Nursing is a challenging and rewarding career that provides significant opportunities to help others and make a difference. There's also ample room to achieve higher levels of education and advance into different roles, such as:

  • Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) or nurse practitioner (NP)
  • Community or public health nurse
  • Nurse executive
  • Nurse educator
  • Health policy professional

If you’re thinking of becoming a nurse or looking to expand your nursing career, this article is for you. Let’s break down the various levels of collegiate nursing education and how they prepare you for a successful nursing career. This overview focuses on RN pathways and beyond, although LPN/LVN programs also serve as an entry point into nursing and can then progress to RN licensure.

What Are the Levels of Nursing Degrees?

Below are the primary levels of nursing education, including prelicensure programs that prepare for RN licensure and advanced degrees that build on registered nursing practice:

  • Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Purdue Global offers a range of nursing degrees to help you in your career, from an Associate of Science in Nursing to a Doctor of Nursing Practice. We also have several certificate programs for nurses interested in a particular nursing specialty.

If you need financial assistance, nursing scholarships from various organizations are available to help offset the cost of your nursing education.

Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of registered nurses is projected to grow by 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. The BLS estimates there will be about 189,100 RN openings annually. Not only are many workers ready to retire, but several other industry trends are fueling demand for registered nurses. To become an RN, you'll need to earn a nursing degree and then pass the NCLEX®-RN exam.

>>Read More: How to Become a Nurse

Associate of Science in Nursing

The ASN is a prelicensure nursing program that generally requires about 2 years of full-time study. To enroll, you must be a high school graduate or possess a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or equivalent diploma.

Courses

As an ASN nursing student, you can expect a dynamic curriculum that helps you develop the knowledge and practical skills required to provide patient care, communicate effectively, and work as a team. Courses cover topics such as:

  • Pharmacology for nursing
  • Maternal infant nursing
  • Medical-surgical nursing
  • Pediatric nursing

Aside from coursework, ASN programs require students to complete facility-based clinical experiences. Purdue Global offers an associate degree in nursing program for students in Iowa and Maine.

Career Outcomes

Successful completion of the program qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX®-RN. This is the exam that, if you pass, gives you the RN credential. According to the BLS, a registered nurse coordinates patient care, records medical histories and current symptoms, administers medicines and treatments, operates medical equipment, and assists with diagnostic tests, among other responsibilities.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Many nurses who hold an associate degree and work as registered nurses return to school to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). Additionally, the BSN can serve as an entry pathway to registered nursing practice, as both the ASN and BSN prepare graduates for RN licensure.

BSN degree programs aim to provide a broader educational foundation, and many employers prefer candidates with a BSN. Earning a BSN may present you with greater career opportunities. According to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey, more than 73% of RNs hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.

If you’re already an RN, you can attend an online RN-to-BSN degree program. Completion time varies, but at Purdue Global, full-time students can complete their degree in as few as 13 months.

Why pursue a BSN? As the American Association of Colleges of Nursing explains, there’s a positive relationship between a higher nursing degree level and patient outcomes. Consider these statistics:

  • An increase in BSN-prepared nurses was associated with 24% greater odds of survival among patients who experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest.
  • Hospitals staffed with 80% BSN-qualified nurses had 24.6% lower odds of inpatient mortality compared to hospitals with only 30% BSN-qualified nurses.
  • Overall, having higher rates of BSN-prepared nurses in hospitals is associated with lower rates of heart failure, decubitus ulcers, and medication or procedural errors.

Courses

RN-to-BSN degree programs cover a variety of topics, including:

  • Professional leadership transitions
  • Public health nursing
  • Transition care
  • Evidence-based nursing

RN-to-BSN students must also complete practicum experience where they apply classroom learning in real-world environments.

Career Outcomes

Graduates of BSN programs are prepared for a wide range of registered nursing roles across health care settings. In addition to direct patient care, BSN-prepared nurses may pursue opportunities in leadership, care coordination, public health, and specialty practice areas.

Graduate Certificates in Nursing

Nursing certificate programs are available to help you build upon your bachelor's degree in nursing. These are available on campus and through online programs, offering an opportunity to expand your knowledge or skills in a particular focus area. A nursing graduate certificate program at Purdue Global takes, on average, about 5 months to complete.

Registered nurses who have earned a BSN degree can pursue the following online graduate certificates at Purdue Global:

For students interested in pursuing a master's degree, credits earned through a graduate certificate program can be applied toward an MSN degree.

Master of Science in Nursing

Once you earn a bachelor’s degree, you may wish to continue your nursing education. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is available in online programs and at on-campus colleges and universities, and it usually takes about 2 years of full-time study to complete. Purdue Global offers an online master’s degree in nursing and a self-paced ExcelTrack® Master of Science in Nursing.

If you’re looking to advance your career, MSN degree programs offer a range of concentration options that can prepare you for roles such as an advanced practice registered nurse, nurse practitioner, nurse executive, or nurse educator.

Additionally, if you're interested in pursuing multiple master's degrees simultaneously, Purdue Global offers the following dual degree options for different nursing careers:

Courses

MSN degree programs prepare students for advanced practice and specialized roles across a variety of settings. They cover:

  • Advanced nursing roles
  • Scientific and analytic approaches to advanced evidence-based practice
  • Epidemiology and health promotion
  • Health policy, ethical, and legal perspectives of the health care system
  • Specialty-focused coursework based on the chosen concentration area
    • MSN programs include clinical or practicum experiences aligned with the selected area of concentration, providing opportunities to apply advanced knowledge and skills in real-world settings.

Career Outcomes

Purdue Global offers the following specialty tracks within the MSN program:

  • Family nurse practitioner, primary care
  • Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner
  • Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner
  • Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
  • Executive leader
  • Nurse educator

According to the BLS, employment for nurse practitioners is expected to grow 40% through 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Postgraduate Certificates

For nurses who have already earned an MSN degree and are interested in changing or broadening their focus, Purdue Global offers the following postgraduate nursing certificates that can help prepare you for a career as a nurse practitioner. These certificates usually take about 1.5 years to complete:

Doctor of Nursing Practice

One of the highest nursing degrees you can earn is the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). This degree program is available at on-campus colleges and universities and in online programs, and the time it takes to complete varies. Purdue Global’s doctoral nursing program typically takes 1.5 years of full-time study.

Courses

DNP programs prepare nurses for advanced clinical practice and leadership roles, covering topics such as:

  • Professional role development of the DNP-prepared nurse
  • Epidemiology and social determinants of population health
  • Ethics, policy, and advocacy for population health

Additionally, DNP programs require a minimum of 1,000 postbaccalaureate practice hours for completion.

Career Outcomes

A DNP degree can open a world of opportunities in the nursing profession. It can help you reach clinical and high-level leadership positions in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, and more.

Learn More About Nursing Education

If you feel called to the nursing field or are interested in advancing your education, Purdue Global offers programs to support you at various stages of your nursing journey. Purdue Global’s nursing programs maintain appropriate accreditation and approvals. And, because they’re online, you can study on your own schedule.

Request more information about Purdue Global’s online nursing programs today.

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About the Author

Purdue Global

Earn a degree you're proud of and employers respect at Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. Accredited and online, Purdue Global gives you the flexibility and support you need to come back and move your career forward. Choose from 175+ programs, all backed by the power of Purdue.

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