Becoming a registered nurse is more than just a career choice — it’s a calling. Nurses provide essential care, offering comfort, expertise, and critical support when it matters most. While the work can be fast-paced and demanding, the rewards, both personal and professional, are deeply fulfilling.
Depending on your educational and career goals, there are two paths you can take to earn a nursing license: an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. If you’re curious about how to become a nurse, this guide will help you understand the steps involved for each path, plus give you information on how to continue growing your career after basic RN licensure.
What Are the Steps to Becoming a Nurse?
As you compare these two paths, it’s worth first considering what type and level of nursing you want to pursue:
- Registered Nurse: An RN’s responsibilities include assessing patient conditions, developing and implementing care plans, administering medications, and educating patients and their families in a variety of settings, including hospitals and clinics.
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse: As an APRN, you can become a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, or a certified registered nurse anesthetist. You might diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and serve as a primary care provider.
- Nonclinical Nursing Roles: If you’re interested in shaping the future of nursing without direct patient care, consider nonclinical nursing roles such as a nurse educator or a nurse administrator. These positions focus more on instruction, research, and management responsibilities.
While APRNs and nonclinical positions usually require at least a master’s degree, identifying your goals early can help you choose a degree program and coursework that prepares you for your desired nursing job.
Path 1: Start Nursing Sooner With an ADN
If you are excited about entering the healthcare workforce as quickly as possible, an Associate Degree in Nursing is a two-year program, typically offered at community colleges, that prepares you for RN licensure.
1. Earn a High School Diploma or GED
To get into a nursing program, you must first earn your high school degree or GED. Taking certain science and mathematics classes, like biology, chemistry, and algebra, can help you adjust to a fast-paced ADN program.
2. Enroll in an ADN Program
In a two-year ADN program, you’ll study subjects such as:
- Nursing fundamentals
- Pharmacology
- Pediatric nursing
- Mental health nursing
In addition to classroom learning, you’ll receive clinical training under supervision in hospitals, clinics, or long-term care facilities. This experience helps you develop critical thinking, communication, and technical abilities essential for nursing practice.
3. Pass the NCLEX-RN
In order to become a nurse, you need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination. This standardized test determines if nursing graduates are safe and ready to practice as registered nurses.
In an ADN program, you’ll cover major content areas, such as safe and effective care, health promotion, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. You’ll take practice tests and review materials designed to mirror the actual NCLEX-RN format.
4. Get Your First RN Job
Armed with an ADN and an RN license, you can qualify for entry-level positions such as:
- Hospital Staff Nurse: Assess patients, administer medications, collaborate with doctors, and educate patients and families
- Emergency Room Nurse: Provide urgent care for patients with acute conditions or trauma, stabilize them, perform assessments, and assist during emergency interventions
- Home Health Nurse: Visit patients’ homes to deliver care, manage medications, monitor vital signs, educate patients and caregivers, and coordinate care across services
You might also work as an outpatient care nurse, travel nurse, or clinical care coordinator.
Path 2: A More In-Depth Start With a BSN
Many nursing students choose to become registered nurses by pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It takes longer to earn your bachelor’s degree — generally four years — but it provides a deeper, more comprehensive education that can open the door to greater career opportunities.
1. Finish High School With College in Mind
If your goal is to get into a BSN program straight from high school, you can prepare by taking as many rigorous courses in science and math as you can, especially:
- AP Biology
- AP Chemistry
- AP Statistics
- AP Psychology
Additionally, prioritize earning top grades across all subjects; most BSN programs require a bare minimum GPA of 2.5, and more competitive nursing schools may require averages of 3.5. or higher.
2. Enroll in a BSN Program
In addition to the same nursing courses offered in ADN programs, you’ll also study subjects like health assessment, nursing ethics, and leadership. You’ll also spend about two years in clinical training, rotating between specialties like:
- Medical-surgical nursing
- Obstetrics
- Community health
- Psychiatry
In addition to preparing you to become a nurse, a BSN program also usually incorporates a liberal arts education for a well-rounded academic experience.
