Nurses are hard-working, compassionate professionals who are committed to making a difference. In this profession, every working hour is pledged to helping the sick, the injured, the weak, and the recovering as they heal and get back on their feet. As some say, nurses are guardian angels disguised in scrubs. They are also some of the most valued healthcare professionals out there.

If you dream of becoming a nurse, but do not know where to begin, you are in the right place. There are many types of entry-level nursing programs that can prepare you for a career. No matter how much education or experience you have, the pathways outlined below are designed to help you break into nursing for the first time. And the best part? Most can be accomplished in two years or less!

The different types of entry-level Nursing programs

If you are just starting out in the nursing field, you have a few different options. You can choose between short-term certificate programs (to get into the workforce fast) or a more robust degree program to become a registered nurse (RN). The right choice for you will depend on your career goals, scheduling needs, and whether you have any prior education/experience under your belt.

1. Nursing Assistant program

A Nursing Assistant program is the fastest way to enter the nursing field. However, it’s important to note that this level of program will not prepare you to become a nurse; As its name implies, it will prepare you to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA).

Certified nursing assistants are supportive professionals who help keep patients comfortable, tended to, and monitored in healthcare environments. They perform routine services like monitoring vital signs, assisting patients with dressing and bathing, and transporting patients in need. Commonly, CNAs can be found in long-term care facilities, like nursing homes, and develop close relationships with their patients.

A Nursing Assistant program can qualify you for this entry-level nursing career in just three to four months, making it a great option for those looking to start work right away. Even if you have long-term goals of expanding your skill sets, becoming a CNA is a popular way to get your foot in the door and gain experience while working towards a longer-term nursing degree. Nursing Assistant programs are offered at the certificate or diploma level.

At Goodwin, the Patient Care Associate certificate program is designed to kickstart students’ careers with CNA training in the first semester. After completion of their CNA classes, they become eligible to sit for the CNA certification exam and begin work in patient care. They can work as a CNA while continuing their PCA courses, which take just three semesters to complete.

2. Practical Nursing program

A Practical Nursing program is another certificate-level pathway that can position you for entry-level opportunities in nursing. Specifically, this type of program will prepare you for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN).

Licensed practical nurses are responsible for providing basic care to patients in need. Whether working in a clinic or residential care, LPNs can be found assisting with procedures, monitoring medications, recording vital signs, and helping patients move, dress, bathe, and eat. LPNs work under the direction of registered nurses and physicians, often acting as the liaison between patients and providers.

Because of the entry-level nature of practical nursing, these programs can be completed in a short amount of time. At Goodwin University, for example, the Practical Nursing program, which includes in-class and on-site clinical experiences, can be completed within 16 to 28 months.

3. Associate degree in Nursing (ADN)

An associate degree in Nursing is the standard award needed to become a registered nurse (RN). It can take roughly two years to complete and, at its culmination, will make you eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam.

Of the entry-level nursing careers available, registered nurses have the most responsibility and autonomy. These caring professionals provide direct care to patients who are sick, injured, and disabled. They can conduct patient assessments, evaluate symptoms, coordinate treatment plans alongside doctors, and administer medications. RNs can also operate complex equipment, perform diagnostic testing, and educate patients and families on preventive or aftercare.

Pursuing an associate degree in Nursing is one of the more popular routes into nursing. Not only will it set you up for a successful and high-paying career, but it will also enable you to get there fast. At Goodwin, students can complete their associate degree in Nursing in 20 months part-time, after completing prerequisites. The program consists of both classroom learning and hands-on, in-field clinicals.

4. Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN)

For those looking to become a registered nurse, there is also the option to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN). This pathway requires a longer stretch in school than the associate degree, but it can position candidates for advancement opportunities in nursing early on. For example, while many BSN graduates start out in entry-level RN roles, they can qualify for leadership positions faster than nurses without a bachelor’s education. Some employers, such as the U.S. military and many schools, also require nurses to hold a bachelor’s degree.

A traditional bachelor’s in Nursing program takes four years to complete. Similar to the ADN route, a BSN will prepare you to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination and kickstart your career as a registered nurse.

5. Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program

What if you have already graduated from college, but now feel called to the nursing field? If you’re looking to change careers to nursing but have no prior nursing experience, you’re in luck. The accelerated BSN is an entry-level nursing program designed for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree in a totally different major, but are looking to go back to school to become an RN.

ABSN programs are aimed at giving you the knowledge and skills needed to thrive as a nurse. It’s a baccalaureate-level program, but can be completed in under two years. As such, the program is intensive and only offered in full-time formats. However, it’s a great way to break into nursing quickly, without investing years more in school. At Goodwin, ABSN students can complete their bachelor’s degree in just 16 months full-time.

Explore all of Goodwin’s nursing programs online here today!

Choosing the best entry-level Nursing program for you

Now that you know the different types of entry-level nursing programs, is there one that aligns best with your career goals and personal timeline?

