How long would it take to get a BS in nursing, as well as an RN license?

You don't need to get a BS in nursing to be an RN. You could become an RN with only an Assoc. Degree in Nursing. You would need probably about a year of pre-requisite courses and then apply to the nursing program, then the nursing program is two years in length. Once you graduate you are eligible to take the NCLEX licensure exam. If you want to go for a BS, you get accepted to a college/uni, work on those same pre-reqs as well as general ed. courses for the first two years, then apply to the nursing major, then start the nursing courses the Junior year. Upon graduation you take the same NCLEX licensure exam as the ADN grads. The BSN degree just gives you more general ed courses, and as far as nursing, you get more nursing theory, research, leadership / management, public health, etc., and it will help you to move up into supervisory positions in the future if you want to go that way. It's just fine to start off with only an ADN. It's not really any harder to get a job doing regular patient care. You can always complete a BSN degree later in about another 18 months. It's a little bit difficult to get into L&D as a new grad. You'd be well off to spend a year or so working in a regular med/surg unit, which will give you tremendously valuable skills in assessment which will apply to whatever specialty you later choose. You don't need to take extra courses to specialize. RN programs train you the basics which apply to all areas, and you do have a semester of courses in maternal newborn / pediatrics, including clinical observations in L&D and time with postpartum mothers. But all your real training always comes from your employer when you are hired. When I was new to L&D I had almost 5 months worth of orientation, which included a total of about 2 weeks of classroom time. Then I did something like 50 shifts with a preceptor before I was "on my own" and off orientation. Good luck! It's a long process sometimes, but well worth it in the long run, and once you get started, time does go by quickly.

RN information http://www.rn-123.com/