Nursing degrees offer a natural progression to advance your nursing career. Each progressive degree provides nurses with the knowledge and competencies needed to climb toward more advanced roles in the healthcare field and make a greater impact on healthcare quality and patient outcomes.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certificate
A CNA certificate prepares individuals to become a certified nursing assistant, or CNA. Some states require the certificate to pursue the profession. Earning this credential requires a high school diploma or GED, as well as 75 hours of training or more, depending on the state.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Certificate or Diploma
An LPN certificate or diploma prepares individuals to become a licensed practical nurse. The role requires the individual to be licensed in their same state of practice. It also entails one year of training. High schools, community colleges, trade schools, and hospital programs can offer this certificate.
Associate Degree
Earning an associate degree prepares individuals to perform health assessments, administer vaccines and IVs, dress wounds, and develop patient plans. It entails two years of study and leads to RN licensure in their state of practice. An associate degree can be completed as an initial step toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN)
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is considered the preferred entry level to registered nurse practice by healthcare institutions and professional organizations. Earning a BSN degree typically entails four years of study and can lead to working in more complex environments, such as community and public health, acute and critical care, long-term care, and outpatient settings.
There are two types of BSN programs a person can complete. Unlicensed, traditional undergraduate students can pursue a BSN, while RNs with an associate degree can enter an RN to BSN program.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree prepares a nurse for advanced nursing practice and leadership.
The entry-level MSN program is designed for students with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing who desire to become licensed as registered nurses. Registered nurses who have a BSN degree can pursue a variety of MSN degree programs with different areas of role specialization, including nurse educator, nursing informaticist, executive nurse leader, and advanced practice registered nurse.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the preferred entry level to practice for all APRN clinical roles (clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, and nurse midwife). A DNP prepares individuals to be systems change agents who identify and address clinical practice problems to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes. The DNP is the highest degree for nursing practice. In addition to APRN concentrations, DNP programs may prepare graduates for careers in organizational and executive leadership, health policy, or nursing informatics. RNs with only a BSN can earn this degree via a BSN-DNP program, while nurses who already have an MSN can earn the degree in a post-master’s DNP program.
Post-Graduate Certificate
To earn a post-graduate certificate, an individual must possess an MSN or DNP and hold certification in one or more APRN roles. A post-graduate certificate expands the scope of practice for APRNs into new patient populations and/or practice settings through additional courses and clinical experiences. These can include certificates such as family nurse practitioner (FNP), pediatric nurse practitioner-primary care (PNP-PC), pediatric nurse practitioner-acute care (PNP-AC), psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP), and adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP), as well as many other APRN roles.
PhD in Nursing
A PhD in Nursing is a doctoral degree in nursing that prepares nurses for research to advance the discipline of nursing science. PhD programs are rigorous and include coursework in research methods, statistics, and leadership. The degree can be earned by a nurse with a BSN, MSN, or DNP. PhD-prepared nurses commonly work as nurse researchers at healthcare institutions, for insurance companies, and in higher education as nursing faculty.
