11 Jobs for an RN With Associate Degree Education
There are two pathways to become a registered nurse (RN): a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Both ADN and BSN pathways prepare RNs for most of the same jobs upon graduation. A BSN may be the preferred degree for certain jobs, but an ADN is one of the fastest ways to become a registered nurse.
So what are the jobs for an RN with associate degree training? That depends on whether you’re looking for a high-energy hospital setting, a more personalized role in home health, a steady-paced clinic job, or something else.
In this guide, we’ll explore the jobs for an RN with ADN qualifications, helping you find a great fit for your skills, interests, and lifestyle.
11 Jobs for an RN With Associate Degree Education
From fast-paced hospitals to specialized clinics, diverse healthcare environments provide a wide range of career opportunities to a nurse with an ADNin. Here are some of the most common jobs for RN with associate degree credentials:
- Hospital staff nurse
- Home health nurse
- Hospice nurse
- Rehabilitation nurse
- Outpatient clinic nurse
- Substance abuse nurse
- Community health nurse
- Geriatric nurse
- Dialysis nurse
- Psychiatric nurse
- School nurse
1. Hospital Staff Nurse
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 58% of RNs are employed in general medical and surgical hospitals. While some hospitals lean towards hiring BSN-trained nurses, many welcome ADN-trained RNs, especially in places facing a serious nursing shortage.
As an ADN-prepared nurse, you have the chance to work in various hospital units, such as:
Explore all med-surg RN jobs on IntelyCare.
2. Home Health Nurse
If you excel at working independently and prefer to work outside of hospital settings, home health nursing could be a great career choice for you. ADN-educated RNs in this field visit patients in their homes, performing tasks like wound care, medication administration, and chronic disease management. This career path not only offers flexible scheduling but also allows you to build meaningful relationships with the patients you serve.
Explore all home health RN jobs on IntelyCare.
3. Hospice Nurse
For those who feel called to provide compassionate end-of-life care, a career as a hospice nurse could be deeply fulfilling. Rather than working to cure patients, hospice nurses focus on easing symptoms to make a patient’s final days as peaceful and comfortable as possible. Your tasks will include assessing patients’ pain levels, administering medications, and providing emotional support.
Jobs for an RN with associate degree education can be found in hospices, palliative care centers, and even home care for those facing terminal illnesses.
Explore all hospice RN jobs on IntelyCare.
4. Rehabilitation Nurse
As a rehab nurse, you’ll play a key role in helping patients recover from traumas, surgeries, strokes, and other conditions that require lengthy recovery. You’ll assist your patients with daily activities, guide them through range-of-motion exercises, and administer medications and treatments — all to help patients turn setbacks into comebacks.
Working in this setting requires knowledge from a range of specialties since your patient base can be diverse. Here are some areas of expertise that can come in handy:
5. Outpatient Clinic Nurse
If you’re looking for a steady schedule with no overnight shifts, consider a role in an outpatient clinic. Nurses in this role typically assist with routine check-ups, vaccination administration, drawing blood, and helping with medical procedures. Whether it’s a primary care office, specialty practice, or urgent care center, these jobs offer regular hours and a variety of patient care experiences.
As an outpatient nurse, you’ll be able to work across different specialties, such as the following:
- Aesthetic nursing
- Dermatology nursing
- OB-GYN nursing
- Endocrinology nursing
- Gastroenterology nursing
Explore all outpatient RN jobs on IntelyCare.
6. Substance Abuse Nurse
Substance abuse nurses specialize in helping patients battling addiction, detox from harmful substances, manage withdrawal symptoms, address pre-existing conditions, and respond to emergencies. Beyond physical care, this role involves a lot of therapeutic communication. Be ready to help patients develop healthy coping strategies, manage stress, and build emotional resilience to navigate life without relapse.
If you have a passion for addiction recovery and prefer to work in residential care settings, often resembling a hotel, substance abuse nursing could be a rewarding path to consider.
