So you want to become a nurse. You dream of a career in helping and healing, and hold a great passion for the medical field. With the baby boomers aging and the demand for skilled nurses growing, you are now ready to gain a foothold in the workplace and kick off your nursing career. But first – nursing school.

Postsecondary nursing education is a standard requirement of all registered nurses. Before you set off to become a successful, licensed, and working RN, you must first graduate from an accredited, state-approved nursing school.

Today, nurses have the option to follow several different degree paths, including a diploma program, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), or an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN). The timeline required to become a nurse largely depends on the type of degree you decide to pursue. Typically, a BSN degree takes around four years to complete, while an Associate’s nursing degree can generally be done in two.

We know what you’re thinking – nursing school is a commitment. It can take a lot of time, money, and patience to complete. Especially now that most healthcare employers prefer BSN graduates, committing to a full-time Bachelor’s program can feel like a hard pill to swallow. Going after your nursing degree may mean balancing full-time schoolwork with your home and family life, as well as your full-time job. That can be a scary thought.

But what if it were different? What if you could continue to work full-time, raise your children, and attend your nursing classes? What if you could obtain a nursing degree in less than two-years’ time? What if you could complete a Bachelor’s program faster than the traditional four-year curriculum?

Nursing is a flexible career brimming with choice and opportunity. Today, most nurses have the option to establish a schedule that fits to their needs, with day, evening, and overnight shifts available seven-days a week. At Goodwin College in Connecticut, we believe that nursing school should take a similar approach. For this reason, we keep flexibility and convenience at the core of our nursing programs.

Simply put, we know you’re busy. That is why at Goodwin’s nursing college, you’ll find class times that fit into your schedule and that are tailored to your needs. Here, most classes and clinicals are offered seven-days a week, including evenings and weekends. We also extend a range of online nursing courses to students who need an even more flexible class format. For many of our students, this means they can still work part-time or full-time while completing their nursing degrees. It means they do not have to put their lives on hold to pursue an education, nor hold off on fulfilling their dreams of becoming a nurse.

You may still be wondering; exactly how long does it take to get a nursing degree at Goodwin College? Exactly how long does it take to become a nurse in Connecticut? Well, it depends on the nursing program you choose. After completing your prerequisite coursework, you can decide whether an ADN or BSN degree is right for you. Then, you can choose one of our fast-track nursing programs:

• Our Associate Degree in Nursing can be completed in as few as 20-months part-time
• Our Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing can be completed in 16-months part-time

On top of the accelerated nursing programs available at Goodwin, we also operate on a three-semester academic year. This means you can finish your degree even faster than expected, with the potential to earn a Bachelor’s degree in less than three years’ total time. Nursing applications are also accepted three times a year. Not to mention, there are no wait lists for enrollment.

After completing nursing school, you can immediately sit for the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX), which will grant you licensure as a registered nurse. You may also choose to continue your education through a Bachelor’s or Master’s nursing degree program. Or, if you choose to enter the workforce right out of college, you will likely find success in no time at all – By 2024, there are expected to be nearly 440,000 job openings in the nursing field! One is bound to be a fit for you.

Whether you are an aspiring or seasoned nurse, working in the field or just starting out, Goodwin College has a flexible, fast-paced nursing program for you. Learn about our nursing degree offerings by calling 800-899-3282 or visiting Goodwin.edu/healers today.