There are more than 17,000 registered nurses (RNs) in Nevada alone, a reflection of the critical role that RNs play in the healthcare industry. As the largest healthcare occupation in the U.S., RNs work in hospitals, home healthcare services, long-term care facilities, schools, and even the military. In all of these environments, RNs provide and coordinate patient care. This includes tasks such as independently administering medications and recording observations of patients’ progress. In return, RNs earn a median annual salary of around $65,000 nationwide; Nevada’s RNs earn an impressive $78,000 per year.
Overview of RN training programs
To qualify as a registered nurse, Nevada students must complete either a two-year associate's degree or a four-year bachelor's degree. The state has a dozen accredited nursing schools offering prelicensure RN programs. College of Southern Nevada and Western Nevada College are two top public schools with associate’s degree programs. Both campuses of University of Nevada (Las Vegas and Reno) offer the prelicensure bachelor’s degree program. These programs provide relevant healthcare knowledge and clinical experience, and they usually feature courses in related subjects such as physical and social sciences, communication, and leadership.
Due to the growing technical demands of healthcare, many RNs choose to further their education in a specific field of interest. For example, RNs can choose to become nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, or nurse anesthetists. These specialized roles require at least a master’s degree, carry significantly advanced scopes of practice, and often pay an annual salary in excess of $100,000 per year.
For those students considering a career as a registered nurse, we have compiled below a complete list of Nevada’s prelicensure RN programs.