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In order to get the best jobs in the nursing profession you have to be a registered-nurse. You can do so by obtaining a nursing diploma which takes 3 years or a bachelor's degree in nursing from a recognized school of nursing. The degree however takes 4 years to complete and can only be taken from a university that offers this course. The nursing diploma on the other hand is very popular and is usually the qualification most nurses seek since it can be acquired from a hospital.

Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Tex., in October announced that it is establishing a School of Nursing, with classes expected to begin in fall 2013. Abilene Christian University currently offers pre-health professions training and participates in a consortium through which its students gain a nursing education. The nursing school in houston is planning to add a masters degree in nursing and a doctor of nurse practitioner degree. Its participation in this consortium would end with the Nursing School's opening, according to an announcement from Abilene Christian. Brandman University in Orange, Calif., in March introduced undergraduate and graduate nursing degree programs for registered nurses as part of a newly established School of Nursing and Health Professions. The new degrees include a bachelors degree in nursing, masters degrees in health administration and health risk and crisis communication and a doctoral degree in nursing practice. An adult education institution, Brandman University was founded as Chapman University 50 years ago and was recently renamed. As part of the nursing school coursework, students participate in online lectures, social networking and more, the Brandman University announcement noted. Clinical practice sessions are held in a state-of-the-art simulation center where three-dimensional virtual reality complements standardized patient work.

Capella University, an online institution, announced in August that it was establishing an online degree in nursing. This online degree, a doctor of nursing practice degree, focuses on leadership in nursing and the administrative and organizational skills that accompany it, according to a Capella University announcement. It's designed for working nurses and allows them to complete the program in a more efficient amount of time than they would with a more research-oriented PhD degree program, the announcement noted. Capella University also offers masters degrees in nursing with nurse educator and nurse educator bridge specializations, a bachelors degree in nursing and an RN-to-BSN bachelors degree completion specialization. Chamberlain College of Nursing, Downers Grove, Ill., in August announced that it was beginning two online degree programs designed to provide working nurses opportunities to advance their education and their careers. The online degree programs include a new time and cost-saving RN-BSN to MSN offering where registered nurses earn credits toward their masters degree while working toward a bachelors degree. Chamberlain College of Nursing students now also have a time-saving opportunity to earn a masters degree from the college along with a masters degree in business administration from DeVry University, both of them online. This new degree program allows qualifying students to transfer their Chamberlain College of Nursing credits so that they need only take six additional courses through DeVry University, a Chamberlain College of Nursing announcement noted.

Colorado Christian University, Lakewood, Colo., in November announced that the nationally recognized Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited its newly introduced bachelors degree in nursing. This bachelors degree, a bachelor of science pre-licensure degree, is designed for nursing students who are not already registered nurses but who are working adults. Classes for the bachelors degree program are offered online, at satellite campuses throughout Colorado as well as in hospitals and similar facilities where students can gain clinical experience, and they began during fall 2010. In addition to this bachelors degree program to accommodate working adults, Colorado Christian University offers an online degree program for working registered nurses. The online degree program is known as an RN-BSN track. The five-year accreditation is the lengthiest that the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education provides, according to Colorado Christian University. Concordia University, which has locations throughout the United States, has made several nursing degree additions. In addition to Concordia University Portland, Ore., which in June announced that it was expanding its nursing degree program for freshmen, Concordia University Irvine, Calif., has announced a new "second degree" accelerated bachelors degree in nursing. The accelerated degree is for students who have already obtained bachelors degrees in other disciplines and who want to change their careers, according to the institution's website. Concordia University Austin, Texas, meanwhile announced that its new bachelors degree in nursing was approved by the Texas Board of Nursing, a News 8 Austin report noted.

Registered nurses and others interested in enrolling in bachelors degree programs and higher in nursing can find scholarships available through colleges and universities. Private scholarships also are often available through non-profit associations, professional organizations and more. In addition to online scholarship searches available through fastweb, scholarships.com and others, students can refer to scholarship searches offered by the US Department of Education, the US Department of Labor and the non-profit College Board. Some scholarship providers require that students first complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is available online.