For an associate degree, you must commit to a two-year program, which will provide the basic knowledge and skills needed to work with patients in a health-care facility. Along with several core courses, including anatomy and physiology I and II, microbiology, composition and introduction to psychology, many of the classes required for an associate degree in nursing are pharmacology, nursing skills and clinical nursing.
A nursing major working toward his bachelor's degree will gain more information by completing two years of core education requirements and two years of nursing courses. Many hospitals and clinics prefer a person with a bachelor's degree for leadership positions because of the extensive training and courses associated with the educational program.
People pursuing a master's degree are looking for a career as a nurse practitioner or a clinical specialist. With this two-year program, students can reinforce their basic skills in nursing but also experience new roles in management. Several courses are required for a master's degree, including nursing theory development, nursing research, statistical methods, advanced pharmacology, leadership and health-care systems and health-care perspectives. To fulfill the requirements of a master's degree, some programs offer students the option of doing a program thesis or a non-thesis project, in which students detail the experience gained and methods learned throughout the program.
A hospital nursing diploma is for people who want a career in nursing but are not interested in obtaining a degree. The program can take up to three years, and students can take prerequisite courses as well as participate in clinical training at a hospital or clinic.
Every two years, registered nurses must renew their licenses to gain updated information and training. To do this, nurses enroll in continuing education courses to fulfill contact hours for recertification. Many courses are offered through colleges and universities or through nursing organizations such as The American Nursing Association.