You may know that college isn’t always a cut-and-dried four-year journey. There are different options for different aspirations. And even those can depend on your specific college and program. You’re excited about nursing, but you want to know what to expect—so how long is nursing school?

无论您希望更快地播放地板跑步，还是有兴趣获得高级凭据，您将在护理学校花费的时间可以大大变化。一旦您考虑了理想的时间线，就查看它是否与您的职业目标相匹配。

Nursing has several degree options, and each one is unique in its offerings. We’ve outlined your options to show you how long you can expect nursing school to take. We’ve also talked to experts who have been in your shoes so as to highlight the different experiences of nursing school. Ready to dive in?

Types of nursing roles

Nursing is a diversified profession. There’s no right or wrong answer to what type of nurse to be, but knowing what responsibilities and duties that come with each can help you determine which would be best for you. If your dream is to become a registered nurse (RN), both an Associate’s degree and Bachelor’s degree can help you get there. If you have hopes of becoming a nurse educator one day, you’ll likely need a little more education, including a master’s or a doctorate degree.

One of the many great things about being a nurse is that there are a lot of ways to advance in your career and education. Many of these degrees build upon or transition into one another. This means the credential or degree you begin earning now doesn’t have to be the one you’re stuck with forever. Common nursing credentials include—

• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• 注册护士（RN）
• 高级实践注册护士（APRN）

有许多护理证书可以深入进入各种医学专业，有些人代表某些教育水平，但我们也会走过那些。让我们从基础开始。

成为LPN需要多长时间？

Becoming an LPN is a great option for those who would like to become nurses as quickly as possible.LPNs do many of the same tasks as RNs, such as taking vital signs, obtaining patient histories and providing basic personal care. However, LPNs are not responsible for the more advanced duties such as creating care plans, and they usually report to a supervising RN or physician.

APractical Nursing Diploma programcan be earned in as few as 12 months for full-time students.¹While state requirements may vary, typically students will need to complete their education and then pass the NCLEX-PN exam to obtain licensure.

担任LPN的工作帮助您获得有价值的护理经历和知识，获得的学分可以为那些决定成为注册护士的人提供坚实的基础。

需要多长时间to become an RN?

有一个以上的路径可以成为注册护士。您可以通过在护理（ADN）或护理学位学士（BSN）中获得副学士学位来成为RN。

Both ADN and BSN registered nurses have broader scopes of practice than LPNs, and roles will vary based on the job location, whether it’s in a clinic, a hospital or ambulatory care. Registered nurses often choose to focus their careers on specialized patient care. Popular specialties include pediatrics, geriatrics, intensive care or oncology nursing.

Associate’s Degree in Nursing

An Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) is the quickest option for getting started in a registered nursing career. AProfessional Nursing ADN programcan be completed in as few as 18 to 24 months.¹Next, you would need to pass the NCLEX-RN. After passing this test and meeting all other state licensure requirements, you are a registered nurse and able to specialize and work in a variety of settings.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree

Those interested in becoming a registered nurse also have the option of earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). There are a few options for earning a BSN—the best fit for you will depend on your academic background.

Anrn to bsn程序is a great option for registered nurses who’ve already completed an ADN program and would like to advance their education. Registered nurses in this program can earn a BSN in as few as 12 to 18 months.¹

For those who aren’t already nurses, a standard BSN program can be completed in as few as 33 months with anaccelerated program.¹Or, if you already have a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, you can leverage that experience to obtain a BSN in截至18个月in an accelerated BSN program.¹

If you’re having trouble deciding whether to pursue your ADN or BSN, dig deeper with our article:ADN vs. BSN: Your Guide to Help You Decide on a Nursing Degree

成为一个4月需要多长时间？

最后但肯定并非最不重要的是，你可以用研究生级护理教育攀登护理阶梯，例如护理中的科学硕士（MSN）。应该指出的是，研究生级计划通常是专门的，并且不会普遍为所有研究生级角色做好普遍准备 - 例如，愿意护士从业者或护士麻醉师需要寻求专门的计划。与MSN degree来自拉斯穆森大学，你将准备好作为一个nurse educator,nurse manager, nurse administrator or in other nursing leadership positions.

要有资格进入MSN程序，您将首先需要获得BSN。一旦您在手中满足了任何其他入学要求，您将有能力在Rasmussen大学获得护理计划中的科学硕士学位，只需18个月。¹

And although an advanced degree requires several years of schooling, the perks are worth it to many people. TheBLS reportsthat medical and health services managers earned a 2019 median annual salary of $100,980, andnurse educatorsearned a median annual salary of $74,600.²

还有advanced practice options包括更多患者护理，包括护士从业者角色或护士麻醉师（CRNA）。这两种选择可以包括根据您的目标赚取硕士或博士学位，这可以延长学校的时间。

Working while earning a nursing degree

We know that school is expensive, and you may balk at the thought of quitting your job in order to pursue your dreams. While it may not be ideal, working through nursing school is doable. It may extend your time in school altogether, but earning money to pay for school and other necessities may be worth it.

Brittney Wilson，BSN，RN和Blogger书呆子护士，建议找一份允许您时间学习的工作。

“如果你找不到你可以学习的东西，请在哪里找到您在哪里获得良好的临床经验working as a CNA,” she says.

While you may want to finish school as quickly as possible, don’t worry if you don’t follow a traditional path. Wilson explains how it took her four years to earn an ADN. “I did not get in the first time I applied, so I used the additional year to complete all the classes that would be required for my eventual bridge to BSN.”

Find a schedule and combination of work and school that’s right for you. Remember—you are not alone, and many have been in your shoes before. With a little perseverance and determination, your nursing career goals can be achieved.

What will your nursing school journey look like?

所以护理学校多久了？正如您所看到的，答案可以获得一点复杂 - 大大依赖您的目标以及您当前的教育水平。

Having an idea of how much time you can commit to a nursing program is an ideal way to start narrowing down which path to choose. For more information to help you choose between two of the most common entryways into the nursing field, check out our article, “Practical Nursing vs. Professional Nursing: Understanding the Differences。“

¹Time to completion is dependent on number of transfer credits accepted and the number of courses completed each term.
²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed July, 2020]https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries and employment conditions in your area may vary..

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published in May 2015. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2020.