Types of Nursing Degrees

According to a 2022 report by the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, the ongoing nursing shortage is projected to last for several more years, with some states experiencing shortages through 2035. This trend represents an opportunity for prospective nursing professionals, including those who are seeking to become registered nurses (RNs). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 6% increase in RNs from 2022 to 2032, a percentage that translates to roughly 193,000 openings each year during the time period.

Becoming an RN can be a significant goal for either students with initial ambitions to enter the nursing field or those contemplating a career change to nursing. It can also be a vital step on the path to an advanced nursing career — a journey that may require additional education. Regardless of the path chosen, it’s important to gain an understanding of the different types of nursing degrees that are available and how the degrees can help propel a person toward their desired career path.

Each degree in the nursing field can unlock diverse career trajectories. They can also lead to opportunities for greater responsibility and impact within and outside the nurse-patient relationship.

Certified Nursing Assistant / Licensed Practical Nurse Certification

For some, the first step to gaining entry into the nursing profession involves obtaining a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification. The former certification allows individuals to check a patient’s vital signs and assist them with activities for daily living, such as hygiene, eating, and bathing. The latter certification allows individuals to provide basic care to a wide range of patients, such as patients with disabilities. In some states, LPNs can also perform more advanced tasks, such as giving patients IV drips or medication.

Both roles can provide individuals with basic experience in the nursing field, helping them establish the foundation for a future career in nursing. They can fortify this foundation by completing various types of nursing degrees that are available through accredited nursing programs.

Associate Degree in Nursing

An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is the minimum educational requirement to become an RN. This two-year program can prepare individuals to perform essential RN duties, such as administering patient treatments, monitoring patient conditions and medications, providing posttreatment guidance, and assisting other medical professionals with various procedures. The degree also prepares students to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), a required postgraduate exam that confirms an individual’s nursing abilities and competence.

Completing an ADN and passing the NCLEX-RN can set up an individual for an RN career. However, their opportunities may be limited due to their limited educational experience.

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) also prepares individuals for careers as RNs and gets them ready to sit for the NCLEX-RN. A BSN degree typically takes four years to complete. However, these programs commonly offer a more comprehensive level of classroom instruction and hands-on experience. A BSN program can also cover broader nursing topics, such as nursing ethics and public health.

Advanced education can help individuals enter the field with a broader level of knowledge and more refined skills. This can commonly lead to more opportunities to enter the field as an RN, as some employers may require new candidates to hold a BSN degree. It can also lead to higher compensation. According to Payscale, the median annual salary for ADN-prepared nurses was $77,000 as of March 2024, while the median annual salary for BSN-prepared nurses averaged $95,000.

While nurses can complete a BSN degree via a traditional four-year program prior to gaining nursing experience, two alternative programs should be considered. The first program is the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) . This fast-track program is designed for adult learners who already have a bachelor’s degree in a non nursing major but want to make a career switch into the nursing field . The curriculum commonly emphasizes nursing courses that concentrate on core care delivery concepts. Because these types of nursing degrees consider the general courses a person has already completed in another undergraduate program, they typically can take as little as 18 months to complete.

The second unique program, the RN to BSN program , is specifically designed for active RNs who want to assume more advanced nursing roles. These programs also build upon what an RN learned in an ADN or a certificate program, expanding their knowledge with more advanced nursing concepts, including nurse leadership. Additionally, an RN to BSN degree can help prepare nurses to pursue other advanced degrees; this can help them go after higher-level careers in the nursing field. An RN to BSN program can be completed in as little as 12 months.

Master of Science in Nursing Degree

A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) prepares nursing students to reach more advanced nursing roles. This can include roles that set an MSN as a minimum educational benchmark, such as nurse practitioner or nursing administrator.

An MSN program typically focuses on advanced nursing concepts, such as nurse leadership, nursing regulation and policy, and nursing research. It can also allow students to focus their careers on nurse specialties , such as nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, or acute care nurse. An MSN program typically takes two years to complete.

Most programs require potential MSN students to have at least one year of work experience as an RN prior to enrollment. In addition, some programs offer online RN to MSN programs that allow students to complete their advanced studies within a shorter time frame.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal degree that helps nurses develop the advanced skills needed to innovate care delivery. DNP-prepared nurses can implement high-level concepts, such as evidence-based practice, to drive their innovations and enhance nursing practice. Unlike a PhD, a DNP typically concentrates on nursing research.

DNP programs, similar to MSN programs, also offer students the opportunity to concentrate on an area of care delivery. A DNP program commonly takes one to two years to complete.

Specialization Certificate Programs

Nurses who’ve earned an advanced degree, such as an MSN or a DNP, may opt to earn a specialization certificate. These certificates can further demonstrate expertise in a field of nursing, potentially allowing nurses to become trusted leaders in that given field. An example of a specialization certification is an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) certificate , which can demonstrate expertise in working with adult patients in acute care settings.

Benefits of a Nursing Degree

Pursuing any type of nursing degree can yield advantages. Some of these benefits can look different based on the degree earned. For example, the job market for health care in general is predicted to be strong, with the BLS projecting about 1.8 million job openings annually between 2022 and 2032. When focusing on the nursing sector, the BLS does project a much higher growth rate for advanced practice nurse roles requiring an MSN (38%) compared with RN roles requiring a BSN (6%).

Another benefit that varies widely is compensation. MSN-prepared nurses typically earn more than BSN-prepared nurses due to the increased responsibilities associated with advanced nursing roles. That said, earning a BSN can lead to a well-paying career.

