You can obtain an Associate of Science degree in Nursing, or A.S.N., through a technical college or community college. This type of degree generally takes a full-time nursing student 2 years to complete and qualifies the nursing student for the state's registered nurse's, or RN, examination. Quicker ways to become a nurse exist, such as certified nursing assistant or licensed vocational nurse programs, but you will not receive a degree after you complete your training.
A Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, or B.S.N., is the next available nursing degree after the A.S.N. It will take you approximately 4 years to complete a B.S.N., and you can do so at a college or university that provides this type of degree program. Most employers desire this degree because the degree has advanced training compared with the A.S.N. Students spend the first 2 years of the nursing program completing the required core courses that all 4-year colleges mandate before choosing a major. Students spend the last 2 years of the B.S.N. learning the knowledge and skills it takes to become a nurse. Every state RN licensing board recognizes this degree, and obtaining it qualifies the student to take the nursing examination.
The Master of Science degree in Nursing, or M.S.N., is for nurses who have received a B.S.N. A nurse without a B.S.N. cannot be admitted into this program unless she has a bachelor's degree in another health care discipline. This nursing degree takes approximately 18 to 24 months to complete as a full-time student and is only available at colleges and universities with graduate programs in this discipline. Some colleges and universities require the nurse to have a B.S.N., already have an RN license and have some work experience before accepting an applicant in this degree program. The nurse must check with the college or university to determine the prerequisites before applying.
A doctorate degree, or Ph.D., is available to nurses with a M.S.N. This type of nursing degree has three different programs available: the Ph.D. in nursing, a Doctor of Nursing Practice, or D.N.P. and a Doctor of Nursing Science, or D.N.S. The Ph.D. in nursing is for nurses seeking to become nurse practitioners, which is just below a medical doctor. The D.N.P. is for nurses seeking to work in the medical research field or the administration of nursing departments. A D.N.S. is designed for nurses seeking to become scientists who specialize in certain aspects of the health care industry, such as economics, patient care delivery, clinical trials and medical research.