Things You Never Knew About an Associate Degree in Nursing
Dec 18, 2014 | 12:00 pm
If you are looking to become a nurse, you will need to complete an Associate Degree in nursing program. This program is going to offer you all the required information to become a professional nurse and pass minimum standards of quality. This degree program is provided by a technical or community college and usually lasts 2 years. Once you have obtained this degree, you must take and pass the NCLEX exam; after that, you can proudly introduce yourself as a Registered Nurse. Consider a few things you never knew about this program.
The Duration of the Program
The Associate Degree in Nursing program lasts 2 years, but only if you have completed the science prerequisites in high school. These prerequisites include courses like psychology, microbiology, algebra, chemistry, physiology and anatomy. If you don’t meet these science prerequisites, the Associate Degree in Nursing program can last up to 3 and half years, so you should consider going through all of the science courses. Without them, you won’t be able to complete your degree program. It depends on you and the classes you take in high school, if you’ll study 2 or 3 years of nursing.
The Education Prerequisites
As mentioned, these prerequisites are very important because they can cut down your years of study in the Associate Degree in nursing program. Moreover, according to Study.com, some schools might ask you to meet a specific grade point average in high school in order to accept you. The background check is mandatory for applicants, and certain degree programs also request proof of immunization. You must have everything in order before submitting your application. Check the website of your specific school to find out what prerequisites you need in order to be admitted.
The Courses
You must know that during your Associate Degree in Nursing program you will combine the clinical experiences with the classroom courses. This way, you can understand basic health requirements and the needs of the patient. The main course topics for this program are: nursing fundamentals, microbiology, nursing pharmacology, anatomy, psychology introduction, physiology, nutrition and biology. Throughout your program, you will also spend a lot of time in nursing clinics and labs to get hands-on experience with real work environment. In order to obtain your Associate Degree in Nursing, you will need to successfully complete both the nursing core courses and the general education courses.
Online Programs
If you’re working and don’t have enough time to pursue a traditional Associate Degree in Nursing program, you can also opt for an online nursing program. They are quite popular and offer flexibility. An online program will also last 2 years, but some of them might also allow you to finish faster. Generally, you will study the same courses offered by an on-campus program, but the only disadvantage will be that you will have less time for the hands-on learning experience.
This is an exciting career to pursue and the profession will treat you well, in terms of salary and job advancement opportunities.