A bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) is the prerequisite for many nursing jobs around the country. The four-year program provides nurses with a liberal arts education as well as the clinical and practical skills needed in nursing. Programs begin with general education requirements including science, math, English and liberal arts and include two years of nursing education courses and practice. Many BSN programs have special admissions for practicing nurses who have either a diploma or associate's degree in nursing, allowing them to transfer the credits already earned towards the BSN. Programs for students who have already obtained a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field allow students to transfer liberal arts credits.
A master of science in nursing allows registered nurses to specialize in a specific area of interest. Candidates may focus on administration, clinical skill training or research. Master's programs are designed for both RNs with and without a BSN. Students may earn the master's degree immediately after fulfilling the requirements for the bachelor's degree. Students with a previous bachelor's degree may earn a master's in nursing while fulfilling the nurse education coursework required for a BSN. A number of programs also offer joint degrees including master of business administration and master of public health.
Doctoral candidates in nursing may earn a doctor of nursing practice or doctor of philosophy in nursing with various concentrations. Doctoral programs in the nursing field may focus on administration, research, education or public policy. Candidates for a doctor in nursing practice concentrate on advanced clinical skills and clinical research and prepare for high level health administration, academic or clinical research positions. A doctor of philosophy in nursing is a more academic based degree, focusing on policy research and preparing graduates to influence health care policy, to enter leadership positions in the health care system and to conduct research and improve health care delivery systems.
Advanced practice registered nurses are certified through a master's or doctoral program to practice advanced clinical roles in the health care system. APRNs include nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, certified nurse anesthetists and clinical nurse specialists. APRNs work in a variety of clinical settings including hospitals and community clinics and are qualified to provide a high level of health care. Nurse practitioners, for example, may diagnose, treat and write prescriptions independently, and many nurse practitioners are the primary health providers in clinics and schools.