California ADN to BSN Careers

An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) prepares students to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse (RN). While an ADN will help you meet the qualifications to become a registered nurse and provide basic care, in order to qualify for higher level positions in say, nurse education, public health, or some leadership positions, employers usually prefer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or higher.

In addition to qualifying for higher-level positions, registered nurses with a BSN (or higher) earn more, and often for the same position as an RN with an ADN.

ADN to BSN and Training Programs

According to a popular Texas University, ADN to BSN programs are designed for working registered nurses with an Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing who want to advance in the profession. Not only is the completion of a BSN “the gateway” to advanced practice nursing roles, it also prepares students for advanced study in the field.

A typical ADN to BSN program offers a flexible schedule and usually takes 1.5 years to complete. An accelerated program may take as little as 14 months to complete. In general, students must meet the following requirements to be admitted to an ADN to BSN program:

Associate Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma
Current Registered Nurse License in the State
Completion of all prerequisite coursework

An ADN to BSN provides coursework in leadership in professional practice, professional practice, advanced nursing practice, community health, and nursing research and statistics.

ADN to BSN Schools and Training Programs in California

California is home to dozens of schools that offer RN programs and some that offer ADN to BSN programs. Some of the states top ADN to BSN programs are offered at the following colleges and universities:

California State University, Camarillo, Stanislaus CA
Chabot College, Hayward, CA
Hartnell College, Salinas, CA
ITT Technical Institute-Rancho Cordova, Rancho Cordova, CA
Los Medanos College, Pittsburg, CA
Merritt College, Oakland, CA

Employment and Earnings Outlook for California Registered Nurses (RNs)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide employment and salary information for registered nurses by degree level. As stated earlier, registered nurses with a BSN can expect higher salaries and better employment opportunities than nurses with a diploma or 2-year degree. However, the industry is doing well overall, so nurses of all backgrounds will fare well for the 2012-2022 decade. .

The U.S. is home to 2,711,500 registered nurses (RNs), averaging $65,470 per year, and the field is growing. In 2008, the nation was home to 2,542,760 RNs averaging $65,130 per year. For the 2012-2022 decade, employment for RNs is expected to increase by 19% or 526,800 jobs.

The State of California is home to 249,980 RNs averaging around $94,120 per year, up from $83,040 in 2008 when the state was home to 240,470 RNs. California has the nation’s highest employment level for RNs, with the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale Metro Area leading the pack. Home to 69,540 RNS, this metro area has the 3rd highest employment level for this occupation (among metro areas).

California also offers the nation’s highest average salary for RNs and it is home to the Top 10 Highest Paying Metro Areas for this occupation. The areas include:

1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, $122,990 per year
2. Vallejo-Fairfield, $119,310
3. Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, $113,520
4. San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, $110,630
5. Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, $107,710
6. Salinas, $105,610
7. Napa, $104,440
8. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, $102,990
9. Modesto, $100,780
10. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, $98,050

Across the nation, the top 10% of RNs averaged $94,720 per year in 2012, and the bottom 10% averaged $45,040 per year.