The quickest way to enter the nursing profession is to train to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA). This degree of nursing is intended to introduce the student to nursing and qualify those students to pass the examination. Training to become a CNA generally take four to six months at an accredited trade school, technical school or community college. The student receives a certificate from the school showing the state examining board that the student is eligible to take the CNA exam. Once the student passes the test, she can register as a CNA and find a position.
A licensed vocational nurse (LVN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) is a degree of nursing between a CNA and registered nurse (RN). The LVN works under the direction of an RN and performs routine care to patients such as taking a patients temperature, drawing blood, measuring blood pressure and other less complicated tasks. It takes approximately one year of training at a vocational school, technical school, community college or junior college to achieve the eligibility requirements for the state licensing examination. A vocational nurse's licensing examination is available through each state's licensing board and once passed, allows the LVN to work at hospitals and clinics. There are programs that allow LVNs or LPNs to become RNs after a few years of work experience.
One route to becoming an RN can be achieved by going through an associate's degree program provided at technical colleges, community colleges or junior colleges. Some four-year colleges and universities also have associate's degree programs for RNs, but such schools are harder to find. This degree of nursing generally takes two years to complete, but some technical colleges have accelerated programs that can be finished within 16 to 18 months. An RN must pass a licensing examination given by the state licensing board.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is the final degree of nursing before becoming a nurse practitioner. This degree of nursing is also a path to becoming an RN, but it covers more theoretical knowledge as well as other college-level subjects. The degree takes four years at a college or university, but can be completed faster if the nursing student attends summer classes in this degree program. This degree offers the greatest potential for career advancement and is required for those who want to pursue a master's degree in nursing.