Every nursing credential, compared.

Prerequisites

High school diploma or GED. CPR certification (often during the program).

Scope

Basic patient care under an RN or LPN: vital signs, hygiene, feeding, transfers, repositioning, simple measurements. No medication administration.

Where you work

Skilled nursing facilities, long-term care, hospitals, home health, hospice.

Best for

Anyone who wants paid hospital exposure before committing to a multi-year nursing program. A first credential, not a destination.

Watch out for

Physically demanding, often-undervalued work. Many ADN and BSN students keep CNA shifts through school for income and clinical reps.

Prerequisites

High school diploma. Program entrance exam (varies). Some require CNA experience.

Scope

Med passes (most routes), wound care, basic assessments, IV maintenance in some states. Works under an RN or physician. Specific scope varies by state.

Where you work

Long-term care, clinics, physician offices, some hospitals (declining over time), home health.

Best for

Faster path to a license and steady income, with the option to bridge to RN later.

Watch out for

Many hospitals are hiring RNs over LPNs. The ceiling is real. Plan an LPN-to-RN bridge before you start.

Prerequisites

Anatomy & Physiology I/II, microbiology, chemistry, statistics, English composition, psychology. Minimum GPA varies. TEAS or HESI A2 entrance exam.

Scope

Full RN scope of practice. Same NCLEX-RN as BSN graduates. Strong clinical hours. Most state community colleges offer ADN programs at much lower tuition than BSN routes.

Where you work

Hospitals (especially community and non-Magnet), long-term care, home health, public health, clinics.

Best for

Cost-sensitive students who want to start working as an RN as fast as possible.

Watch out for

Many Magnet hospitals require or strongly prefer BSN. Plan an RN-to-BSN bridge within two years of starting work.

Prerequisites

Same science and general-education prerequisites as ADN, plus humanities and university-level statistics.

Scope

Full RN scope plus leadership, research, public-health, and community-health coursework. Same NCLEX-RN as ADN grads.

Where you work

Every RN setting plus larger hospitals (Magnet, academic medical centers, ICU/OR/NICU paths) that prefer BSN-prepared nurses.

Best for

Anyone aiming at Magnet hospitals, specialty units (ICU/OR/NICU), or eventual graduate-level nursing.

Watch out for

Costs more than ADN by a wide margin. Required for almost every NP or CRNA program later.

Prerequisites

An existing non-nursing bachelor's degree plus nursing prerequisites.

Scope

Full BSN curriculum compressed. Same NCLEX-RN.

Where you work

Same as BSN.

Best for

Career switchers with a non-nursing bachelor's who want the BSN without four more years.

Watch out for

Brutal pace. Full-time job plus overtime. Savings or loans, not part-time hours.

Prerequisites

Active LPN license, sometimes minimum work experience.

Scope

Builds on LPN coursework and clinical hours to reach ADN or BSN-level RN licensure.

Where you work

Same as ADN/BSN after completion.

Best for

LPNs who already work in the field and want to stop hitting the LPN ceiling.

Watch out for

Credit-transfer rules vary by program. Verify before you commit a year of your life.

Prerequisites

Active RN license (ADN-prepared).

Scope

Upper-division BSN coursework only. No new clinicals required.

Where you work

Same RN settings, with more doors opening (Magnet hospitals, leadership tracks, grad school).

Best for

ADN-prepared RNs who need the BSN for hospital policy, leadership roles, or graduate-school admission.

Watch out for

Most employers reimburse a portion. Ask HR before you enroll.