RN Nursing Programs in Alabama - AL

Becoming an RN in Alabama

There are two common paths to becoming an RN in Alabama: through an Associate Degree, Nursing (ADN), and Bachelor of Science, Nursing (BSN). While the former takes half the time, the latter provides greater specialization and opportunity in the work force.

Perhaps the quickest way to become a licensed RN in Alabama short of a hospital-based diploma program, is via a two-year ADN, the route chosen by close to fifty percent of Registered Nurses. AND programs are offered at institutions of higher learning statewide and take around two years to complete. But, around ten courses in math, English, psychology, biology and chemistry, with a minimum of a C average, are required before even applying to a nursing program, which can add another six months to a year to your education. With competitive entry based highly on grades, the minimum will not always guarantee acceptance, so it is advisable to achieve exceptional grades before application.

Prerequisites for an ADN prepare students for the technical, psychological, and emotional aspects that are a large part of everyday work in a health care setting. Still, the main focus is targeted nursing courses that cover everything from emotional support and theory to clinical practice. And once the coursework is completed, students are ready to take the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). Applying for the test carries an $85 fee paid to the Alabama Board of Nursing. Once an application is approved, the NCLEX-RN costs $200 to take through national exam administrator Pearson Vue. It is important to note that this application takes into account criminal record, so, if you have a criminal history, it is advisable to consult with your nursing program prior to entry to see if it is a problem—criminal records are evaluated on a case to case basis as to whether they may stand in the way of RN licensure. After passing the test one is licensed as an RN, and the license must be renewed every two years at a cost of $75 and with proof of 24 credit hours of state-approved continuing education. If a license lapses, the fee is $120.

While half of Registered Nurses become licensed via an ADN program, the other half choose to do so through a BSN—only a very small percentage of RNs obtain their licenses through a diploma program, which are far less common. A BSN can be pursued either from the outset of nursing training, after receiving an ADN, or following training and licensure as a Practical Nurse. The first two years are pretty much the same as an ADN, with electives from general studies and nursing-specific coursework. However, in the final two years, courses go beyond the skills and theories required of an entry-level RN to focus on such specialized topics as pharmacology, hospice care, community health research, advanced nursing theory, nursing in developing countries and more. During a BSN, students do a yearly practicum in order to gain workplace experience to supplement their studies, ensuring they leave the program with working knowledge of a health care setting as well as technical and theoretical understanding of the nursing process.

BSNs in Alabama take the focus beyond the baseline knowledge required to practice as a nurse and require students to take their critical thinking skills to the next level, preparing them for a leadership role in a health care setting. RNs with a BSN are both very well prepared for the NCLEX as well as equipped with research and communication skills, and an array of specialized knowledge that can open doors towards a more dynamic career, and higher earning potential, than what is available to ADN equipped Registered Nurses—something worth thinking about when deciding whether to pursue an ADN or a BSN.

RN Jobs and Salary Information in Alabama

Registered Nurses comprise the largest group of health care professionals in Alabama. In urban centers like Birmingham, they make, on average, more than $59,000* per year plus potential benefits, with wages a little lower in rural areas to reflect the cost of living. Working as an RN in Alabama is not easy money—nurses may have to work irregular hours, such as weekends, nights, and holidays, and bear the weight of great responsibility when it comes to individuals under their care. But it can also be a very rewarding profession—responsibility, complex decision making make for workdays that are rarely monotonous. In hospitals, which employ almost two-thirds of nurses, doctor’s offices, x-ray clinics and more, nurses are a very important part of the health care package. From management of Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nurse Assistants, to complicated decision making procedures and critical patient care, the decisions RNs make can affect dozens of people’s lives on a daily basis, and helping people through difficult times is a very honorable and satisfying pursuit. For those looking for a challenging and rewarding career in health care, working as a Registered Nurse in Alabama is certainly an attractive option.