A BSN may also provide a more well-rounded nursing foundation, which can significantly impact a nurse’s knowledge and performance. According to a July 2024 report by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), health care facilities with a higher proportion of BSN-prepared nurses show notable gains in improved patient outcomes in several key areas. These areas include the following:

• 24% higher chance of surviving an in-hospital cardiac arrest
• 24.6% less chance of inpatient mortality
• 10% less chance of death among patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
• 8% decrease in average length of stay

These statistics prove the impact that a staff with degree-prepared nurses can have on a facility and its ability to reach its primary goal: enhanced patient outcomes.

Career Outcomes at a Glance

While earning an undergraduate degree such as an RN to BSN can help fortify the knowledge and skills needed for success as an RN, this is far from the only profession you can pursue with a BSN . This type of nursing degree can lead to several specialized roles that can enable individuals to focus their skills and knowledge on a specific aspect of care. In some cases, this can even lead them to positions outside a health care facility.

Nursing Manager

Nursing managers oversee a facility’s nursing staff and the services it provides. They’re typically tasked with training and mentoring staff to ensure the highest quality of care possible. They can also collaborate with staff to develop and execute individualized treatment plans. Some of their work includes administrative tasks, such as scheduling, budget management, and ensuring that their department remains compliant with laws and regulations.

Payscale lists the median annual salary for nurse managers at about $95,770 as of July 2024.

Utilization Management Nurse

Utilization management nurses oversee the resources a nursing department uses to optimize care efficiency. Those in the role review medical records and treatment plans to detect and remove duplicate, inefficient, or unnecessary services. They also coordinate care with other nurses, doctors, and health care providers to help develop treatment strategies that adhere to both internal protocols and external regulations. Additionally, they can manage hospital resources and work with insurance companies to ensure authorization and billing efficiency.

Payscale lists the median annual salary for utilization management nurses at about $79,690 as of July 2024.

Public Health Nurse

Public health nurses focus on educating communities on health and wellness concerns, initiatives, and services that impact population health. Those in the role work with other community leaders to develop plans, including patient care strategies, that aim to prevent disease or reduce the effects of health issues impacting community members. They also monitor existing public health strategies, adjusting them as needed to optimize effectiveness. In addition, they keep abreast of emerging public health concerns and provide educational opportunities for communities to proactively prepare for these issues as they evolve. They may also oversee the budgets of public health facilities.

Payscale lists the median annual salary for public health nurses at about $72,310 as of May 2024.

Emergency Room Nurse

Emergency room (ER) nurses are specialized RNs who deliver care to patients requiring immediate attention due to urgent situations. Those in the role are commonly tasked with stabilizing incoming patients as quickly as possible to optimize comfort. They’re also responsible for aiding emergency teams with actions that directly address immediate concerns, such as setting broken bones, starting IVs, performing intubations, or suturing wounds. Additionally, they help transfer patients to appropriate hospital wings after stabilization occurs. ER nurses may also be tasked with creating and overseeing incoming patient records.

Payscale lists the median annual salary for ER nurses at about $77,860 as of July 2024.

Hospice Nurse

Hospice nurses provide end-of-life care for patients with life threatening illnesses. They typically work as part of a health care team and treat patients whose medical prognosis indicates they have six months or less to live. They assess patents’ conditions to detect changes in physical or mental decline and work within their teams to address these changes effectively and compassionately. Additionally, they can be tasked with educating a patient’s family about the patient’s progress and any changes to their care strategy. Their work ultimately aims to provide personalized care that optimizes comfort and dignity.

Payscale lists the median annual salary for hospice nurses at about $76,940 as of June 2024.

Travel Nurse

Travel nurses are RNs who provide care for different health care facilities for a fixed period of time to address staffing shortages. Those in the role can be generalists or specialists and can be tasked with filling staffing shortages locally, nationally, or internationally. Travel nurses commonly work for nurse staffing agencies and must have the flexibility to relocate to different cities for short-term assignments.

Payscale lists the median annual salary for travel nurses at about $84,070 as of June 2024.

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Pharmaceutical sales representatives sell pharmaceutical products to health care facilities on behalf of a company. They explain the pharmaceutical’s purposes and detail how it can meet a patient’s needs or improve a patient’s health. Those in the role research health care facilities within their target area to assess their potential needs and develop trusted relationships with local health care providers to improve sales efficiency. Additionally, pharmaceutical sales representatives keep abreast of industry trends, a process that can include attending various industry events and conferences.

Payscale lists the median annual salary for pharmaceutical sales representatives at about $95,190 as of June 2024.

Career Advancement Opportunities

Nurses with BSNs are well-positioned to advance into higher-level roles. This is because many employers prefer BSN-educated nurses, and BSNs are also usually required for nurses to enter graduate programs unless they are pursuing a bridge program such as an RN to MSN pathway . Nurses with advanced degrees can become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), which include some of the following roles:

• Nurse practitioner (NP)
• Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
• Certified nurse midwife (CNM)
• Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)

Nurses with advanced degrees and certifications can also enter into other leadership roles that focus on non-clinical aspects of nursing, such as administration, executive-level leadership, and education. Some of these roles include:

• Nurse educator
• Nurse administrator
• Director of nursing
• Chief nursing officer

Prepare for an Important Future

While there are different types of nursing degrees to consider, the professions associated with them all share a common goal: to provide the highest quality care so that improved patient outcomes may occur. The ability to have such a direct impact on an individual’s well-being — not to mention the well-being of their family — makes a career in the nursing field a noble pursuit. A degree can make this pursuit possible, and different degrees can dramatically shape how this pursuit looks as a person’s nursing career unfolds.

The University of Tulsa’s online RN to BSN program can become a crucial step in this remarkable journey. Our program immerses you in the study of key concepts driving the nursing field through interactive study and one-on-one support. It also focuses on helping you develop the soft skills needed to provide holistic, compassionate care, such as communication and self-care techniques. Learn how we can help you get ready to make a positive impact on the lives of others.