Are you searching for a fast-track into New York City‘s thriving healthcare industry? Have you considered pursuing one of Brooklyn‘s top Associate‘s Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs to jumpstart your career by becoming a licensed registered nurse (RN) in just 2 years?
This comprehensive guide covers all you need to know about high-quality ADN training opportunities right in the borough, admissions insight from nursing program directors, expert advice to shine as an applicant, career outlooks for nursing graduates, and more!
Why Choose an Accelerated 2-Year RN Program?
The United States faces a growing shortage of qualified nurses as demand rises from an aging population requiring more frequent medical care while thousands of baby boomer RNs approach retirement age. With over 170,000 openings projected annually over the next decade, healthcare settings urgently need expanding incoming classes of nursing graduates to deliver competent care.
Many facilities now offer lucrative sign-on bonuses and competitive salaries to attract prospective talent into the field. As one of America‘s major metropolitan hubs featuring world-renowned hospitals and specialty treatment centers, New York City serves as an ideal environment to launch into nursing through rigorous 2-year Associate‘s programs offered at various local colleges.
But what exactly are the benefits of choosing an ADN pathway into registered nursing?
Shorter Completion Time
At just 2 years in duration, ADN programs allow you to qualify for RN licensing exams much faster than 4 years needed for traditional BSN nursing degrees. This allows entering the growing job market sooner to gain that crucial experience needed to advance your nursing career.
Lower Financial Investment
Associate‘s level nursing degrees typically cost thousands less in tuition and expenses compared to Bachelor‘s programs. This makes completing prerequisites more realistic before applying for nursing school and minimizing student debt once enrolled.
Equal RN Licensing Preparation
The curriculum of ADN programs directly prepares you for the NCLEX-RN exam required for state nursing licensure in the same way BSN programs do. The focused nursing coursework and clinical rotations produce graduates equally qualified to meet healthcare workforce demands.
Flexibility If Seeking Higher Degrees
Many ADN grads choose to continue towards earning their Bachelor‘s (BSN) either immediately or after gaining initial nursing experience. Numerous RN-to-BSN bridge program options make this smooth transition accessible through part-time schooling. Gaining RN licensure then completing added nursing specializations or an MSN/DNP can further enhance career advancement possibilities down the line.
Now that you understand the excellent path ADN degrees offer into registered nursing, let‘s explore some of Brooklyn‘s highest quality 2-year college programs and how to get accepted into one that fits your needs…
Why Brooklyn Offers a Great ADN Training Ground
With over 2.6 million residents, nearly 250,000 delivering babies, treating heart attacks, providing elder care and facing medical emergencies each day. As New York City‘s most populous borough, Brooklyn maintains great demand for qualified RNs and other medical personnel across a vast network of major hospitals, community clinics and specialty care centers.
Home to academic medical institutions like NYU Langone Health and New York Presbyterian along with independent centers like Maimonides Medical Center and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn delivers prime experiential training for aspiring nurses. The borough‘s nursing schools leverage these elite regional healthcare networks to place students into clinical rotations early and often during their two years of study.
This access to world-class hospitals and treatment facilities allows nursing students to gain exposure across diverse medical cases and specialty units before ever entering practice. Training side-by-side longtime RN preceptors during clinical immersions builds skills, knowledge and confidence needed to handle high acuity patients right out of school.
With Brooklyn population demographics skewing older plus ongoing expansions at major area hospitals, nursing employment demands show no signs of slowing either:
- Over 90,000 Brooklyn residents are 65+ years of age
- NYC has longest average life expectancy in nation at 85 years
- Brooklyn Nursing Graduates enjoy less than 5% unemployment rate
Let‘s overview some of the borough‘s top 2-year nursing programs placing graduates into these lucrative registered nursing roles each year.
Top Brooklyn Schools Offering ADN Programs
While Bachelor‘s of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs still dominate headlines when discussing nursinghigher education options, over 45% of working US RNs entered the field through 2-year Associate‘s Degree prepartion pathways.
Within the NYC area, graduates of rigrous ADN programs consistently pass RN licensing exams on their first attempt while attaining employment from area hospitals and clinics at extremely favorable rates. The following schools allow leveraging Brookyln‘s sublime clinical training hospital network while upholding stringent nursing curriculum standards needed to excel on RN licensure tests.
