What is the job market like for nursing?
The job market for registered nurses is expected to increase by 6 percent annually through 2035, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
How much do nurses make?
As of May 2025, the annual median wage for a registered nurse was $97,550 per year, according to the BLS.
What can I do with a nursing degree?
A nursing degree opens the door to a wide variety of job opportunities. These include working in hospitals, out-patient clinics, home health, long-term care facilities, public health settings, schools, and many other environments.
What kind of career advancement opportunities are there in nursing?
Few professions offer more varied opportunities than nursing. Registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing may supervise licensed vocational nurses and RNs with associates degrees and take on leadership roles within their organizations across sectors including hospitals, clinics, health departments, schools, nonprofits, pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, policy organizations, and nursing homes.
RNs may work toward specialized certifications to care for specific patient populations. BSN-prepare nurses may also advance their education and careers by earning graduate degrees to prepare for roles in leadership or as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, or nurse scientists.
What is the difference between a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) and a registered nurse (RN)?
LVNs receive less education and training than RNs, and generally earn less, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. RNs often supervise LVNs, whose scope of practice is more limited than an RNs. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services provides a detailed breakdown of the scope of practice for LNs vs. RNs.
What does it take to become a registered nurse?
Nursing students must obtain a degree and then pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become an RN. Most RNs earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree through programs such as the Pacesetter Accelerated BSN program at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston, although people who earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) may also take the NCLEX.
What degree is required to become an RN?
A registered nurse must earn either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or an Associate Degree in Nursing. Employers recognize the value of a BSN earned from Cizik School of Nursing’s rigorous Pacesetter Accelerated BSN program.
What can I do while I am still in high school to prepare for a career in nursing?
Review the prerequisites for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and take as many dual-credit or advanced placement courses as you can to meet the admission requirements.
What classes should I take to get into nursing school?
In addition to taking standard classes required for a bachelor’s degree – such as English, history, and government – students must complete several specific courses as prerequisites for nursing school. For example, Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston requires 60 hours of prerequisites for its Pacesetter Accelerated BSN program. However, an application will be considered for admission if, at the application deadline, at least 48 prerequisite credit hours have been completed, 16 of which are in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and microbiology.
Cizik School of Nursing offers 24 to 27 credit hours of prerequisites through the Pre-Nursing Pathway.
What entrance exams are required for nursing school?
Nursing schools may require students to take an entrance exam such those offered by Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) or the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). However, students who complete the Pre-Nursing Pathway at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston and earn a grade of “B” or better in each required course may apply for direct admission to the Pacesetter Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program without taking an entrance exam.
What is the advantage of a BSN vs. an ADN?
Registered nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees can expect to make $15,000-$20,000 more annually than RNs whose highest degree is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), according to Payscale.com.
According to a 2023 study conducted by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 25% of employers required new hires to have BSNs and nearly 70% preferred to hire BSN-prepared nurses. NCLEX pass rates are also higher for students with BSNs compared to ADNs.
In addition, a four-year BSN degree is a prerequisite for graduate-level nursing degrees.
What is an accelerated BSN, or ABSN, program?
An accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program offers junior- and senior-level courses required to become a registered nurse (RN) using a fast-paced curriculum plan.
Some nursing schools offer ABSN admission only to students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in another field. Other nursing schools, especially those that are part of health science centers, accept students seeking their first degree who have completed prerequisites at community colleges or other universities.
Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston admits both second-degree students and those seeking their first bachelor’s degree. Its Pacesetter ABSN program enables students to earn their degree in 15 months and take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for RN licensure.
Does Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston offer free tuition?
Bachelor of Science in Nursing students seeking their first bachelor’s degree may qualify for free tuition and required fees at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston through the Future Nurses Fund.
What is the Future Nurses Fund?
The Future Nurses Fund is available only to students at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston. It makes tuition and required fees free to students who meet academic and financial aid qualifications.
How can I qualify for free nursing school tuition?
To qualify for free tuition and required fees in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Cizik School of Nursing through the Future Nurses Fund, a student must:
- Be a Texas resident.
- Not have previously earned a bachelor’s degree in any field.
- Earn less than $100,000 in annual gross adjusted income.
- Include UTHealth Houston code (013956) on their completed FAFSA form.
- Have earned a GPA of 3.00 or higher on all prerequisites and each required science course.
- Apply and enroll full-time in Cizik School of Nursing’s BSN program.
How long does it take to get a BSN?
The time it takes to get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program varies depending on the school and a student’s previous education.
- At four-year universities, students often must complete certain prerequisites before applying to a nursing program.
- Health science centers, such as Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston, offer only junior- and senior-level nursing-related courses. Students must complete some prerequisites at other institutions before applying.
Cizik School of Nursing offers the Pacesetter Accelerated BSN program, through which students can earn their degree in 15 months.
How long does it take to get a BSN if I have a bachelor’s degree in another subject?
Students who have a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than nursing and have completed all prerequisites needed for admission may earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 15 months through the Pacesetter Accelerated BSN program at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston.
If I already have a degree in another field, what do I need to do to get into nursing school?
Review your college transcript to verify whether you have completed all of the courses required for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program of your choice. If not, complete any missing courses.
You may be required to take an entrance exam, such as the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) Exam or Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS).
Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston accepts either HESI A2 or TEAS test scores. However, students who successfully complete all required science prerequisites offered through the school’s Pre-Nursing pathway and meet direct admission requirements do not have to take these exams. Potential applicants may contact an enrollment [email protected] to discuss prerequisites and other requirements.
What kinds of jobs can I get with a BSN?
The demand for nurses continues to grow as the population ages. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the job market for registered nurses is expected to expand by 6% annually through 2035.
The nursing profession offers variety and potential for professional growth. Nurses may work in hospitals, clinics, home health, long-term care facilities, and in public health, occupational health, and research settings among many others.
