When you’re ready to become a registered nurse (RN), you may want to start your career as quickly as possible. Earning an associate degree in nursing (ADN) offers a direct pathway to becoming a licensed RN. While many associate programs take 2 years to complete, some give you the option of earning your ADN in under 2 years.
In this article, we’ll explain how it’s possible to earn your ADN in under 2 years, so you can begin your nursing career even sooner.
Can You Become a Registered Nurse in Two Years?
Yes, you can train to become a registered nurse with a two-year degree. Earning an ADN makes you eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which is the standard licensing exam required for all registered nurses.
While most ADN programs take 2 years to complete, some schools offer faster pathways to earning this degree. The ADN program at West Coast University-Miami, for example, gives you the opportunity to earn a nursing degree in as few as 20 months.
What Do You Learn in a Two-Year ADN Program?
ADN programs are designed to help you learn essential nursing skills in a shortened timeframe. Early courses give you a foundation for learning, while later classes focus on the core nursing concepts you’ll use every day on the job.
At WCU-Miami, our ADN program curriculum includes 67 credits over 4 semesters, moving from foundational coursework to advanced nursing classes and hands-on clinical practice.
General Education
In your first year of nursing school, you’ll start with general education classes. Some general requirements, like anatomy and physiology, help you understand more about how the human body works. Other classes help prepare you for communicating with patients and other healthcare team members.
WCU-Miami’s ADN program includes 24 general education credits. These required classes are:
- Foundations of Higher Education
- Written Communication
- College Mathematics
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
- Life Span Psychology
- Microbiology
At WCU-Miami, you’ll complete most of these classes in your first semester. In your second semester, you’ll begin taking your core nursing classes.
Core Nursing Classes
In your core nursing classes, you’ll learn how to provide patient care. These classes focus on the fundamental skills you’ll need to assess patients, administer medications, and work as part of a healthcare team. Additionally, these nursing courses help prepare you for the types of questions and clinical scenarios that appear on the NCLEX.
At WCU-Miami, these are the core nursing classes you’ll take over 3 semesters:
- Pathophysiology
- Fundamental of Nursing
- Pharmacology
- Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Physical Assessment
- Medical-Surgical Nursing Older Adult
- Mental Health/Older Adult Nursing
- Expanding and Developing Family
- Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing
Lab and Clinical Requirements
Every ADN program includes learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Hands-on training through simulation labs and clinical rotations can help you practice your new clinical skills in supportive settings.
At WCU-Miami, this practice begins in your second semester with a nursing skills lab. In simulation labs equipped with industry-current technology, you’ll work through real-life situations you can expect to encounter when you begin caring for patients.
Later in the program, you’ll move into clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities in the Miami area. These clinical rotations give you the chance to practice caring for patients under the supervision of licensed instructors.
By the time you graduate, you’ll have completed 14 credits of lab and practicum coursework, totaling 630 hours of clinical practice.
ADN vs. BSN: What’s the Difference?
If you want to become a registered nurse, an ADN program isn’t your only option. You can also earn a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), which qualifies you to take the NCLEX and get your RN license.
Most BSN programs take 4 years to complete. Besides core nursing courses, BSN programs may include classes in public health, nursing ethics, and theoretical concepts, among others.
Earning a BSN is a good option if you’re interested in advancing your nursing career in the future. It’s generally required for roles in education, leadership, or management, and it’s also a prerequisite for most graduate nursing programs.
However, if you want to begin working quickly, earning an ADN is the faster option. Completing your ADN also leaves the door open to pursuing a bachelor’s degree at some point in the future. Many RNs go back to school to earn their BSN once they’ve gained some experience in the field.
Work Toward Your ADN With WCU’s Streamlined Curriculum
If you’re ready to begin a career in nursing, earning your ADN in under 2 years is possible. With a streamlined curriculum and hands-on learning, an ADN program can help you build the clinical skills you need to work toward your goals.
At West Coast University-Miami, our ADN program can be completed in approximately 20 months. It helps prepare you for RN licensure with individualized NCLEX support and guidance built into the program, including tutoring, study support, and practice exams. If you’re ready to take the next step toward your nursing career, reach out to request an information session today!
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
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