Any nurse will tell you it can be a tough and demanding job, but he or she will also tell you it’s one of the most rewarding careers you can choose. This is because daily you’re helping people who need it the most. As a nurse, you will be both a caregiver and a problem solver, someone who helps heal people in mind, body and spirit. Compassion is critical, but you will also need a strong aptitude for science and critical thinking to properly treat patients. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is offered in two tracks. This degree focuses on the well-rounded practitioner with an emphasis on a liberal arts education as well as a mastery of basic nursing skills. This program is available to those students who wish to obtain credentials to take the NCLEX examination. Specifically, the accelerated BSN track is for those students who have obtained an earned bachelor’s degree in another field and wish to pursue nursing as a career. The accelerated BSN track is completed in 18 months after pre-requisite science courses are completed. This intense program is for students who can dedicate the needed time to nursing studies. For those nurses ready to prepare themselves for leadership positions (administration track) or educational positions, both in acute and chronic care facilities or academic settings (education track), the Master of Science in nursing (MSN) program allows nurses to build upon the knowledge and skills obtained in their practice.