Hows your life as an RN with an associates degree?

An Assoc. RN program is two years, but you will have to complete pre-requisites in courses like biology, chemistry, anatomy & physiology, etc., so if might take 3 years. I got my ADN and had several job offers before I graduated. And several of them said in the ad "BSN preferred". They can't always hold out for BSN grads, so if you do become a nurse always apply anyway, you never know! I've been an RN for several years. I went back immediately the following semester after getting my ADN and started my BSN through online program and finished it in another 2.5 years. I am preparing for graduate school right now, trying to decide on what to focus on. $20-$30 is a decent wage, probably among the best for any Associate Degree eduation. If you're single and no dependents you'll be living a good life. Even if you have a family to support on a single income you can manage if you don't live extravagantly. You shouldn't go into it just because of the salary. It takes the right kind of personality to enjoy nursing. You truly have to care about people and want to help them, you have to be patient and non-judgmental when working with difficult people, can't be afraid of working hard, need to know how to handle your own stress and ask for help at work when you need it, etc. It takes a strong willed person just to make it through nursing school alone. It's tough. Not because the content itself is difficult to understand, but because of the amount of work it is. . . not unusual to have to read 10 chapters in a week for one course! AND write papers. But it's worth it. Once you're a nurse you'll have long-term career stability, a wide variety of the kinds of places you could work, specialty areas, etc.