7. Community Health Nurse
Community health nurses serve as a vital link between healthcare systems and the people who need them most, often working in public health clinics, shelters, or nonprofit organizations. They provide preventive care, health education, vaccinations, and chronic disease management to underserved populations.
Another perk of community health nursing is an opportunity to connect meaningfully with patients, helping them access the care and resources they need to improve their health and well-being.
8. Geriatric Nurse
Geriatric nurses specialize in caring for older adults, addressing the unique health challenges that come with aging. They work in settings such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home healthcare, and hospitals, helping elderly patients manage chronic conditions, mobility issues, and cognitive decline.
Many geriatric care facilities offer jobs for an RN with associate degree backgrounds. If you have a passion for working with the elderly and want to make a difference in their comfort and well-being, geriatric nursing could be a great nursing path.
9. Dialysis Nurse
Dialysis nurses provide specialized care for patients with kidney disease, primarily working in outpatient dialysis centers, hospitals, and home healthcare settings. These specialists administer dialysis — a life-sustaining treatment that helps remove waste and excess fluids from the blood when the kidneys can no longer perform this function effectively.
This field is a great fit if you enjoy building long-term relationships with patients and working in a highly specialized area of nursing.
10. Psychiatric Nurse
If you decide to become a psychiatric nurse, you’ll be helping patients suffering from conditions like anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric illnesses. You’ll be able to work in various settings, including acute care units for patients at risk of harming themselves or others, correctional facilities, and mental health centers. In these roles, you’ll also participate in crisis intervention, helping patients navigate mental health emergencies and maintaining a safe environment for all involved.
Explore all psychiatric RN jobs on IntelyCare.
11. School Nurse
If you enjoy working with children and promoting health in schools, a school nurse role could be a great fit. ADN-prepared nurses can work in elementary, middle, or high schools, providing care for students’ everyday medical needs, managing chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes, and handling health emergencies. They also play a key role in health education and emergency preparedness, ensuring students stay healthy and safe throughout the school year.
Explore all school RN jobs on IntelyCare.
FAQ: Jobs for an RN With Associate Degree Credentials
Do hospitals hire associate degree nurses?
Yes, hospitals do hire nurses with an ADN. While some hospitals may prioritize nurses with a BSN, ADN-prepared nurses are still in high demand, especially in areas facing nursing shortages. Additionally, some hospitals offer opportunities for ADN nurses to pursue further education and advance their careers within the organization.
Is it hard to get a nursing job with an associate degree?
In general, getting a nursing job with an ADN is not necessarily difficult, especially in the light of the nationwide nursing shortage. Many hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, and home health agencies hire ADN-prepared nurses. However, some healthcare institutions may prefer BSN-trained nurses, especially for more complex roles like in the operating room or interventional radiology.
What is a typical salary for ADN-trained nurses?
The average annual salary for ADN RNs in the U.S. ranges from $69,000 to $71,000, though your pay can be higher or lower based on your education, experience, and the setting you work in.
Wondering what other factors affect typical associate degree nursing jobs’ salary ranges? Here are some examples:
- Geographic location
- Nursing specialty
- Professional certifications
- Employment type (e.g., full-time, contract, per-diem)
- Type of hours you’re working (day or night shift)
Learn more about the facts and figures of RN salaries.
What are some entry-level jobs for an RN with associate degree education?
Entry-level ADN RN jobs are often easiest to find in settings with lower patient acuity, such as long-term care, med-surgical nursing, and rehabilitative care. These specialties often provide a smoother transition for new graduates compared to high-acuity settings like intensive care units (ICUs) or emergency rooms.
Can you get a job with a 2-year nursing degree in acute care?
Many ADN-trained nurses work in acute care settings, such as trauma and cardiovascular ICUs. However, these positions can be difficult for new nurses to access. Some hospitals, however, offer internships and externships to support the transition into more complex specialties.
Are You an RN Looking for Career Opportunities?
If you’re looking for jobs for an RN with associate degree training, you’re in the right place. IntelyCare can connect you to quality nursing opportunities tailored to your education, location, and career goals. Learn more today.