An Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) is a tertiary education nursing degree that typically takes 2-3 years to complete. This degree is usually awarded by community colleges or similar nursing schools in the United States. The ASN program curriculum may vary depending on where you choose to pursue it, but it usually includes classroom learning while also focusing on clinical experiences in different healthcare facilities. Students who graduate from an ASN program and receive licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) can practice in a variety of occupations, including hospitals, rehab facilities, home healthcare services, nursing facilities, clinics, schools, and physicians offices.
ASN degrees deliver the knowledge and core skills students need to pass the NCLEX-RN examination, or to become nursing assistants or LPNs/LVNs. The curriculum usually includes courses in patient health assessments, anatomy and physiology, nutrition and pharmacology, medical, surgical, pediatric, and/or mental health nursing, research literacy, and clinical practice. ASN degrees normally cover science-oriented topics in greater depth than Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AAS) programs, which offer more training in qualitative and patient-focused areas of professional practice.
Getting an ASN degree is a fantastic way to start a nursing career, as it prepares students for various entry-level nursing positions in different healthcare facilities. ASN-holders can work in hospitals, clinics, doctors offices, nursing homes, and outpatient care centers, and can also choose a specialization to work in, such as pediatrics, geriatric care, OBGYN, trauma, anesthesiology, or others. ASN programs are also a stepping stone to earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through an RN to BSN program.