1. Medgar Evers College
As part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, Medgar Evers College offers an acclaimed Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree nursing program on their Central Brooklyn Campus. Blending liberal arts & sciences into a cutting-edge concept-driven curriculum, nursing coursework emphasizes sociocultural learning, leadership development and research principles application.
With clinical experiences occurring at major regional healthcare centers like Kings County Hospital, Brookdale University Hospital and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, nursing students receive maximum exposure to diverse patient case loads in leading treatment facilities.
Program Quick Facts:
- Concept-based nursing curriculum integrating social sciences
- Competitively priced in-state CUNY tuition rates
- Clinical rotations across 6-8 prestigious Brooklyn hospitals
- Pass rates of 90%+ on NCLEX-RN licensing exams
- Wide range of scholarship & externship opportunities
Visit Medgar Evers College‘s Nursing Program homepage to learn more about their offerings.
2. New York City College of Technology
Another highly regarded CUNY institution, the New York City College of Technology in downtown Brooklyn offers both traditional and accelerated tracks to attain an Associate‘s degree qualifying graduates for RN licensure. Both teaching pathways blend rigorous nursing coursework with intensive simulation lab instruction plus approximately 200 hours spent in clinical rotations across world-class hospitals.
Their accelerated option allows candidates who already hold bachelor’s degrees to complete an ADN program in just 16 months! By transferring in most prerequisite credits, Accelerated AAS students finish general education cores quicker and complete nursing concentration coursework on a fast-paced schedule to rapidly enter practice.
Quick View:
- Traditional 2-year AND accelerated 16-month options
- Modern simulation lab facilities supplement clinical hours
- Rotations across leading Brooklyn Hospital Center
- Partners with major regional healthcare networks
- 86% first-time NCLEX passing rate
Read more about NYCCT degree options by visiting their Nursing Department website.
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3. Phillips School of Nursing at Mount Sinai Beth Israel
Previously mentioned Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital serves as the prime clinical partner for Phillips School of Nursing students seeking an Associate’s degree. This relationship with New York’s largest private healthcare network featuring 8 regional hospitals provides unparalleled patient care exposure across diverse medical/surgical specialization units.
Through placing student development needs at the forethought of curriculum planning, Phillips School faculty seek to mentor competent generalists able to provide evidence-based care while exercising sound judgement and leadership capabilities when navigating complex cases. By blending clinical immersion rotations with cutting-edge lab instruction and supportive advising, graduates gain confidence to pass RN exams then thrive in practice.
Highlights Include:
- 130+ year legacy upholding nightingale principles
- Early patient care interactions leading to 200+ clinical hours
- Training across Mount Sinai’s 8 excellent Brooklyn hospitals
- Mix of lab coursework and experiential learning opportunities
- Faculty possessing equal academic and practical expertise
Visit Phillips School of Nursing‘s website to learn more about their nursing program offerings and outcomes.
How to Get Accepted into a Top Brooklyn Nursing Program
With abundant nursing job prospects but limited class sizes at most area Associate‘s degree institutions, getting into a top local program takes diligent preparation and presenting the strongest application possible.
Here are insights from nursing education experts on the most vital elements ADN applicants need to showcase when applying:
"Healthcare or volunteer experience proves the candidate truly understands expectations and rigors of this demanding yet gratifying profession from firsthand exposure."
"A consistent pattern of academic success in prerequisite science courses like Anatomy, Biology and Chemistry helps demonstrate ability to comprehend complex nursing concepts introduced through our curriculum."
"We look for individuals able to clearly convey their motivations for seeking a nursing career. Relating impactful experiences from prior caregiving exposure emphasizes unique personal qualities each applicant would bring to the role."
"SAT/ACT scores provide additional insight on abilities if GPAs have dips or science grades don‘t fully portray candidate potential. We understand everyone has room for growth.”
Compiling background displaying genuine interest in nursing, keeping grades up in key subjects, highlighting relatable talents through writing samples, and passing any mandated admissions exams gives prospective ADN students their best shot at acceptance.
