To become a registered nurse (RN), candidates must complete a diploma, associate's degree or bachelor's degree in nursing program, and become licensed. Diploma programs are only offered by certain hospitals and are not as prevalent as degree programs. Earning a diploma qualifies licensed graduates for entry-level RN positions. Nursing diploma programs can take 1-3 years to complete.

ADN programs offered through community and 4-year colleges last 2-3 years and qualify graduates for entry-level RN positions. Nursing associate's degree programs at community colleges can be taken either during the day, night, or on a weekend schedule. Students study nursing fundamentals, including anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology and nutrition, as well as related topics, such as psychology.

Students are also required to participate in nursing clinicals, which allow the student to practice everything that he or she has learned in a controlled environment. These tasks include making a patient's bed, understanding normal and abnormal heart sounds and breath sounds and monitoring a patient's charts.

Similar to a diploma or AND program, a bachelor's degree in nursing can lead to a career as a registered nurse, but the BSN also provides the foundation for graduate and advanced study in nursing. Students without nursing experience can take a full 4-year BSN program and licensure exam, while those with an ADN or prior RN licensure can take a 2-year RN-to-BSN program. Prospective nurses with a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing can enroll in a 2-year accelerated BSN program.

Courses in a nursing bachelor's degree program include anatomy and physiology, statistics, nutrition and diet, nursing theory and research, as well as common general education requirements, such as English, history and social sciences. A BSN also requires that the student participate in advanced clinicals in hospitals, nursing homes or even psych facilities.

A master's degree in nursing is generally needed for administrative positions as well as highly specialized care nursing positions, or opportunities in teaching and research. Admission to graduate nursing school programs requires a bachelor's degree. Some universities offer online education.

The 2-year Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program involves classroom study, research and clinical experience. Possible courses include evidence-based research, end of life care, pharmacology, ethics and informatics. An MSN student can choose to specialize in a field, such as nursing leadership, anesthesia, case management or nurse practitioner.

Doctor of Nursing (ND) programs take 3-5 years, including summers, beyond undergraduate programs. These programs prepare nurses with specialist skills to work in more advanced fields.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs take around three years to complete following a bachelor's degree and focus on clinical practice. This degree prepares nurses for leadership positions in which the graduates are expected to keep the balance between offering a higher quality of care while remaining on budget.

The Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) program allows nursing students to act as scientists as they investigate and research the health care system. The most popular areas of study are health care economics and statistical analysis. To graduate, a student must participate in more clinicals, conduct original research, and write and defend a dissertation.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing program prepares students to research and investigate the nursing industry to advance care provided at hospitals and nursing homes. Similar to the DNSc program, nursing PhD candidates must also run research projects and complete the dissertation process.