The best program for you will align with your interests, goals, and scheduling needs. As you consider your options, ask yourself:

• What do you hope to do as a nurse? Do you prefer to fulfill basic bedside tasks, such as helping patients to eat and dress? Or, are you interested in more complex and critical patient care? Do you wish to take on advanced clinical duties, such as diagnosing patients, performing lab tests, and administering medications? Or, do you prefer to act as a liaison between patients and other nursing staff?
• How quickly do you want to enter the nursing workforce? Do you have time to commit to a two- or four-year education, to become an RN? Or, would you like to break into nursing even more quickly, as a CNA or LPN?

While certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are two popular, entry-level nursing careers, most aspiring nurses will choose to pursue their education at the degree level. This is because, by earning an associate degree or higher, you qualify for a registered nursing license.

Registered nursing is also a great stepping stone to other, advanced nursing positions down the road. By starting your career with an associate degree in Nursing, you will find it very easy to transition into a bachelor’s and master’s level program. For example, after you have earned an associate degree and an RN license, you can enroll in the RN-to-BSN program at Goodwin to help advance your career. Those with a BSN in hand can look towards MSN and APRN programs.

Once you decide the type of entry-level nursing program you’d like to pursue (one that best aligns with your career ambitions), you should then look for:

A program that offers hands-on clinical experience.

Practical training is the cornerstone of a successful nursing program. Be sure to look for a nursing school that offers hands-on, clinical experiences in both real-life and simulated healthcare settings.

A nursing program that offers flexibility.

We know you are busy. Especially if you are planning on working while going to nursing college, it is important to have courses that work with your schedule — courses that you’ll actually attend. Goodwin University, for example, offers most of our entry-level nursing classes on days and evenings. Clinicals include day, evening, and weekend options. And, as you advance your nursing education, you can start to enjoy the flexibility of online coursework through our BSN and MSN curricula.

A nursing school that gives you room to grow (and helps you to do so).

You should never feel limited by your level of education. Even if you can only commit to an entry-level nursing program right now, you should always leave the door open for additional learning down the road. You never know when your employer will ask you to earn a BSN degree, or when you will wish to expand your knowledge and skillset in the nursing profession. That is why we highly recommend choosing a school with other advanced nursing degrees available — so that your credits will easily transfer over, and so that you can always look forward to a quality education.

Entry-level nursing career prospects and salary potential

Nursing, at all levels, is one of the most in-demand professions today. And the need for nurses (and high-quality patient care) will always be there. According to the Bureau of Statistics’ latest employment data:

• Employment of CNAs is expected to grow 2% in the next decade
• Job openings for LPNs will grow about 3% by 2034
• Registered nurses can expect a 5% increase in employment over this time

Generally speaking, the more you invest in your education, the more your compensation will be. CNAs, for example, earn a fraction of what RNs do — but this is largely because RNs have more training, skills, and responsibilities under their belts. Here’s a look at the salary expectations for entry-level nursing careers:

• CNAs earn roughly $39,530 per year in the United States
• LPNs earn a mean salary of $62,340 annually in the U.S.
• RNs earn an average of $93,600 per year across the states

Salary potential and job outlook vary by state, as well, with places like Connecticut boasting higher-than-average compensation for nurses across the field.

Entry-level Nursing program FAQ

What is an entry-level nurse?

Entry-level nurses are caring professionals who are first entering the nursing profession. They can hold titles such as certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or registered nurse (RN), depending on their level of education. These nursing professionals have completed the foundational coursework needed to enter the field; they did not have any prior nursing education or work experience beforehand.

What is the average starting salary for an entry-level nurse?

Entry-level nursing salaries can range depending on your title. However, for registered nurses, the typical salary range falls between $66,030 and $135,320 annually in the United States. Starting salaries for nurses typically fall on the lower end of that range. You can work towards six figures as you advance in your nursing career.

How long does it take to enter the field of nursing?

Depending on which entry-level nursing program you decide to pursue, breaking into the field of nursing can take several months or years to complete. The fastest pathways are the CNA or LPN route, taking anywhere between three and 16 months, while becoming an RN can take anywhere from two to four years to accomplish.

Can I get a nursing job with no prior experience?

Not exactly. If you have not been exposed to nursing environments, either through your nursing school or on-the-job experience, you will not be eligible to practice as a nurse. Nurses make life-or-death decisions every day; they must have the skills and knowledge needed to handle a range of patient cases. This requires experience.

However, let us clarify: Experience can come from your nursing program! You do not need to have worked and earned a paycheck in healthcare to begin your career as a nurse. You simply need to have the foundational education in place, completed clinical rotations in school, and the proper licensure to practice. Many brand new graduates are able to launch careers in nursing right away, once these basic requirements are met.

Break into the nursing field today!

If you’re here now, you likely have no nursing experience behind you; maybe just a few science classes under your belt. And that is completely okay! A nursing career is still within your reach through an entry-level program.

The best part is, you do not need to shoulder years of expensive medical school to land a nursing job. From nursing assisting to registered nursing, there are many entry-level nursing programs that can qualify you for a successful career in just two years or less. Many of these are available right here, at Goodwin University.

Goodwin is a leading nursing school in the state of Connecticut, with nursing degrees offered at the associate (ADN), bachelor’s (BSN), and master’s (MSN) levels.

Why wait to get started? Work your way to the top of the nursing ladder, starting with an entry-level nursing program! Contact us at 800-889-3282 or visit us online to learn more.