What is Nursing School? How long is it?
A nursing school is an educational institution which provides the students with appropriate education and trainings to become a qualified nurse with a degree in the future. Nursing school education and qualifications may vary dependently from the country.
Lots of programs are available to help nurses start their entry-level practice with one year experience, and strive for advancing their career after two or four years programs completion. When the students wishes for advanced practicing of their skills, it requires some more years of studying. Right after the students finish their one year education and practice by the program, they can start practicing as nurses. Meanwhile, not less than two years spent in nursing school are required for registered nurse licensure. The full course of nursing school usually takes about eight years of studying to a doctorate degree. Most of the nursing school programs include two year of degree in nursing and four years of Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
Licensed practical nurse school education programs
There are Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), also called licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). They are aimed to provide basic care for patients and assistance to the registered nurses. Nursing school programs for LPNs include both classroom work and clinical experience, and take about one year. After graduating LPN program students can take an exam that guarantees them LPN license. Typically, a period of training within a licensed practical nurse school program provides with the courses that include the basics of nursing, first aid, pharmacology, psychology, etc. Once the student graduates such a type of a program, it is possible to look for the entry-level positions to provide nursing care.
The programs for Masters
A degree of Master in nursing school is mostly required when those graduated wish to take administrative position or a nursing position in specialized nursing institution, where they can teach or make researches. Nursing school programs require to have a bachelor’s degree and some universities can provide with online education. Here’s a program for masters called Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), which takes 2 years of studying. This program offers classroom work and study, clinical experience and researches. Also, it may include the courses for pharmacology, informatics, ethics, others. The students who are taking MSN program have a right to make their choice as for the field they want to study more throughly, including nurse practicing, anesthesia, nursing leadership, and others.
The programs for Doctors
Also, there are programs which help the students become doctors – Doctor of Nursing (ND). Such programs usually take from three to five years and prepare nurses to the work in more highly developed and advanced fields. It requires three years for Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program to provide the graduates with bachelor’s degree and help them advance their skills in clinical practice. The nurses who strive for leadership position get well prepared due to these kinds of programs and are able to provide with a high quality nurse care.
Additionally the Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) program helps the students act as scientists since they investigate the field of nursing and make researchers in the system of health care. If a student wants to graduate, it’s necessary to make an original research in clinicals, get ready with dissertation, write it and defend.
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing school program means preparation of students to investigating the industry of nursing for the purpose of advancing care that is provided currently in hospitals and nursing homes. The nursing PhD candidates just like the Doctors of Nursing Science should be responsible for research projects as well as write their dissertation work and defend it.
Graduation. Summing up
Summing up the graduation degrees of nursing school programs, one can highlight the following types:
1) Master’s Degree (MSN) program prepares graduates as Advances Practice Nurses, nurse administrators or educators.
2) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is focused on having clinical practice or learning leadership roles.
3) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is basically focused on a research. The graduates usually tend to teaching in institutions or conducting researches in their field.