Choosing Between College and Nursing School for Your Nursing Education
Posted On November 18,2016
It’s no secret that the cost of attending college is extremely expensive these days. And it’s also apparent that many graduating students leave college strapped with the financial burden of large student loans.
Knowing these facts, it’s important that you choose your path of higher education on one that leads to a well-paying and rewarding career. Good paying jobs, the ones that require a four-year degree, are harder to find these days. Many graduates are shocked when they find that many of the jobs slots once reserved for them have been filled by skilled foreign workers with better educations willing to work for less money.
If you are a high school senior, or someone who has decided to go back to school to earn a degree, consider the option of going to a technical college versus a four year liberal arts college.
For instance, if you have an interest in the medical field, a qualified school where you can earn a nursing degree in less time taking concentrated nursing classes might be just the right choice for you.
How Many Years for a Nursing Degree?
The duration of your nursing education will depend on your goals in the nursing field. An Associate Degree in nursing usually requires two to three years of schooling. Bachelor’s Degrees require four to five years. If your goal is to become a Licensed Practical Nurse, one year of nursing school and successfully passing the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) exam will earn you that LPN status.
A Nursing School Education
Cities across the country usually have several schools to choose from. They all have one thing in common: their collective goal is to teach students the science and art of nursing so they can enter the nursing vocation educated and prepared to handle any and all situations they face.
Don’t expect to float through nursing school because you’re smart and earned good grades elsewhere. Nursing can be a difficult career that requires long hours of working under pressure. School will be much like the nursing job you’re being prepared for. The study hours are long, the teaching is intense and the subject matter is new and difficult to assimilate.
In a way, nursing colleges are designed to weed out those who don’t have the temperament or interest in nursing to succeed in the field. The goal is to graduate students who truly feel comfortable around doctors and patients and have the desire to help others.
Those who do make it through school and make nursing a career will find that the effort will be well-rewarded monetarily.
Salary Structure for Nurses
For LPN’s, the median annual salary is $44,782, as of May 31, 2016. The range is from $40,700-$50,100 depending on where the job is located and the number of openings at any one time.
Registered Nurses (RN) earn an average wage of around $69,790 per year, ranging from a low of $45,900 to a high of more than $98,900 per annum.
Nurses with advanced degrees and experience in critical fields can earn well over $100,000 per year.
To learn more about a career as a Practical Nurse or as a Registered Nurse, and whether it’s the right fit for you, schedule an appointment with Athena Career Academy today. One meeting with our Admissions counselors could help put you on the path to a successful new career that could change your life for the better.
Athena Career Academy is located at:
5203 Airport Highway
Toledo, Ohio 43615
Hours: Monday – Friday 7:30AM to 4:30PM
Phone: (419) 329-4075