REGISTERED NURSES (RN)

Three types of nursing educational programs can qualify you to take the state board examination for licensure as a registered nurse (RN). These programs include the baccalaureate degree, associate degree, and diploma.

BACCALAUREATE (BSN): This RN program is a four-year course of study taught in public or private colleges or universities. It includes a broad base of general knowledge encompassing courses in English, humanities, natural, social and behavioral sciences, as well as nursing, and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. Laboratory and clinical sessions are an integral part of the nursing curriculum. To be admitted to a BSN program, you must meet the general admission requirements of the school to which you are applying. Requirements vary with each school; but, generally, your high school grade point average should be 2.5 or above, and your standardized college test scores should be above average. While in high school, you should concentrate in areas of mathematics, science, chemistry, and biology.

BSN completion programs also are available for RNs who have diplomas or associates degrees. It may be possible to transfer some credits from a community college to a four-year nursing school. If you wish to do this, discuss your plans with both schools so that you can determine the courses eligible for transfer.

Associate Degree (ADN): The associate degree nursing program is a two-year course of study taught in community colleges, technical institutes or, in some instances, in four-year colleges. The associate degree program offers some general courses as well as the nursing component. Students attend clinical labs at local hospitals where concepts are put into actual practice. Requirements for admission to an ADN program will vary with each school; but, generally, graduation from high school with a good academic record, particularly in the sciences and mathematics, is a prerequisite.

Diploma: The diploma program takes from 24-to-36 months and usually is based in a hospital. This type of program offers students valuable practical experience in the hospital setting. As with other nursing programs, acceptance requirements vary, but your performance in high school or other educational institutions weighs heavily in the selection.

ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR REGISTERED NURSES

After licensure and completion of a nursing baccalaureate degree program, registered nurses can continue their education and earn advanced nursing degrees. Nursing offers both a master of science and a doctorate of science degree. The programs can be undertaken on either a full- or part-time basis at most institutions.

Master’s (MSN): This advanced program generally encompasses two-to-four semesters of study depending upon the area of concentration and the curriculum. A master’s of science degree expands career options and earning possibilities for the registered nurse. Among those options are the advanced practice roles of clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, adult health nurse, primary-care family and neonatal nurse practitioners, and community health nurse. The master’s program encourages the development of leadership skills and strategies, promotes research, and interprets the role and function of nursing in society, thereby preparing nurses for teaching, research, or administrative and other advanced positions. In addition to course work, students enrolled in most master’s programs must prepare and present a thesis and pass a comprehensive oral or written examination.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA): To be admitted to a nurse anesthesia education program, you must have a BSN or other appropriate baccalaureate degree, be licensed as a registered nurse and have a minimum of one year of critical care nursing experience. The program encompasses 24-to-36 months of advanced work including both classroom and clinical experiences. Some nurse anesthesia programs offer clinical nursing doctorate options for CRNAs interested in pursuing post-master’s study.

Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife, and Other Post-Master’s Study Programs: After completing the MSN degree, registered nurses can continue post-master’s study programs qualifying them to take national exams leading to certification in advanced practice positions such as neonatal nurse practitioner, nurse mid-wife, family nurse practitioner, nursing education, and other nursing concentrations.

Ph.D.: A Ph.D. program in nursing prepares you for such areas as nursing research, delivery of nursing services, patient and family relations and education, and disease prevention and recovery methods. Nurses with doctorate degrees also are well equipped to manage nursing services in large institutional settings or to teach others how to become nurses. Most Ph.D. programs take three years of study and require a dissertation. Candidates for a Ph.D. program must be graduates of baccalaureate programs in nursing and hold a master’s degree in nursing.

LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES (LPN)

To become licensed, the practical nurse must complete a state-approved training program in practical nursing and pass a written national examination. Practical nurse training programs generally last one year and include both classroom study and clinical practice. The programs are taught at technical and vocational schools, community colleges, hospital schools of nursing and some health agencies. Clinical experience is gained at hospitals under the supervision of registered nurses and/or nursing instructors.

CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT (CNA)

Training for nursing assistants and aides can be gained at many community colleges or through programs affiliated with hospitals or colleges and offered by organizations such as Goodwill Industries. Many high schools offer nursing assistant training in their health occupation classes. Some on-the-job training programs are available and some hospitals have programs. Nursing assistant training is considered continuing education and credits earned in the program are not applicable to more advanced nursing programs. Call your local community college or hospital to determine where the nursing assistant program is taught in your area.

NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

REGISTERED NURSE (RN) ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

REGISTERED NURSE (RN) BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

HOSPITAL-BASED REGISTERED NURSE (RN) ASSOCIATE, BACCALAUREATE, AND DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

NURSE ANESTHETIST (CRNA) PROGRAMS

NURSING MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE (LPN) DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

REGISTERED NURSE (RN) BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

Appalachian State University
P.O. Box 320781
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-8146
www.appstate.edu

Barton College
P.O. Box 5000
Wilson, NC 27893
252-399-6401
www.barton.edu

Duke University Medical Center
Duke University School of Nursing
307 Trent Street, DUMC 3322
Durham, NC 27710
919-684-9163
www.nursing.duke.edu
Offers 4-year BSN and Accelerated BSN programs

East Carolina University
East Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858-4353
252-757-6640
www.med.ecu.edu

Fayetteville State University
1200 Murchison Road
Fayetteville, NC 28301
800-222-2594
www.uncfsu.edu

Gardner-Webb University
P.O. Box 997
Boiling Springs, NC 28017-0097
800-253-6472
www.gardner-webb.edu

Lenoir-Rhyne College
7th Avenue & 8th Street
Hickory, NC 28603
800-277-5721
www.lrc.edu

North Carolina A & T State University
1601 East Market Street
Greensboro, NC 27411
800-443-8964
www.ncat.edu

North Carolina Central University
1801 Fayetteville Street
Shepard Station
Durham, NC 27707
919-560-6100
www.nccu.edu

Queens College
1900 Selwyn Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28274-0001
800-849-0202
www.queens.edu

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Jackson Hall
Campus Box 2200
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-2200
919-966-3231
www.unc.edu

University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28223
704-687-8622
www.uncc.edu

University of North Carolina at Greensboro
1000 Spring Garden Street
P.O. Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402
336-334-5000
www.uncg.edu

University of North Carolina at Pembroke
1 University Drive
Pembroke, NC 28372-1510
910-521-6249
www.uncp.edu

University of North Carolina at Wilmington
601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
910-395-3243
www.uncwil.edu

Western Carolina University
Hwy. 107
Cullowhee, NC 28723
828-227-7317
www.wcu.edu
Offers 4-year BSN and Accelerated BSN programs

Winston-Salem State University
601 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27110
336-750-2563
www.wssu.edu
Offers 4-year BSN and Accelerated BSN programs

HOSPITAL-BASED REGISTERED NURSE (RN) ASSOCIATE, BACCALAUREATE, AND DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

Northeast Medical Center
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
431 Copperfield Boulevard
Concord, NC 28025
704-783-1555
www.cabarruscollege.edu
Associate Degree Program
Baccalaureate completion program for RNs

Carolinas Medical Center Carolinas College of Health Sciences
P.O. Box 32861
Charlotte, NC 28232
704-355-5043
www.carolinas.org
Associate Degree Program

Presbyterian Healthcare System
School of Nursing
1901 East Fifth Street
Charlotte, NC 28233
704-384-4141
www.presbyterian.org
Affiliated with Queens College

Watts School of Nursing
2828 Croasdaile Drive, Suite 200
Durham, NC 27705
www.wattsscholofnursing.org
Diploma Program with Associate degree in science
Affiliated with Watts Hospital and Mount Olive College

NURSE ANESTHETIST (CRNA) PROGRAMS

Duke University Medical Center
Duke University School of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Program
307 Trent Street, DUMC 3322
Durham, NC 27710
919-684-9163
www.nursing.duke.edu

East Carolina University
East Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858
252-328-6131
www.nursing.ecu.edu

University of North Carolina at Charlotte/
Carolinas College of Health Science
Nurse Anesthesia Program
P.O. Box 32861
Charlotte, NC 28232
704-355-2375
www.carolinas.org/education/nurseanesthesia

University of North Carolina at Greensboro
1000 Spring Garden Street
P.O. Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402
336-334-5000
www.uncg.edu

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center,
University of North Carolina at Greensboro,
WFU School of Medicine and NC Baptist Hospital
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem, NC 27157
336-716-1411
www.wfubmc.edu/nurse_anesthesia

Western Carolina University
Hwy. 107
Cullowhee, NC 28723
828-227-7317
www.wcu.edu

NURSING MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

Duke University
School of Nursing
307 Trent Street, DUMC 3322
Durham, NC 27710
www.nursing.duke.edu
Master's and Doctoral Degrees - Nursing
Master's Degree - Nurse Administration/Leadership
Master's Degree - Nurse Anesthesia
Master's Degree - Nurse Educator
Master's Degree - Nurse Practitioner (several disciplines)
Master's Degree - Clinical Nurse Specialist (several disciplines)
Master's Degree - Clinical Research Management
Post-Master's Certification in various disciplines

East Carolina
School of Nursing
East Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858
252-328-6131
www.nursing.ecu.edu
Master's and Doctoral Degrees - Nursing
Master's Degree - Nurse Administration/Leadership
Master's Degree - Nurse Anesthesia
Master's Degree - Nurse Educator
Master's Degree - Nurse Practitioner (several disciplines)
Master's Degree - Clinical Nurse Specialist (several disciplines)

Gardner Webb University
School of Nursing
P.O. Box 997
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
800-849-0202
www.gardner-webb.edu
Master's Degree - Nursing
Master's Degree - Nurse Administration
Master's Degree - Nurse Educator

Queens College
School of Nursing
1900 Selwyn Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28174
www.queens.edu
Master's Degree - Nursing
Master's Degree - Clinical Nurse Leader
Master's Degree - Health System Management
Master's Degree - Nurse Educator

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
School of Nursing
Carrington Hall
Campus Box 7450
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
nursing.unc.edu
Master's and Doctoral Degrees - Nursing
Master's Degree - Nurse Administration/Leadership
Master's Degree - Nurse Educator
Master's Degree - Nurse Practitioner (several disciplines)
Master's Degree - Women's Health
Master's Degree - Clinical Nurse Specialist (several disciplines)
Master's Degree - Clinical Research Management
Master's Degree - Informatics and Outcome Management
Post-Master's Certification in various disciplines

University of North Carolina at Charlotte
School of Nursing
9201 University City Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28223
www.uncc.edu
Master's Degree - Nursing
Master's Degree - Nurse Anesthesia
Master's Degree - Nurse Educator
Master's Degree - Nurse Practitioner (several disciplines)
Master's Degree - Systems/Population Nursing

University of North Carolina at Greensboro
School of Nursing
1000 Spring Garden Street
P.O. Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402
www.uncg.edu
Master's and Doctoral Degrees - Nursing
Master's Degree - Nurse Administration/Leadership
Master's Degree - Nurse Anesthesia
Master's Degree - Nurse Educator
Master's Degree - Nurse Practitioner (several disciplines)
Master's Degree - Clinical Nurse Specialist (several disciplines)
Master's Degree - Nursing Case Management
Post-Master's Certification in various disciplines

University of North Carolina at Wilmington
School of Nursing
601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
www.uncwil.edu
Master's Degree - Nursing
Master's Degree - Nurse Educator
Master's Degree - Nurse Practitioner

Western Carolina University
School of Nursing
Hwy. 107
Cullowhee, NC 28723
www.wcu.edu
Master's Degree - Nursing
Master's Degree - Nurse Administration
Master's Degree - Nurse Anesthesia
Master's Degree - Nurse Educator
Master's Degree - Nurse Practitioner

Winston-Salem State University
School of Nursing
601 Martin Luther King Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27110
www.wssu.edu
Master's Degree - Nursing
Master's Degree - Nurse Educator
Master's Degree - Nurse Practitioner

LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE (LPN) DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
340 Victoria Road
Asheville, NC 28801
828-254-1921
www.asheville.cc.nc.us

Beaufort County Community College
P.O. Box 1069
Washington, NC 27889
252-946-6194
beaufortccc.edu

Bladen Community College
P.O. Box 266
Dublin, NC 28332
910-862-2164
www.bladen.cc.nc.us

Brunswick Community College
P.O. Box 30
Supply, NC 28462
910-756-6900
www.brunswick.cc.nc.us

Cape Fear Community College
411 North Front Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
910-362-7000
www.cfcc.edu

Carolinas Medical Center
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
1200 Blythe Boulevard
P.O. Box 32861
Charlotte, NC 28232
704-355-5043
www.carolinas.org

Carteret Community College
3505 Arendell Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
252-222-6000
www.carteret.edu