3. Pass the NCLEX-RN
Like an associate degree in nursing, BSN programs also align the curriculum with the NCLEX-RN’s framework and emphasize real-world application of nursing concepts. In addition to coursework, labs and simulation sessions reinforce your knowledge by giving you controlled, hands-on practice before you enter clinical settings. Clinical rotations then help you apply medical reasoning and critical thinking in real patient care situations to help you build confidence for the NCLEX.
4. Start Your Nursing Career
Any RN can serve in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and home health agencies, but you can do more with a BSN, like take on roles in public health departments, school nursing, research, and case management due to your broader training. BSN programs also focus on management, health policy, and critical thinking, which can gain you earlier access to leadership and supervisory roles.
Which Path Is Right for You?
Deciding between an ADN and a BSN depends on your personal timeline, budget, and long-term career goals. ADN programs, typically offered at community colleges, can usually be completed in about two years and may be more affordable upfront. Many nurses choose to start with an ADN to enter the workforce quickly and gain hands-on experience while continuing their education.
A BSN, on the other hand, provides a more comprehensive education that typically takes about four years to complete. With additional coursework in leadership, research, and community health, along with more extensive clinical training, a BSN can lead to a broader range of nursing opportunities, faster career advancement, and greater earning potential.
How Can You Continue Advancing Your Nursing Career?
Becoming a registered nurse can either be your end goal or a stepping stone to a highly specialized career. If you want to continue advancing your role in nursing, your primary options include further education and specialization.
RN-to-BSN Programs
An RN-to-BSN program is designed for registered nurses who have their ADN and wish to build upon their existing knowledge and experience. Typically, you can complete these programs in 12 to 24 months, depending on whether you attend full-time or part-time. Many programs offer flexible online formats to accommodate working nurses.
In addition to theoretical coursework, such as nursing research, public health, and nursing leadership, RN-to-BSN programs may include practical components, often within your current workplace.
Master of Science in Nursing
After you become a nurse, you can advance your career into specialized or leadership roles by earning an MSN. If you already hold a BSN, you can usually complete a nursing master’s degree in about two years of full-time study.
The MSN curriculum combines advanced nursing courses with specialized training in your chosen field. Core subjects often include:
- Advanced health assessment
- Pharmacology
- Pathophysiology
- Healthcare policy
- Leadership
- Research methods
You’ll also participate in about 500 to 700 supervised clinical hours to develop hands-on skills in real-world settings.
Doctoral Nursing Degrees
Doctoral degrees in nursing represent the highest level of academic achievement in the field, preparing you for advanced roles. You can choose a degree focus that fits your career goals, such as:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice: Equips you with the skills to apply research findings to clinical settings
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing: Prepares you to conduct original studies that advance nursing knowledge
- Doctor of Nursing Science: Trains you as a nurse scientist through rigorous research training
- Doctor of Education in Nursing Education: Combines educational theory with nursing practice
The length of doctoral programs varies widely. If you enroll with a BSN, expect to spend anywhere from three to six years earning your doctorate. With an MSN, your program may last one to five years.
Nursing Specialties
Specializing can lead to increased job satisfaction as you engage deeply with a specific patient population or medical field. It also opens opportunities for career advancement, higher salaries, and roles with greater responsibility. Examples of nursing specialties include:
- Pediatric Nurse
- Critical Care Nurse
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse
- Travel Nurse
- Public Health Nurse
While some specialties require advanced degrees, many do not. For example, becoming a certified nurse anesthetist or a nurse practitioner typically requires an MSN or a DNP. However, other specialties, such as emergency nursing or oncology nursing, may only need a BSN and relevant certifications or experience.
How The University of Olivet Can Help
At The University of Olivet, we welcome both first-time nursing students and working RNs. In our BSN program, you’ll benefit from small class sizes, close faculty mentorship, and hands-on clinical training. The flexible RN-to-BSN program is fully online, so you can study when it fits your schedule. Plus, we recognize your prior experience, so you don’t have to repeat what you already know. Our nursing school doesn’t have a waitlist; get started on your degree without delay, and apply to become a nurse today.