Is an associates in nursing an occupational or technical program

For aspiring nurses, Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology offers the Associate of Science in Nursing or ASN program. The ASN is the first step in preparing for a career as a nurse in many different healthcare fields by preparing you to take the NCLEX-RN exam, a requirement for licensing in any state. Meeting all industry standards, complete with hands-on experience, the ASN program through Cambridge was built for your success.

What Is An Associate Degree in Nursing?

The Associate Degree in Nursing or ASN is a two-year program for individuals wishing to enter the medical field as registered nurses or RNs. This degree prepares you to take the NCLEX exam through hands-on training and coursework. The Associate Degree in Nursing is also required for students who wish to advance their career by achieving their Bachelor of Science in Nursing or BSN.

How Much Does a Nurse Make With an Associate Degree?

According to BLS, the median salary for RNs is $65,470. Payscale reports that the median wage for people with an ASN will vary depending upon their length of time in the field. For entry-level RNs, the pay will range from $19.96 to $35.28 per hour.

For those wishing to enhance their career as a nurse, those in the emergency room or operating room departments tend to make more per hour. Charge nurses or those nurses with more responsibility also earn a higher salary each year.

Is Getting an Associate Degree in Nursing Worth It?

Yes. If you wish to become a Registered Nurse or RN, an Associate degree is required. You will need the coursework and hands-on experience in order to pass the NCLEX examination to earn your credentials.

How Do I Get an Associate Degree in Nursing?

To receive an Associate Degree in Nursing, you will need to complete a two-year ASN program. This program will include coursework such as anatomy, microbiology, nutrition and chemistry. You will also be required to meet a certain number of required hours of clinical work. Once you receive your ASN, you will be required to take and pass the NCLEX exam for RN licensing.

Once you complete your ASN, you are in perfect alignment to receive your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. There is a national push for individuals to receive their BSN due to the higher level of experience required in the healthcare field.

What Classes Are Required for an Associate Degree in Nursing?

In order to receive your ASN, you will need to complete various courses including:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Health science
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• Surgical nursing
• Mental health nursing

Other coursework will be required including general studies such as math. You will complete hands-on experience training at area clinical healthcare facilities to round out your curriculum. To learn more about our curriculum, visit our ASN program page online.

What Jobs Can You Get With a Nursing Associate Degree?

The ASN and its coursework will prepare you for entry into the healthcare field as an RN. As an RN, you can work in various locations such as hospitals, doctor’s offices and outpatient care centers. You can also work with insurance carriers and home health care services as an RN patient advocate or care manager. Some RNs work in colleges and universities as well as specialty hospitals for the elderly and cancer care.

Do Hospitals Hire Nurses With an Associate Degree?

Yes, hospitals regularly hire nurses with an ASN and an RN license. However, some hospitals are requiring new RNs to have their BSN degree for added knowledge and skill in the field. To receive your BSN, you will need to have an ASN first.

Cambridge offers the highest quality curriculum to prepare you for the field. To learn more about the ASN program, reach out to Cambridge by calling 877-206-4279 today.

Schools offer associate nursing degrees in multiple formats, including the associate degree in nursing (ADN), associate of science in nursing (ASN), and associate of applied science in nursing (AAS/AASN). Completing any of these programs bring candidates closer to registered nurse (RN) licensure, but they also differ slightly in their specific focuses.

RN certification requires at least an associate nursing degree. Associate degrees also qualify graduates for positions as nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) after they complete the program and pass the appropriate licensure examination.

Demand for nurses is predicted to increase over the next decade. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 7% employment growth in RN jobs, 8% growth in nursing assistant jobs, and 9% growth in LPN/LVN jobs.

Aspiring healthcare professionals should understand the nuanced differences between ADN, ASN, and AAS degrees, and how each designation impacts their career paths and options. This guide explains their respective differences in detail.

Aspiring healthcare professionals should understand the nuanced differences between ADN, ASN, and AAS degrees, and how each designation impacts their career paths and options. This guide explains their respective differences in detail.

Check out our “Frequently Asked Questions” section below:

• What is an ADN, or Associate Degree in Nursing?
• What is an ASN, or Associate of Science in Nursing?
• What is an AAS in Nursing, or Associate of Applied Science in Nursing?
• Can I take the NCLEX-RN with an ADN degree?
• I want to get a BSN. Should I get an ADN, ASN, or AASN degree?
• ADN vs. RN: What is an RN? Is that a degree?
• CNA vs. LPN: What’s the difference?
• Can you be an RN with an associate degree?

Recommended Schools

Here’s a brief description of each degree:

What is an ADN, or Associate Degree in Nursing?

An ADN degree is a college-level nursing program that typically takes 2-3 years to complete and awards an associate-level credential. Some associate nursing programs specifically culminate in an ADN designation, while other ADN programs lead to ASN or AAS degrees. 

Schools that offer both ASN and AAS programs sometimes use the ADN descriptor as a catch-all. If the exact degree designation attached to a particular ADN program is not clear, prospective students can clarify this detail with the school before applying.

ADN programs emphasize core healthcare delivery knowledge and clinical competencies. They qualify candidates to sit for the standardized National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) leading to RN licensure. ADN-holders can also obtain licensure to work as nursing assistants, LPNs, and LVNs.

READ: BEST ONLINE SCHOOLS FOR ASSOCIATES IN NURSING

What is an ASN, or Associate of Science in Nursing?

