
Professional Nursing Program
Professional Nursing Degree Tracks

Generic Track
Professional Nursing (“Generic RN”). The RN Program’s Generic Track culminates in an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. This track option is for individuals who may not have any prior nursing education and are not currently LPNs that desire to become an RN.
This track option is available at the following campuses: Brooksville, Cleveland, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Wayne, Jacksonville, Largo, Naples, Port Charlotte, Tampa.

LPN to RN Bridge
Professional Nursing (“LPN to RN Bridge”). The LPN to RN Bridge Track helps advance the LPN’s career by providing a seamless path to the RN license. This track option is for individuals who are currently LPNs and desire to become a Registered Nurse.
This track option is available at the following campuses: Brooksville, Cleveland, Ewing, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Largo, Naples, Port Charlotte, Tampa, Teterboro.
Why Jersey College?
Accreditations & Licensure
Professional Nursing Overview
The Professional Nursing Program prepares students for a successful career as a Registered Nurse. Jersey College has a holistic approach to the nursing education process. By earning an ADN or building on your current knowledge as an LPN, you can learn all of the core skills a registered nurse must possess to understand the importance of addressing the physical, emotional, social, economic, and spiritual needs of the patient in an ever-changing, complex society. These principles provide the structural framework and foundation for the nursing curriculum.
What does an RN do?
Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care in various healthcare settings. Most RNs work as part of a team with other healthcare specialists and physicians. Some RNs oversee LPNs, CNAs and other health aides in their role. RNs offer a variety of care and support such as educating patients and their families about various health conditions while also providing emotional support.
Some duties of an RN can include:
- Assessing patients’ conditions
- Recording patients’ medical histories and symptoms
- Observing patients and recording the observations
- Consulting and collaborating with doctors and other healthcare professionals
- Operating and monitoring medical equipment
- Administering patients’ medication and treatments and monitoring for therapeutic effects
- Creating plans for patients’ care
- Educating patients and their families on how to manage illnesses or injuries
- Contributing information to existing plans with other members of the healthcare team
- Assisting with diagnostic tests and analyzing the results
- Provide discharge planning to patients and their family as they prepare to transition to the home environment
RN Work Settings
With the multitude of nursing specialties and healthcare settings, there can be a vast selection of employment opportunities for RNs. Many healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics, provide care for patients 24 hours a day. This means nurses and other staff are needed for round-the-clock care. RNs can have the opportunity to fill many different work schedule options, such as shifts that cover working days, nights, weekends, and holidays. They may also work on-call, which means that they are on duty and must be available to work on short notice. There are also opportunities for RNs to work in other settings such as schools, offices, and facilities that do not operate 24 hours a day that can offer schedules within standard business day hours.
There are many nursing specialties, which provide RNs with an assortment of job options. Below is a sample list of areas nurses may choose to work, shared from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Addiction nurses care for patients who need help to overcome addictions to alcohol, drugs, and other substances.
Cardiovascular nurses care for patients with heart disease and people who have had heart surgery.
Critical care nurses work in intensive care units in hospitals, providing care to patients with serious, complex, and acute illnesses and injuries that need very close monitoring and treatment.
Genetics nurses provide screening, counseling, and treatment for patients with genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis.
Neonatology nurses take care of newborn babies.
Nephrology nurses care for patients who have kidney-related health issues stemming from diabetes, high blood pressure, substance abuse, or other causes.
Public health nurses promote public health by educating people on warning signs and symptoms of disease or managing chronic health conditions. They may also run health screenings, immunization clinics, blood drives, or other community outreach programs.
Rehabilitation nurses care for patients with temporary or permanent disabilities.
Some nurses do not work directly with patients, but they must still have an active registered nurse license. For example, they may work as nurse educators, healthcare consultants, public policy advisors, researchers, hospital administrators, salespeople for pharmaceutical and medical supply companies, or as medical writers and editors
RN Salary Range
The median annual wage for registered nurses was $77,600 in May 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)1. Some factors that can play a role in RN salary include the state and city location of job, type of work, and specialty.
Nursing Salary Guide
Salary and employment by state are listed below from the BLS as of May 2021:
Florida’s annual average RN salary was $72,000 with 187,920 RNs employed throughout the state.2
New Jersey’s annual average RN salary was $82,720 with 79,530 RNs employed throughout the state.3
Indiana's annual average RN salary was $68,890 with 66,800 RNs employed throughout the state.4
Tennessee's annual average RN salary was $66,680 with 62,250 RNs employed throughout the state.5
The state in which you practice nursing and the degree level you attain play a role in salary for most occupations, considering the cost of living and population. To explore additional state employments and salaries visit www.bls.gov/oes/current/map_changer.htm.
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics - FL
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics - NJ
4 Bureau of Labor Statistics - IN
5 Bureau of Labor Statistics - TN
Job Duties
LPN vs. RN Licensure
When LPNs and RNs pass their licensure exam, they are limited by their scope of practice. These are the laws in each state that explain what nurses can and cannot do. An RN’s scope of practice tends to be broader than an LPN’s. LPNs typically work under the supervision of an RN. Examples of differences between LPNs and RNs include:
RN's
- Provide therapeutic treatments
- Give intravenous medications
- Perform physical assessments
- Create a plan of care
- Supervise LPNs, CNAs, Patient Care Assistants, and Home Health Aides.
LPN's
- Report patient response to therapeutic treatments to the Registered Nurse
- Cannot give intravenous medication
- Cannot perform the initial assessment but document patient condition, treatments, and changes and report findings to the Registered Nurse
- Educate patients following the plan of care established by the Registered Nurse
- Supervise Home Health Aides, Patient Care Assistants, and CNAs.
Salary
With added responsibilities, there is generally a difference in salaries. While the salaries can vary by state and facility, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics an LPN makes an average of $48,070 per year1, while an RN makes an average of $77,600 a year2, as of May 2021.
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics - LPN
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics - RN

