Many community and junior colleges offer an ADN--associate's degree in nursing. The courses offered in this degree plan prepare the graduate to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and obtain a license as a registered nurse (RN) from the state nursing board. Associate-level registered nurses work in almost every different nursing field, in hospitals and in doctor's offices, from operating rooms to manning medical advice phone lines. With experience, associate-level RNs can rise to management-level positions, but it is often useful to get further education and degrees at the bachelor's and master's level. The median salary for an associate-degree RN, as of 2010, was approximately $50,000 a year, according to PayScale.
Surgical technologists play an integral role in the surgical team. They work closely with surgeons, observing strict sterile technique and handing instruments and other equipment to them during a surgery. Prior to surgery, the surgical tech is often responsible for knowing what instruments and materials the surgeon will require and having them easily accessible on a sterile table. An associate degree in surgical technology will frequently mix core courses such as English and math with specialized courses like human anatomy and physiology. The student will also have even more specialized classes in surgical technique and how to maintain a sterile field. Surgical technologists work in hospitals and in outpatient surgery centers. As of 2010, surgical technologists with associate degrees had a median yearly salary of approximately $36,000, according to Education-Portal.com.
An associate degree in emergency medical services allows the graduate to apply for a license as a paramedic--a higher skill level and pay classification than emergency medical technician. Paramedics work on ambulances and other emergency vehicles (including helicopters), often starting intravenous fluids and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation en route to a hospital emergency room. They also transport patients between different medical facilities--for instance, from a nursing home to a hospital. As of 2010, the median salary level for an associate degree in emergency medical services was roughly $33,000 a year, according to Education-Portal.com.