Many community colleges, technical schools and some hospitals offer associate degrees or diploma programs in nursing. Most take two to three years to complete and combine coursework with hands-on experience. The Hopfer School of Nursing in Mount Vernon, New York, has an associate degree in nursing program in a hospital-based setting. The school offers day, evening and weekend classes and clinical experience in the Mount Vernon Hospital. The program takes two years to complete; graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination.
Bachelor of science in nursing degree programs can lead to a career as a school nurse or a teaching nurse. Bachelor's degrees generally take three to four years for students without an associate's degree. Students with a two-year degree can usually complete an R.N. to B.S.N. program within two years. The University of Washington School of Nursing's bachelor's program includes focus on community health, healthy aging, neonatal clinic or nurse-midwifery. Coursework can include philosophical basis of nursing, ecology of human health and preventive therapeutics. Students can gain hands-on experience through study abroad programs, exploration seminars in countries such as Nepal, India and Guatemala, and volunteer opportunities with affiliated healthcare organizations.
Master of science in nursing degrees can lead to increased career opportunities in advanced nursing. For a student with a bachelor's degree, master's degree programs generally take about two years. The University of Pennsylvania's Nursing Science department offers 18 master degree programs in focus areas such as nurse anesthesia, pediatric clinical nursing, health leadership, adult oncology, behavioral health and women's health care. The school is closely aligned with the National Institutes of Health's research fields in disease prevention, chronic disabilities, genetics, family interventions, underserved populations and quality of care. Students receive hands-on experience at the school's clinical facility for the elderly.
The University of California San Francisco's School of Nursing offers a master of science program, a master's entry program in nursing and an ADN to masters pathway program. The programs are designed for students with bachelor or associate degrees and take from two to three years to complete, depending on previous experience and education. Students choose a specialty from areas such as acute care, cardiovascular, community health and international nursing, gerontological, health policy or psychiatric/mental health nursing. Students gain experience in the school's affiliated centers, research institutions and hospitals in areas such as geriatrics and biobehavioral research.
A doctorate in nursing can led to a career in academia or nursing research. Johns Hopkins University's School of Nursing offers a research-based doctor of philosophy degree and a clinical practice-based doctor of nursing practice degree. Concentration options include adult primary care, family primary care, clinical nurse specialist, health systems management and public health nursing. The school offers the Peace Corps Fellows program for former Peace Corps volunteers. Participants receive hands-on training in community health through the East Baltimore Community Outreach Program.