There are two different routes to become a registered nurse.
The ADN Route:
Most ADN programs involve at least two years of study after high school graduation, usually in a community college or hospital-based school of nursing that provides opportunities for obtaining one’s ADN. The second pathway involves earning one’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN. ADN students typically focus on topics related directly to human anatomy, physiology, and medicine. Examples include adult and family health, psychiatric nursing, pharmacology, human development and other core science topics. Upon completion of required coursework, and graduation, ADN students are typically prepared to take and pass the NCLEX-RN.
The BSN Route:
Increasingly, employers are interested in hiring RNs with additional education. For that, they look to candidates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Typically taking about four years to complete, some nurses with work experience and existing RN certification may be able to complete a BSN faster, through an accelerated RN-to-BSN program. Courses required of BSN students typically involve a broader approach to one’s education, with a deeper exposure to humanities-related subjects. This approach is common among virtually all bachelor level degrees, whether one is pursuing a degree in education, marketing, journalism, or nursing. BSN coursework tends to delve more deeply into areas related to administration, leadership, and critical thinking skills. Courses may include topics such as community health, professional issues in nursing, healthcare management, nursing research, etc.