Registered nurses, or those with an RN degree, hold the most senior nursing positions available in a medical setting and outrank both licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants. A registered nurse is responsible for treating and keeping track of the condition of patients in both hospital and clinical settings. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a registered nurse in the United States is $63,750.
Excelsior College in Albany, New York, has the largest nursing program in the country, teaching more than 21,000 nursing students each year. In order to achieve admission into the program, you must have previous experience in nursing or other medical fields as a practitioner of some kind. Most students at Excelsior College are pursuing an associate's degree in nursing.
Trinity School of Nursing, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, is the second-largest nursing school in the country and educates more than 2,000 future nurses each year. The school boasts one of the highest percentages in the country of first-time passers of the nursing certification exam, and was last listed with a 97 percent passage rate. The school is run in partnership with Union County College.
Kent State University, in Kent, Ohio, has the third-largest nursing school in the country, and offers future nurses the opportunity to pursue both associate's and bachelor's degrees in nursing. It also offers an online program for those who cannot attend classes in person on a regular basis.