of clinical and administrative tasks. Some expected duties of nurses may include:

• Taking patient histories
• Recording observations for physicians
• Operating equipment
• Aiding in diagnostic tests and analyzing results
• Creating plans for patients and families to cope or heal from injuries, illness and disease

Are you ready to learn more about becoming a nurse?

All you have to do is use our handy listing to choose your nursing school. And remember to download the Imagine America mobile app to apply for one of our career college nursing scholarships today!

We also encourage you to check out our Road Map to Student Success right now! It can help you figure out how to choose the right program, navigate financial aid, and take other necessary steps to become a nurse.

Not interested in attending a nursing school? Click here to view our other programs.