Associates of Science Nursing

An Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) is a tertiary education nursing degree which typically take 2 to 3 years to complete.[1] In the United States, this type of degree is usually awarded by community colleges or similar nursing schools. Some four year colleges also offer this degree. Students awarded an Associate of Science in Nursing are qualified to sit for the NCLEX-RN and apply for licensure as a Registered Nurse.

Students enrolled in an Associate of Science in Nursing program would take courses in nursing, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other social and behavioral sciences.[2] The curriculum will also require supervised clinical experience.[3]

Some hospital-based nursing schools that granted diplomas altered their curriculum to offer associate degrees.

Bachelors of Science Nursing

The Bachelor's Degree prepares nurses for a wide variety of professional roles and graduate study. Course work includes nursing science, research, leadership, and related sciences that inform the practice of nursing. It also provides the student with general education in math, humanities and social sciences.[1] A Bachelors Degree affords opportunities for greater career advancement and higher salary options. This degree qualifies its holder for administrative, research, consulting and teaching positions, that would not usually be available to those without the degree.[2]

A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is an advanced-level postgraduate degree for registered nurses and is considered an entry-level degree for nurse educators and managers. The degree also may prepare a nurse to seek a career as a nurse administrator, health policy expert, or clinical nurse leader. The MSN may be used as a prerequisite for doctorate-level nursing education, and previously was required to become an advanced practice registered nurse such as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, or nurse midwife.

This graduate-level degree may focus on one or more of many different advanced nursing specialties such as acute care, adult, family, gerontology, neonatology, palliative care, pediatric, psychiatric, or obstetrics and gynecological nursing.

The Doctor of Nursing Science, usually abbreviated D.N.S., or D.N.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world as a terminal research degree in Nursing. The title of this degree varies with the collegiate institution which grants it.

Another form of this degree is a Doctor of Science in Nursing (D.S.N.) degree. This academic research degree is recognized by both the United States Department of Education and the National Science Foundation to be equivalent to the more commonly awarded Doctor of Philosophy Ph.D.[1]