After you go to college for 4 years to get your BSN, do you just apply for the exam?

Question

I keep getting mixed answers about this. I heard that after you attend 4 years of college, to obtain your Bachelor's degree of Nursing, you have to enroll in Nursing school? And that's another 3 years or so? But then I also heard that right after you complete the 4 years you can go and apply for the exam and when you pass, you're a licensed RN? And what's the difference with the associates degree? Is it 2 years of community college and you're able to apply for a license as well?

Answer 1

No, to get your RN license, you need to enroll in a Nursing program, which will lead you to your Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree, which usually takes 4 years to complete. This degree gives you the information, know-how and is the backbone to your nursing principles required to take the licensing exam in your state or province, which governs the nurses and their practice. Once you pass the licensing exam, you are eligible to practicing nursing anywhere within the state/province boundaries. If you decide to move, you will need to get another license from the other state/province. You can obtain your BSN either at a community college or a major university. An associates degree DOES NOT give you the title of RN (at least not in Canada). The title given is LPN (licensed practical nurse) or LVN (licensed vocational nurse). The pay and respect of LPN/LVN is lower than that of a RN. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

If you got to a univesity for your BSN, your first two years you are either not in the nursing program or you are considered lower level.  That is the time you take all your other degree requirements like english, psych, biology and weed out nursing classes.  You must then apply to enter the upper level of nursing which is then when you have nursing classes and clinicals.  After successful completion of a nursing program you are eliglibe to apply for a license which includes taking the NCLEX exam.  

If you go to a community college it may take 2-3 years, the extra year is because you will need prereqs like A&P, psych and other things to get into the program and to graduate.  The actual nursing component is 5 semesters generally.  Some people like to finish their prereqs before entering nursing school but it is so demanding you wont' have time to study for anything else.  And after completing this program you are eligible to test for the same NCLEX exam apply for a license work as a RN.

The LPN program is a 1 to 2yr program that allows you be be a Practical or Vocation nurse depending on where you live.   LPN's are not utilized much in the hospitals anymore and work more in doctor's offices and nursing homes.   After completion of the LPN program you may take the NCLEX PN and become licensed.

Answer 3

Obtain BSN then take exam, pass, RN.

Associates 2 years, take exam, pass, RN.

If you don't mind doing 4-6 years of school go for the BSN.

2-4 for the associates.

Answer 4

The BSN is the education, and then you take the exam.

A 2-year degree leads to an RN but is not as good as a BSN.  You can't go on to get a masters, and there is a pay differential.