*Salary information provided by salary.com

Hospitals in Alabama with Active RN (Registered Nursing) Programs

         42d Medical Group - Maxwell Air Force Base

A  
            Alabama Department of Mental Health
            Bryce Hospital - Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County
            Greil Memorial Psychiatric Hospital - Montgomery, Montgomery County
            Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center - Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County
            North Alabama Regional Hospital - Decatur, Morgan County
            Searcy Hospital - Mount Vernon, Mobile County
            Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility - Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County
            Andalusia Regional Hospital - Andalusia, Covington County
            Athens-Limestone Hospital - Athens, Limestone County
            Atmore Community Hospital - Atmore, Escambia County

B  
            Baptist Cherokee - Centre, Cherokee County
            Baptist Citizens - Talladega, Talladega County
            Baptist Coosa Valley - Sylacauga, Cherokee County
            Baptist Dekalb - Fort Payne, DeKalb County
            Baptist Health - Montgomery, Montgomery County
            Baptist Medical Center East - Montgomery, Montgomery County
            Baptist Medical Center South - Montgomery, Montgomery County
            Montgomery Surgical Center - Montgomery, Montgomery County
            Prattville Baptist Hospital - Prattville, Autauga County
            Baptist Health Care
            Atmore Community Hospital - Atmore, Escambia County
            D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital - Brewton, Escambia County
            Baptist Health System - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Baptist Cherokee - Centre, Cherokee County
            Baptist Citizens - Talladega, Talladega County
            Baptist Coosa Valley - Sylacauga, Cherokee County
            Baptist Dekalb - Fort Payne, DeKalb County
            Baptist Lawrence - Moulton, Lawrence County
            Baptist Montclair - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Baptist Princeton - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Baptist Shelby - Alabaster, Shelby County
            Baptist Walker - Jasper, Walker County
            Cullman Regional Medical Center - Cullman, Cullman County
            Baptist Lawrence - Moulton, Lawrence County
            Baptist Medical Center East - Montgomery, Montgomery County
            Baptist Medical Center South - Montgomery, Montgomery County
            Baptist Montclair - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Baptist Princeton - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Baptist Shelby - Alabaster, Shelby County
            Baptist Walker - Jasper, Walker County
            Bibb Medical Center - Centreville, Bibb County
            Big Springs Specialty Care Center - Huntsville, Madison County
            Birmingham VA Medical Center - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Bradford Health Services - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Brookwood Medical Center - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital - Demopolis, Marengo County
            Bryce Hospital - Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County
            Bullock County Hospital - Union Springs, Bullock County
            Burdick-West Medical Center - Haleyville, Winston County

C  
            Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Carraway Burdick West Medical Center - Haleyville, Winston County
            Carraway Methodist Health Systems - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Carraway Burdick West Medical Center - Haleyville, Winston County
            Carraway Methodist Medical Center - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Carraway Northwest Medical Center - Winfield, Marion County
            Carraway Methodist Medical Center - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Carraway Northwest Medical Center - Winfield, Marion County
            Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System East Campus - Tuskegee, Macon County
            Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System West Campus - Montgomery, Montgomery County
            Cherokee Medical Center - Centre, Cherokee County
            Children's Health System - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Chilton Medical Center - Clanton, Chilton County
            Clay County Hospital - Ashland, Clay County
            Colbert County Northwest Alabama Health Care Authority
            Helen Keller Hospital - Sheffield, Colbert County
            North Alabama Sleep Disorders Center - Sheffield, Colbert County
            Red Bay Hospital - Red Bay, Franklin County
            Coffee Health Group - Florence, Lauderdale County
            Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital - Florence, Lauderdale County
            Shoals Hospital - Muscle Shoals, Colbert County
            Community Health Systems
            Cherokee Medical Center - Centre, Cherokee County
            Crestwood Medical Center - Huntsville, Madison County
            DeKalb Regional Medical Center - Fort Payne, DeKalb County
            Flowers Hospital - Dothan, Houston County
            Gadsden Regional Medical Center - Gadsden, Etowah County
            L V Stabler Memorial Hospital - Greenville, Butler County
            Medical Center Enterprise - Enterprise, Coffee County
            South Baldwin Regional Medical Center - Foley, Baldwin County
            Trinity Medical Center - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Community Hospital - Tallassee, Elmore County
            Cooper Green Hospital - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Crenshaw Community Hospital - Luverne, Crenshaw County
            Crestwood Medical Center - Huntsville, Madison County
            Cullman Regional Medical Center - Cullman, Cullman County

