South Carolina RN Programs

Earn your ADN degree or BSN degree at a South Carolina college

Registered Nurse Education in South Carolina

Registered Nurses (RNs) care for patients and help them manage their illnesses, and also serve as patient advocates and health educators. Essentially, their job function is to promote health. The average RN salary in South Carolina is $72,650 a year, or $38 an hour. If you are interested in becoming a nurse and live in the state of South Carolina, you will be find all of the necessary information in order for you to move forward and become an RN below.

RN Nursing Programs

If you are eager to join the ranks of registered nurses and start helping patients on their way to better health and well-being, then a 2-3 year diploma or certificate obtained from a hospital-based program would be the quickest route and would provide valuable experience in a hospital setting. These types of programs are akin to apprenticeships in that most of your training is hands-on and under close supervision of other senior nurse educators. However, be advised that this is the less common approach and in South Carolina these programs are rare because they are not offered in a lot of major cities. Many current health care employers prefer to hire registered nurses with either an associates degree or a bachelor degree in nursing.

The two-year Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) program is a more common approach because Community, Junior, or Technical Colleges are generally more accessible to potential nurses. Another program that is widely popular is the four-year Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) program. BSN degree programs are offered at various brick and mortar colleges and universities as well as through online universities.

Coursework

Regardless of which degree program you decide to enroll in, there are college prerequisites that have to be satisfied before you can start taking courses more geared toward your major. These courses are intended to make you a more well-rounded nurse by developing your Math, English, and Communication skills. Although it is important to note that with a four-year BSN you will have the opportunity to pursue other areas of interest and build upon or expand your nursing foundation. Other courses that you will have to take that are going to be critical to your success as a nurse include but are not limited to: natural and medical science, human physiology and anatomy, disease prevention, and health care theories.

RN Licensing

In order to practice nursing in any state you will have to be licensed. In South Carolina licensure is obtained through the State Board of Nursing after successfully passing the NCLEX-RN examination. Pearson Vue provides the exam and the cost of the test is currently $200. Prior to taking the exam, you will need to submit an application plus a $97 application fee to the South Carolina Board of Nursing. It is a comprehensive exam designed to assess the knowledge that is required to perform effectively and safely. As of May, 2011 the state-wide pass rate for the NCLEX-RN in South Carolina was about 89%.

Associates Degree RN Programs in South Carolina

Accredited South Carolina RN Schools

See our complete list of qualified RN nursing education programs in the state of South Carolina. The schools listed here offer pre-licensure nursing programs that meet the registered nursing education requirements set forth by the South Carolina State Board of Nursing. Although the schools listed on this page are accredited by the South Carolina Board of Nursing and approved by the state of South Carolina, they might not be accredited by national organizations such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Individuals should check to see if the state-approved nursing school they are considering also enjoys national accreditation status if they are seeking a school with both accreditations.