There are several vocational colleges that offer educational programs to prepare you for entry-level nursing positions like CNA. Brown Mackie College, located on several campus throughout the state, offers a Practical Nursing Diploma which prepares a student to become an LVN. Purdue University, located in Calumet, also offers a CNA program. Although this school is a four-year university, the CNA program is part of the professional development program and is offered separately from regular, four-year degree programs.
Community and vocational schools offer Associate of Science degrees in nursing. With an associate degree, you can become a LVN or RN. Fortis College in Indianapolis is a private, vocational school that offers an associate degree in nursing. This program will prepare you to become a RN. Ivy Tech Community College, which has several locations throughout the state, offers an Associate of Science degree in nursing. Those who complete the program successfully will be eligible to take the licensing examination to become a licensed RN.
Several four-year colleges in Indiana offer a degree in nursing. Those that obtain a Bachelor of Science (BS) in nursing are prepared to start a career as a RN. The bachelor's degree in nursing differs from the associate because it prepares RNs for management roles. Ball State University in Muncie is a public university, and offers an B.S. in nursing, as does Indiana University in Bloomington.
Anderson University, a private, Christian school in the city of Anderson, offers a Master of Science degree in nursing that prepares professional RNs for careers in nursing administration. As an administrator, you will lead and direct departments and programs within a hospital or clinic setting. Indiana State University, in Terra Haute, offers a different track in nursing -- master's degree candidates can study to become a family NP, as well as nurse administrator and nurse educator. Indiana University prepares graduate students to become clinical nurse specialists, offering an associate to master's program for RNs that don't have a bachelor's degree, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice for nurses pursuing an advanced practice role.