Nursing

Careers in Nursing

Registered nurses are the backbone of the healthcare sector, with jobs that provide some of the most demanding – and rewarding – work experiences.

Nurses serve in a variety of settings, including hospitals, emergency centers, doctors’ offices, long-term care facilities, schools or research centers.

Their roles may include providing bedside care, preparing patients for medical procedures, monitoring patient care, administering treatment and medicine, assisting with surgeries and managing nursing activities. Nurses also educate patients and serve as advocates for patients and their families.  

Employment Outlook: 2020-2030

• The number of jobs for registered nurses is expected to grow by 16%, with more than 211,000 job openings over the 10-year period.

These ten-year projections for California employment are calculated by the state Employment Development Department, which collects data about the state's workforce and economic trends.

Nursing at De Anza

The Nursing program at De Anza College combines classroom and practical instruction with state-of-the-art equipment and labs. Experienced instructors are experts in their respective fields.

Because of the program's excellent reputation, De Anza nursing graduates are recruited by health care organizations throughout the region.

De Anza offers two nursing pathways.

• Students can earn an associate degree in registered nursing in two years (six quarters) and, upon completion, will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) as required by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• In the LVN Transition to RN program, students who are already licensed vocational nurses may earn an associate degree in registered nursing in a minimum of three quarters and, upon completion, will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) as required by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

De Anza's Nursing program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing.