Nurse: Associate Degree, Registered Nurse, Accelerated BSN and Bachelor of Science Degree (BSN)

Important Update

Please note that funding through the Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program is limited to students who can complete their education or training by Spring 2027. 

To qualify for this funding: 

• Your program must begin on or after January 1, 2025. 

• Students who began their program before January 2025 are not eligible, even if they are transferring to a different institution or re-entering the same program after a break. 

This requirement means that most RN and RN-BSN applications will not qualify for funding under the current CPT timeline due to their length and typical start dates. 

Before applying for CPT funding, we encourage you to review your program’s start and end dates and read “Understanding the Caring Gene® Program Timeline” to see how your education timeline may affect your eligibility.

Overview

A Registered Nurse (RN) is a licensed professional who can enter the field through two main educational pathways: an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Both pathways require passing the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain licensure.

Nurses are the heart of healthcare. In essence, their job is to help people feel better, both physically and emotionally, and help people learn how to stay healthy. RNs help care for sick and injured people, teach patients how to stay healthy, provide medicine and treatments, work with doctors and other health workers to ensure continuity of care, and support patients and their families on good days and tough days.

Work Environment

Registered Nurses work in hospitals, clinics, ambulatory care centers, long term care facilities, and home health care. RNs often work in shifts, which allows for flexibility that fits specific lifestyles—great for those managing families, or going to school.

Demand

The need for registered nurses is expected to increase 6% between 2022 and 2032.

Salary

The median salary range for an registered nurse, as stated by the New York State Department of Labor, for the Capital Region, Central New York, and the Finger Lakes, is $69,450 – $136,780. Nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) typically earn at the lower end of this range, with salaries increasing as they advance their careers, become registered nurses, and obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.