D  
            Dale Medical Center - Ozark, Dale County
            DCH Health System
            DCH Regional Medical Center - Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County
            Fayette Medical Center - Fayette, Fayette County
            Northport Medical Center - Northport, Tuscaloosa County
            Pickens County Medical Center - Carrollton, Pickens County
            DCH Regional Medical Center - Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County
            Decatur General Hospital - Decatur, Morgan County
            Decatur General West Behavioral Medical Center - Decatur, Morgan County
            Decatur General West Behavioral Medical Center - Decatur, Morgan County
            DeKalb Regional Medical Center - Fort Payne, DeKalb County
            D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital - Brewton, Escambia County

E  
            East Alabama Medical Center - Opelika, Lee County
            Eastern Health System - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Medical Center Blount - Oneonta, Blount County
            Medical Center East - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Saint Clair Regional Hospital - Pell City, Saint Clair County
            Elba General Hospital - Elba, Coffee County
            Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital - Florence, Lauderdale County
            Elmore Community Hospital - Wetumpka, Elmore County
            Evergreen Medical Center - Evergreen, Conecuh County

F  
            Fayette Medical Center - Fayette, Fayette County
            Florala Memorial Hospital - Florala, Covington County
            Flowers Hospital - Dothan, Houston County
            Fox Army Health Center - Redstone Arsenal

G  
            Gadsden Regional Medical Center - Gadsden, Etowah County
            Georgiana Hospital - Georgiana, Butler County
            Greene County Hospital - Eutaw, Greene County
            Greil Memorial Psychiatric Hospital - Montgomery, Montgomery County
            Grove Hill Memorial Hospital - Grove Hill, Clarke County

H  
            Hale County Hospital - Greensboro, Hale County
            Hartselle Medical Center - Hartselle, Morgan County
            Health Management Associates (HMA)
            Riverview Regional Medical Center - Gadsden, Etowah County
            Stringfellow Memorial Hospital - Anniston, Calhoun County
            HealthSouth Lakeshore Rehab Hospital - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            HealthSouth Medical Center - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            HealthSouth Metro-West - Fairfield, Jefferson County
            HealthSouth Rehab Hospital - Dothan, Houston County
            HealthSouth Rehab Hospital of Gadsden - Gadsden, Etowah County
            HealthSouth Rehab Hospital of Montgomery - Montgomery, Montgomery County
            HealthSouth Rehab Hospital of North Alabama - Huntsville, Madison County
            Helen Keller Hospital - Sheffield, Colbert County
            Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Hill Hospital of Sumter County - York, Sumter County
            Huntsville Hospital - Huntsville, Madison County

I  

J  
            Jackson County Hospital - Scottsboro, Jackson County
            Jackson Hospital - Montgomery, Montgomery County
            Jackson Medical Center - Jackson, Clarke County
            Jacksonville Medical Center - Jacksonville, Calhoun County
            John Paul Jones Hospital - Camden, Wilcox County

K  
            Kindred Healthcare
            Big Springs Specialty Care Center - Huntsville, Madison County
            Kindred HealthCare Center of Mobile - Mobile, Mobile County
            Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center of Birmingham - Birmingham,
            Whitesburg Gardens Health Care Center - Huntsville, Madison County
            Kindred HealthCare Center of Mobile - Mobile, Mobile County

L  
            L V Stabler Memorial Hospital - Greenville, Butler County
            Lake Martin Community Hospital - Dadeville, Tallapoosa County
            Lakeland Community Hospital - Haleyville, Winston County
            Lakeview Community Hospital - Eufaula, Barbour County
            Lanier Hospital & Health Services - Valley, Chambers County
            Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Center - Dothan, Houston County
            LifePoint Hospitals
            Andalusia Regional Hospital - Andalusia, Covington County
            Lakeland Community Hospital - Haleyville, Winston County
            Northwest Medical Center - Winfield, Winston County
            Russellville Hospital - Russellville, Franklin County
            Vaughan Regional Medical Center - Selma, Dallas County
            Lyster Army Hospital - Fort Rucker

