Different Paths To Becoming A Nurse (BSN)

When someone considers becoming a nurse, they may not always consider all of the possible options they can choose from. The three paths someone can take to become a nurse all require some sort of certification or degree. You can obtain a Nursing Diploma or Certificate, earn an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Nursing (BSN). Each of these paths has its own set of benefits and drawbacks and varies in length, cost, requirements, and outcome. The fastest path to take to become a nurse is the Nursing Diploma or Certificate path. This process usually takes one to two years. Almost all diploma programs take place in a hospital setting and focus highly on clinical and patient care. The cost is usually less than that of a BSN or ADN. Some classes include communication, nursing fundamentals, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and lifespan nursing. The average starting salary of a nurse with a Nursing Diploma is around $38,000 and could increase to $57,000 with five to nine years of experience (The Different Paths to Becoming a Nurse, 2017). This type of nursing accreditation is phasing out.

This program became very popular because it was a faster way to get nurses working after a shortage of nurses following WWII. This plan takes from two to three years if the student enters the program without previous college credits or nursing experience. The average ADN program requires around 71 credit hours (Keating, 2015). The starting salary for a nurse with an ADN is $59,000.00 and can rise to $65,000.00 with several years of experience (The Different Paths to Becoming a Nurse, 2017). The ADN program sends a strong number of nurses into the workforce each