Are you looking for a private nursing school that fits your budget while providing the solid education that will get you into the career you love?

Would you prefer to study in a well-connected coastal state like California or New York?

There are so many options out there that it could blow your mind – private nursing schools are numerous, diverse, and often located in awesome areas.

Whether it is your dream to work for a private nursing agency or save lives in a bustling hospital, education is the key to getting there. Private nursing jobs are only available to those who have proven their knowledge and expertise by getting the proper credentials. Are you ready to get started?

Top Private Nursing Schools in California

1. Samuel Merritt University School of Nursing

While most people think of the golden state as a place to go on spring break, many medical-minded students could care less about the beaches – the quality of private nursing schools in California is the major attraction. And while Samuel Merritt may not be one of the most well-known private nursing schools, but it offers a variety of helpful courses from bachelor’s degrees to post-professional master’s.

2. Western University of Health Sciences College of Graduate Nursing

The vast majority of private nursing colleges in California have some sort of religious affiliation, and the Western University of Health Sciences is no exception – but the school itself accepts eligible students of all faiths.

Western U’s College of Graduate Nursing is a great way to advance your nursing career online, from anywhere in the world. Of course, on-campus seminars and demonstrations are a normal part of this private nursing school, but the experience is extremely flexible and perfect for busy parents and professionals.

Popular Private Nursing Schools in New York

1. New York University College of Nursing

The New York University College of Nursing offers several much sought-after degrees including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master and Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and a PhD for Philosophy in Research Theory and Development.

This is one of the few private nursing schools in New York capable of providing a full-spectrum education for the private nursing student with big plans.

2. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

A private nursing degree from Johns Hopkins is priceless – this prestigious school caters directly to the needs of the nursing student. This private nursing college offers everything from entry-level degrees to advanced PhDs. And here’s the best part: even after you land the job you’ve always wanted with your diploma in nursing, there are still online classes, post-degree certification, and a wide variety of continuing education options to keep you on the cutting edge.

You don’t have to settle with classes at a location that you don’t want, so feel free to be picky!

As you can see, opportunity is everywhere – whether you want to study on the east coast or west, or anywhere in between.

Private nursing education is an important step toward reaching your career goals, so why not enjoy it?

Why is it so important to know the difference between the different types of nursing degrees? Aren’t they all the same?

Not by a long shot!

There are dozens of credentials, all of which lead to different sectors of the nursing field. Knowing your way around the various types of nursing degrees is a great way to get your bearings in the complicated medical profession.

Entry Level Types of Nursing Degrees

One of the oldest types of nursing degrees is the basic Diploma in Nursing. These diplomas are awarded by hospital-based nursing schools, and recipients are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for registered nurse status.

This was once a common way to enter the nursing field – but these days it is much more common for career-minded students to pursue associate and bachelor’s degrees in nursing to set the stage for advancement.

If you don’t want to commit to a bachelor’s just yet, you could opt for an associate-level (ADN or ASN) degree instead. As soon as an AND or ASN is earned, an eligible student can take the NCLEX-RN and become a registered nurse – much like a diploma, but advance nursing degrees are more popular with employers.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) also belongs to the beginner/entry levels of nursing degrees. These types of nursing degrees often require just one year of study in an approved program, consisting of rigorous training on nursing concepts and clinical practice. LPNs can become registered nurses through an LPN-to-RN bridge program.

Different Types of Nursing Degrees

But there are still different nursing degrees out there – the bachelor’s, for instance, could lead to a master’s, which could lead to a doctor’s degree, which can lead to all sorts of fascinating careers like nurse anesthesiologist or midwife. It may seem like a long and winding road, but you’ll love where it leads.

You might find your niche long before achieving those highly desirable credentials, and there is nothing wrong with that, either!

Hopefully seeing nursing degrees explained has broadened your career horizons.

Not all types of nursing degrees work for every student, but you never know what you can do until you know how to do it. There are still many more upper-level credentials to look into, but you can worry about those later – right now focus on the types of nursing degrees that will put you in a job you want, with room to grow into the job you love.

One of the first things that prospective nursing students look for is an opportunity to earn an online associates degree in nursing – after all, who wants to get up early every day and go to campus when you could earn certification in your pajamas?

Unfortunately, there really aren’t many legitimate ways to earn an associate degree in nursing online; at least, not entirely online.

There are a few non-accredited schools that may offer some sort of “certification”, but you’ll want to be careful! Many of these credits may not transfer, or worse, you’ll end up paying money for an online associates degree in nursing that isn’t recognized by the board that handles the NCLEX-RN exam.

But does that mean that you should give up on your dreams of earning a degree in nursing online?

Nope! You just have to be very careful, and lower your expectations.

What are the Alternatives to an Online Associates Degree in Nursing?

You’re probably really busy, or too far away from the school that you want to attend – so earning an online associates degree in nursing may be close to your only option. Since you cannot earn the entire degree online, you can save money by calling your school of choice and finding out which classes are not offered online so that you can take them at a more affordable local school, maybe over the course of several weekends.

Then you can transfer those credits and earn the rest of your associates degree in nursing online.

It’s not easy, but with work you can coordinate a pretty sweet deal.

Okay, so in the vast majority of cases it’s not possible to earn an online associates degree in nursing.

It sucks – but that’s the reality of the situation. Earning a diploma in nursing requires more.

Nursing is a very hands-on career and there isn’t any way to advance your nursing education without first covering those bases. But once you have all of the technicalities out of the way, you can tie up those loose ends by moving from an offline to online associates degree in nursing and never look back.