M  
            Marshall Medical Centers  - Guntersville and Boaz
            Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center - Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County
            Medical Center Blount - Oneonta, Blount County
            Medical Center East - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Medical Center Enterprise - Enterprise, Coffee County
            Mercy Medical - Daphne, Baldwin County
            Mizell Memorial Hospital - Opp, Covington County
            Mobile Infirmary Medical Center - Mobile, Mobile County
            Mobile Mental Health Center - Mobile, Mobile County
            Monroe County Hospital - Monroeville, Monroe County
            Montgomery Surgical Center - Montgomery, Montgomery County
            Mountain View Hospital - Gadsden, Etowah County

N  
            NMMC Hamilton - Hamilton, Marion County
            North Alabama Regional Hospital - Decatur, Morgan County
            North Baldwin Infirmary - Bay Minette, Baldwin County
            Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center - Anniston,
            Northport Medical Center - Northport, Tuscaloosa County
            Northwest Medical Center - Winfield, Marion County

O  

P  
            Parkway Medical Center - Decatur, Morgan County
            Pickens County Medical Center - Carrollton, Pickens County
            Prattville Baptist Hospital - Prattville, Autauga County
            Providence Hospital - Mobile, Mobile County
            Psychiatric Solutions, Inc.
            Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Center - Dothan, Houston County

Q  

R  
            Randolph Medical Center - Roanoke, Randolph County
            Red Bay Hospital - Red Bay, Franklin County
            Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center of Birmingham - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Riverview Regional Medical Center - Gadsden, Etowah County
            Russell Medical Center - Alexander City, Tallapoosa County
            Russellville Hospital - Russellville, Franklin County

S  
            Saint Clair Regional Hospital - Pell City, Saint Clair County
            Saint Vincent's Hospital - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Searcy Hospital - Mount Vernon, Mobile County
            Shoals Hospital - Muscle Shoals, Colbert County
            South Baldwin Regional Medical Center - Foley, Baldwin County
            Southeast Alabama Medical Center - Dothan, Houston County
            Spain Rehabilitation Center - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Springhill Medical Center - Mobile, Mobile County
            Stringfellow Memorial Hospital - Anniston, Calhoun County
            Summit Hospital - Phenix City, Russell County
            SunLink Health Systems
            Chilton Medical Center - Clanton, Chilton County

T  
            Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility - Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County
            Thomas Hospital - Fairhope, Baldwin County
            Triad Hospitals
            Crestwood Medical Center - Huntsville, Madison County
            Flowers Hospital - Dothan, Houston County
            Gadsden Regional Medical Center - Gadsden, Etowah County
            Jacksonville Medical Center - Jacksonville, Calhoun County
            Medical Center Enterprise - Enterprise, Coffee County
            Trinity Medical Center - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Troy Regional Medical Center - Troy, Pike County
            Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center - Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County

U  
            United States Army Aeromedical Center - Fort Rucker
            University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health System  - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            Spain Rehabilitation Center - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Psychiatric Medicine - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Medical West - Bessemer, Jefferson County
            University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Psychiatric Medicine - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital - Birmingham, Jefferson County
            University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Medical West - Bessemer, Jefferson County
            University of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital - Mobile, Mobile County
            University of South Alabama Health System - Mobile, Mobile County
            University of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital - Mobile, Mobile County
            University of South Alabama Knollwood Long Term Acute Care Hospital - Mobile, Mobile County
            University of South Alabama Knollwood Park Hospital - Mobile, Mobile County
            USA Knollwood Long Term Acute Care Hospital
            University of South Alabama Medical Center - Mobile, Mobile County
            University of South Alabama Knollwood Long Term Acute Care Hospital - Mobile, Mobile County
            University of South Alabama Knollwood Park Hospital - Mobile, Mobile County
            University of South Alabama Medical Center - Mobile, Mobile County

V  
            Vaughan Regional Medical Center - Selma, Dallas County

W  
            Washington County Hospital & Nursing Home - Chatom, Washington County
            Wedowee Hospital - Wedowee, Randolph County
            Whitesburg Gardens Health Care Center - Huntsville, Madison County
            Wiregrass Medical Center - Geneva, Geneva County
            Woodland Medical Center - Cullman, Cullman County

X  

Y  

Z