What Can You Do with an Associates Degree in Nursing?

If you are looking for a profession that involves becoming a nurse in order to help people who are suffering from various diseases, working as a Licensed Practical Nurse at the beginning is the best way to figure out your own interests in the field.

For instance, if you prefer working with animals, your goal may be to work as a veterinary nurse. It is important for you to know well about this degree. When you complete your ADN or LPN/LVN program, you will be trained well for a wide range of job duties and opportunities which will be further discussed in this article.

Also, Read - Types of Associate Degrees

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What is an Associate Degree in Nursing? 

It is a 2-year academic course that is needed for a student to be able to hold firm ground in the health care field and also to be entitled as a registered nurse (RN). Once the student graduates, he or she will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN test which should be cleared compulsorily to become a licensed nurse by the State. An RN must be licensed to be able to work.What is the Difference Between ADN and BSN?

Most of you might be wondering how ADN is different from BSN. So here is a table which gives you a clear vision of it.  

ADN	BSN
Associate Degree in Nursing	Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing
Course duration is 2 years	Course duration is 4 years
It involves 60 to 70 semester hours.	It involves about 120 hours.
The entry-level salary will be around $68000 on average.	The entry-level salary will be around $80000 on average.
Trained mostly on Clinical skills.	Trains mostly on leadership, nursing research, management as well as clinical skills.
An analysis says 68 percent of job postings analyzed demand at least an Associate’s degree.	An analysis says 28 percent of postings demand a Bachelor’s degree.

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What do you do Nursing?

As a graduate of this course, you are expected to do the work as stated below.

• To maintain patient health records like medication provided and medical history.

• To provide necessary assistance for patients by aiding them to bathe, walk around.

• To observe patient health by taking temperature or blood pressure on a regular basis.

• To communicate with the patients and know how they are feeling and also try to solve if there are any issues that are causing harm to them.

• It is important to provide the necessary preliminary treatment which is to be done by a nurse.

One of the most important advantages is that you get to interact with so many people that help to improve your interpersonal and communication skills. This experience will make you realize your strengths and weaknesses. 

With an ADN, you will have to follow a set of responsibilities. However, certain rules and regulations may vary for different firms. A typical set of duties for a nurse is as follows.

• Monitor patients and keep reporting on their wellbeing regularly.

• Maintain records of a patient’s medical histories and symptoms.

• Teach patients how to manage their illnesses or injuries at home.

• Operate medical equipment.

• Conduct diagnostic tests on patient samples and analyze the results.

• Administer medicines and treatments to patients.

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Average Salary

Registered Nurses who are graduates of ADN course earn an average base salary of $69,270, with a range of $47,000 as a low and $91,000 as a high.

As work experience increases, the salary will also increase gradually. And an added advantage for nurses who have their ADN are able to begin getting experience after just two years of nurse education.

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Where can a graduate in ADN work?

Registered Nurses with an ADN degree have a wide range of environments in which they can work like General medical hospitals, surgical hospitals, Pharmacies, Multinational companies, Support Services, Nursing care facilities, Government Agencies, Healthcare services, Educational services, Schools, Community agencies, Emergency care centers, Offices, and more.

Training is given in Specializations like:

• Human anatomy

• Physiology

• Microbiology

• Sociology

• Developmental psychology

• Pharmacology

• Nursing principles and theories

• Parent and infant nursing

• Operational nursing

• Wellness nursing

• Psychiatric nursing

• Nursing leadership and management

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Colleges Offering Associate Degree in Nursing

• Reedley College, Reedley

• The Helena College University of Montana, Helena

• College of Coastal Georgia, Brunswick

• Cayuga County Community College, Auburn

• Mississippi University for Women, Columbus

• Southeastern Illinois College, Harrisburg

• Seminole State College of Florida, Sanford

• Washington State Community College, Marietta

• Holmes Community College, Goodman

• Big Bend Community College, Moses Lake