ASN degrees deliver the knowledge and core skills students need to pass the NCLEX-RN examination, or to become nursing assistants or LPNs/LVNs. They combine classroom-based and hands-on instruction, and typically consist of approximately 72 credits or the equivalent of about 24 semester-length courses.

These courses cover academic and clinical skills, but often place slightly more emphasis on academics. As such, they make a strong base for future study at higher degree levels, such as if a student wants to continue on and earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing. ASN curricula usually focus on science-oriented topics in greater depth than AAS programs, which by contrast offer more training in qualitative and patient-focused areas of professional practice.

ASN degrees normally cover the following subjects in their classes: 

• Patient health assessments
• Anatomy and physiology
• Nutrition and pharmacology
• Medical, surgical, pediatric, and/or mental health nursing
• Research literacy and clinical practice 

Generally, the differences between ASN and AAS programs comes down to only a few core and/or elective courses. 

What is an AAS in Nursing, or Associate of Applied Science in Nursing?

AAS nursing degrees, also known as AASN degrees, offer curricula that closely match ASN programs. The key divergence between the two comes down to focal emphasis: AAS programs tend to include more career-focused training, making them a strong match for learners seeking to proceed directly into professional practice rather than continuing on to earn another degree.

Some of the topics that tend to receive more thorough and focused treatment in AAS nursing degrees include:

• Procedural documentation and nursing processes
• Organizational structure
• Patient-focused care delivery
• Psychosocial aspects of healthcare

As with ASN degrees, AAS nursing degrees usually take 2-3 years to complete and normally consist of approximately 72 credits/24 courses. The respective differences between ASN and AAS degrees are primarily semantic. Employers make little if any distinction between the two.

For Additional Information:

Earning your associate degree will lay a good foundation to earn future degrees, such as your online bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degrees. If you have completed your associate degree and are ready to take the next step, we have compiled a list of 20 Best Online Schools for Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing Degree Programs to help you in your endeavors!

See: What can I do with an Associate degree if my career goal is to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)?

See also: What can I do with an Associate degree if my career goal is to become a Registered Nurse (RN)?

For more information about Nursing Degrees and a Navigational Guide to walk you through the ins and outs of nursing, please visit NURSING DEGREE AND CAREER GUIDE and our NAVIGATIONAL GUIDE FOR NURSING OPTIONS

Recommended Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take the NCLEX-RN with an ADN degree?

Students who graduate from accredited ADN, ASN, or AASN programs qualify to take either of the National Council Licensure Examinations (NCLEX) offered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. These include the NCLEX-RN and its equivalent for vocational or practical nurses (PNs), the NCLEX-PN.

To take the exam, program graduates send a formal application to the jurisdictional regulatory body where they plan to work. This is usually their state’s nursing board. The application includes confirmation that the degree holder successfully completed an accredited nursing program. Applicants also need to register and pay a fee to Pearson VUE, the organization that administers the actual exam.

After the application is accepted and confirmed, program graduates receive a physical or digital Authorization to Test document, which they must show on the day of the exam along with government-issued photo ID. Candidates then have up to five hours to complete the test, and those that pass receive either registered nursing licensure (for the NCLEX-RN) or practical nursing licensure (for the NCLEX-PN).
Additional requirements may also apply, depending on the jurisdiction. For more information, refer to state-specific guidelines.

I want to get a BSN. Should I get an ADN, ASN, or AASN degree?

Any accredited associate nursing degree qualifies the learner to continue on to earn a BSN. However, prospective BSN students who already have an associate degree in nursing should carefully review admission requirements to determine whether any other specific prerequisites apply. 

For example, many schools offer RN-to-BSN programs to learners with associate degrees in nursing. However, these accelerated study paths usually require applicants to hold active, unencumbered RN licensure. They may also limit eligibility to RNs with a minimum level of professional experience.

Standalone BSN degrees typically take 3-4 years to complete. Degree-seekers with an ADN, ASN, or AASN almost always qualify for some form of advanced standing, as associate programs closely adhere to the content covered during the first two years of a standard BSN.

While a BSN does not currently serve as a prerequisite for RN licensure, the BLS notes that nurses who hold at least a bachelor’s degree generally enjoy better job prospects than those without one. Some employers prefer RNs with BSNs over those with ADN degrees, and BSNs are also advantageous in competitive job application situations.

Finally, aspiring nurses should be aware of a general nationwide push toward requiring RNs to have at least a bachelor’s degree. While this has not yet been formally set as a firm requirement, some states are raising educational standards to licensure renewal eligibility. For example, in 2017, New York passed a “BSN in 10” law, requiring RNs without a BSN to complete a BSN program within 10 years of receiving their initial license.

What is an RN? Is that a degree?

“RN” stands for Registered Nurse, which is a credential awarded to nurses who pass the NCLEX-RN examination. “RN” is not a degree, but there are degrees that can prepare those looking to earn RN licensure, including associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees.

CNA vs. LPN: What’s the difference?

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) assists the nurses in basic patient care under the supervision of a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or RN. The LPN has elevated duties, but under the supervision of an RN. A competency test, per your state’s regulations, will be required.

Most CNA certificate programs can be completed in a year or less. Programs focused on preparing students to become an LPN are more detailed and typically last one year. LPN certification will require passing the NCLEX-PN exam.

Can you be an RN with an associate degree?

Yes, prospective nurses could become an RN with an associate degree as long as they pass the NCLEX-RN exam. An associate degree will get you started, allow you to get some experience, and decide if you love nursing. If so, earning a bachelor’s degree will allow for promotions, better salary, and the qualifications you need for other nursing positions that might require it.