Central Carolina Community College
1105 Kelly Drive
Sanford, NC 27330
919-775-5401
www.cccc.edu

Cleveland Community College
137 South Post Road
Shelby, NC 28152
704-484-4000
www.clevelandcommunitycollege.edu

Coastal Carolina Community College
444 Western Boulevard
Jacksonville, NC 28546
910-455-1221
www.coastalcarolina.edu

College of the Albemarle
P.O. Box 2327
Elizabeth City, NC 27906
252-335-0821
www.albemarle.edu

Craven Community College
800 College Court
New Bern, NC 28562
252-638-4131
www.cravencc.edu

Davidson County Community College
P.O. Box 1287
Lexington, NC 27293
336-249-8186
www.davidsonccc.edu

Durham Technical Community College
1637 Lawson Street
P.O. Drawer 11307
Durham, NC 27703
919-536-7200
www.durhamtech.edu

ECPI School of Technology
4800 Airport Center PArkway #100
Charlotte, NC 28208
704-399-1010
www.ecpi.edu

ECPI School of Technology
7802 Airport Center Dr
Greensboro, NC 27409
336-655-1400
www.ecpi.edu

ECPI School of Technology
4101 Dole Cope Road
Raleigh, NC 27613
919-645-0109
www.ecpi.edu

Edgecombe Community College
2009 West Wilson Street
Tarboro, NC 27886
252-823-5166
www.edgecombe.edu

Fayetteville Technical Community College
P.O. Box 35236
Fayetteville, NC 28303
910-678-8400
www.faytechcc.edu

Forsyth Technical Community College
2100 Silas Creek Parkway
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
336-723-0371
www.forsythtech.edu

Gaston College
201 Highway 321 South
Dallas, NC 28034
704-922-6200
www.gaston.edu

Guilford Technical Community College
P.O. Box 309
Jamestown, NC 27282
336-334-4822
www.gtcc.edu

Halifax Community College
P.O. Box 809
Weldon, NC 27890
252-536-2551
www.halifaxcc.edu

Isothermal Community College
P.O. Box 804
Spindale, NC 28160
828-286-3636
www.isothermal.edu

James Sprunt Community College
P.O. Box 398
Kenansville, NC 28349
910-296-2400
www.sprunt.com

Lenoir Community College
P.O. Box 188
Kinston, NC 28502
252-527-6223
www.lenoircc.edu

Martin Community College
1161 Kehukee Park Road
Williamston, NC 27892
252-792-1521
www.martincc.edu

Mayland Community College
P.O. Box 547
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
828-765-7351
www.mayland.edu

McDowell Technical Community College
54 College Drive
Marion, NC 28752
828-652-6021
www.mcdowelltech.cc.nc.us

Montgomery Community College
1011 Page Street
P.O. Box 787
Troy, NC 27371
910-576-6222
www.montgomery.cc.nc.us

Nash Community College
522 North Old Carriage Road
P.O. Box 7488
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
252-443-4011
www.nashcc.edu

Richmond Community College
P.O. Box 1189
Hamlet, NC 28345
910-582-7000
www.richmondcc.edu

Rockingham Community College
P.O. Box 38
Wentworth, NC 27375
336-342-4261
www.rockinghamcc.edu

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
P.O. Box 1595
Salisbury, NC 28145
704-637-0760
www.rccc.cc.nc.us

Sampson Community College
P.O. Drawer 318, Hwy. 24 West
Clinton, NC 28329
910-592-8081
www.sampson.cc.nc.us

Sandhills Community College
3395 Airport Road
Pinehurst, NC 28374
910-692-6185
www.sandhills.edu

South Piedmont Community College
P.O. Box 126
Polkton, NC 28135
704-272-7635
www.spcc.edu

Southeastern Community College
P.O. Box 151
Whiteville, NC 28472
910-642-7141
www.southeastern.cc.nc.us

Southwestern Community College
447 College Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
828-586-4091
www.southwesterncc.edu

Surry Community College
630 South Main Street
Dobson, NC 27017
336-386-8121
www.surry.cc.nc.us

Vance-Granville Community College
P.O. Box 917
Henderson, NC 27536
252-492-2061
www.vgcc.edu

Wayne Community College
P.O. Box 8002
Goldsboro, NC 27533
919-735-5151
www.waynecc.edu

Wilson Community College
P.O. Box 4305
Wilson NC 27893
252-291-1195
wilsoncc.edu