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What‘s the Career Outlook for Associate‘s Prepared Nurses?
Thanks to an expanding and aging population causing NYC healthcare demands to swell, new nursing graduates face bright career prospects especially within a bustling borough like Brooklyn containing dozens of hospitals, clinics and private practices needing talent.
While Bachelor‘s prepared nurses still see slightly better salary offers and management promotion chances on average, bedside registered nursing roles remain the darling for ADN job-seekers entering the field thanks to high pay, varied shift options and specialty career path options.
Let‘s analyze the key ADN nurse employment trend data:
- 200,000+ new U.S. RN positions to be created annually thru 2030
- New York State RN average salary exceeds $92,000 currently
- Under 5% of NYC nursing grads remain unemployed following licensing
- Many fast-track into BSN then MSN/DNP programs to further prospects
Nursing presents very high job security thanks to continually expanding patient volume and thousands of retirements upcoming. Excellent RN pay allows quickly offsetting any nursing school debts. Ambitious go-getters can further salary potential rather quickly through specialized certifications like the CCRN credential for ICU or critical care nursing.
Brooklyn‘s array of major hospitals and niche medical practices offer new ADN graduates myriad work settings to launch their lifelong calling helping patients heal.
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How to Take Next Steps Towards an ADN Program
As covered within this extensive guide, Brooklyn‘s first-rate associate‘s degree nursing programs deliver the comprehensive training and unrivaled clinical placements needed to excel on RN licensing exams then find initial employment within NYC‘s premier hospitals and healthcare settings.
If you feel ready to apply for one of these high caliber 2-year RN degree programs after reviewing all the admissions considerations covered, here are your next key steps towards securing a coveted slot:
1. Finalize Prerequisites
Complete any general education coursework like English Composition, Math, Social Sciences and prerequisite science classes at a partnering community college. Shooting for A‘s and B‘s demonstrates nursing academic readiness.
2. Secure Healthcare Experience
Look into volunteer roles, personal care aid positions or shadowing nurses within Brooklyn hospitals. This hands-on exposure further displays your dedication through enduring the demands of hospital work environments.
3. Choose Top Program Fits
Research individual nursing program alignments with your personality, values and career aspirations. Reach out to past graduates working locally to gain their input on how their alma mater performed preparing them for RN practice.
4. Apply and Interview
Submit applications before due dates emphasizing your motivations, qualifications and healthcare passions within essays and communications. Thoroughly prepare for interviews by practicing responses to common questions about overcoming stress, weaknesses and reasons for pursuing nursing.
Following these steps shows savviness and determination making you an extremely viable nursing program candidate bound to win over faculty then thrive within rigorous accelerated Associate‘sDegree curriculums. By learning from experienced nurse mentors and gaining exposure across nationally ranked Brooklyn hospitals, an exciting future awaits!
Continuing Your Nursing Education Later On
While obtaining initial RN licensure marks the first major milestone of your nursing career following an ADN program, requirements mandate pursuing additional education as you advance.
Maintaining an active nursing credential in New York State involves documenting continued learning. RNs need to complete at least 3 semester hours of coursework or 45 continuing education hours aligned with current practice focus areas every 3 years.
Many choose to pursue higher nursing degrees like Bachelor‘s (BSN) or Master‘s (MSN) which encompass ample accredited hours meeting credential renewal mandates. Further graduate-level specialization also supports climbing clinical ladders into advanced practice registered nursing roles as nurse practitioners able to diagnose conditions, prescribe medications and manage systemic care.
For RNs not ready to dedicate towards another major degree program, a la carte continuing education options feature topics like pharmacology, patient assessment, ethics and new treatment practices facilitate keeping licenses current. Flexible online offerings assist balancing work schedules and professional development.
As trailblazers entering one of America‘s fastest growing vocations through rigorous 2-year schools, Brooklyn RN graduates find no shortage of options to continue advancing expertise in areas matching passions and specialty ambitions. The learning never stops!
I hope this guide brought increased insight into the promising path ADN degrees offer towards securing rewarding nursing roles. Please reach out with any other questions you still have regarding getting started in this lifesaving profession!
