How to Decide on a Nursing Degree
The healthcare 
field in our country continues to outgrow any other field and there is a shortage nationwide of nursing professionals. There is no doubt that if you are looking for a great job that will last a lifetime, then a nursing degree is a fantastic road to be on. By getting your degree in nursing, you will have a variety of opportunities open to you that a non-degreed nursing professional will not have.
If you are just looking to get your foot in the door, then you don’t need a four-year or graduate degree, but it certainly does help you later on. You can begin your nursing degree after just a one or two year program and become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN). Both of these are one or two year programs that can be taken online or at a local community college. You will then be required to take a statewide examination to be certified.
If you are interested in becoming a registered nurse (RN), then you will need at the very least a two-year degree in nursing, although most registered nurses go for the full four year nursing degree, which is a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN). Just like with the lower level nursing positions, you will need to pass a test after you have achieved your degree.
For those nurses who have been in the field for a while, or for people who are eager to start their career on a higher level, a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree can get you in the door of any hospital or clinic setting. You usually have to have your RN certification before you apply for your Master Degree and have a minimum score on tests and a fairly high grade point average.
There are some programs, many of which are online, that will allow you to work in exchange for credits, or apply your previous experience to fulfill the requirements of some classes. This is a great way to accelerate your degree, sometimes cutting the time that it takes to fulfill all of your requirements in half.
Although you can start at the bottom and work your way up, a nursing degree is the best way to ensure that you are making a very good living right from the beginning, and it also ensures that you won’t be stuck in a dead-end job. An advanced nursing degree opens up many more opportunities than you ever could have imagined, from working in a rehabilitation center, on a cruise ship, in a school, or anywhere that there is a need for a healthcare professional.
A nursing degree also offers you virtually a lifetime career, enabling you to move wherever you want in order to use your skills. Many RNs find that there are amazing employment opportunities in other states, or even abroad, and by having their diploma and their certificate in their pocket, they are always fully employable at a high salary.
