Licensed Practical/Vocational Nursing (LPN/VN) 1-2 years (First year is pre-requisites; General Education courses), so essentially nursing programs advertise a 1 year program for LPNs.

Registered Nurses

Associate degree (2 years in length, not including the first Gen Ed year). In 1997, 876 associate degree programs produced 60% of nurse graduates. Program content reflects basic skill preparation and emphasizes clinical practice in the hospital setting and community-based institutions.

Diploma programs (3 years, the hospital-based education programs), Content prepares the graduate in basic nursing skills particularly suitable for hospitalized clients. Diploma nursing programs today produce only 6% of graduates.

Baccalaureate degree programs (4 years in length offered through colleges and universities). The graduate receives a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. These programs emphasize more preparation for practice in nonhospital settings, broader scientific content, and systematic problem-solving tools for autonomous and collaborative practice. 523 baccalaureate programs produced 34% of all nursing graduates.

These are statistics from the National League for Nursing (1997)

ROLES of NURSES

LPN

• Caregiver, teacher, advocate, manager, team member

• Hospital, physician’s office, long term care center, home health agency, hospice, ambulatory care.

RN

• Caregiver, teacher, advocate, expert, case manager, team member, collaborator

• Hospital, physician’s office, long term care center, home health agency, hospice, public health, ambulatory care

NPs

• Nurse practitioners hold a master’s degree and facilitate access to and continuity of care and provides high-quality care.

• Hospital, physician’s office and ambulatory care centers.