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RN Nursing Programs in Alaska - AK

Become an RN in Alaska

Although there are two routes to becoming a Registered Nurse in Alaska, they share one thing in common: the nationally standardized NCLEX-RN licensure test. The quicker of the two options is a two-year Associate Degree, Nursing program, or ADN. ADNs are widely available and, although they take two years, typically involve general admission to a college or university and subsequent application to a nursing department, meaning the total time to completion can be closer to three years. Around ten courses, spread out over two semesters, in topics like English, biology, math and chemistry are generally necessary to apply for a nursing program. It is advisable to do well in these courses—acceptance into a nursing program is competitive and it is important to give your best effort when taking prerequisites to ensure a successful application. Volunteer work in a health care setting can also be an asset, showing you are committed to becoming a nurse.

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Interpersonal skills can be an important part of an everyday health care setting. Therefore, courses in arts as well as the sciences are required in an ADN program, from communication to sociology, psychology, math, physiology and microbiology. Still, the main focus is targeted nursing courses that cover everything from emotional support and theory to clinical practice. Nurses leave the program technically prepared to decipher complex problems related to patient’s needs, both physically and emotionally.

The knowledge acquired through ADN courses prepares students for the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). To take the examination, students must first apply to the Alaska Board of Nursing and provide evidence of successful completion of a state approved RN program, and submit to a criminal background check. The Alaska Board of Nursing charges $324 for the test application, licensure, and fingerprinting, and exam administrators Pearson Vue charge $200 to take the exam. A passing result leads to licensure within a month and are ready for entry level RN jobs. Working nurses must renew their license every two years on even numbered years with proof of 320 hours of work as an RN and 30 hours of continuing education or “uncompensated professional activities”.

RN Jobs and Salaries in Alaska

RNs comprise the biggest group of health care workers in Alaska, and their numbers are projected to grow significantly in coming years. The average salary for an RN in Alaska is $77,000 per year (according to BLS.gov) before benefits—not bad for a license that can be obtained after two to three years of study. But this is not to say that working as a Registered Nurse is easy. Most RNs in Alaska work irregular hours, including split shifts, nights, weekends and holidays. Also, they hold great responsibility when it comes to making decisions about the health of their patients, which can be stressful. From management of Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nurse Assistants, to complicated decision making procedures and critical patient care, the decisions they make can affect dozens of people’s lives on a daily basis. R

Ns usually work in everything from hospitals, which employ 3 out of 5 RNs nationwide, to clinics, long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, and even health education programs. Regardless of the setting, Registered Nurses must be able to think critically when devising patient care plans and managing LPNs and CNAs. With a diverse set of skills and knowledge, they may be asked to perform complex and difficult tasks from the get go. For those looking for a challenging and rewarding career in health care, working as a Registered Nurse in Alaska is certainly an attractive option.

Hospitals in Alaska with Active RN (Registered Nursing) Programs

                       3rd Medical Group - Elmendorf Air Force Base
            354th Medical Group - Eielson Air Force Base

A  
            Alaska Native Medical Center - Anchorage
            Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium - Anchorage
            Alaska Native Medical Center - Anchorage
            Alaska Psychiatric Institute - Anchorage
            Alaska Regional Hospital - Anchorage
            Alaska VA Healthcare System and Regional Office - Anchorage
            Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center - Anchorage

B  
            Banner Health
           

Denali Center - Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough
            Fairbanks Memorial Hospital - Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough
            Bartlett Regional Hospital - Juneau
            Bassett Army Community Hospital - Fort Wainwright
            Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation - Dillingham
            Kanakanak Hospital - Dillingham

C  
            Central Peninsula General Hospital - Soldotna
            Cordova Community Medical Center - Cordova

D  
           

Denali Center - Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough

E  

F  
            Fairbanks Memorial Hospital - Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough

G  

H  

I  

J  
            Juneau Recovery Hospital - Juneau

K  
            Kanakanak Hospital - Dillingham
            Ketchikan General Hospital - Ketchikan

L  

M  
            Maniilaq Health Center - Kotzebue
            Mary Conrad Center - Anchorage
            Mount Edgecumbe Hospital - Sitka

N  
            North Star Behavioral Health System - Anchorage
            Norton Sound Health Corporation - Nome

O  

P  
            PeaceHealth
            Ketchikan General Hospital - Ketchikan
            Petersburg Medical Center - Petersburg
            Providence Alaska - Providence Health System
            Providence Alaska  Medical Center - Anchorage
            Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center - Kodiak Island
            Providence Seward Medical Center - Seward

Q  

R  

S  
            Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital - Barrow
            Sitka Community Hospital - Sitka
            Sitka Medical Center - Sitka
            Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC)
            Mount Edgecumbe Hospital - Sitka
            Provider of health services for the Tlingit, Haida, Tsimpshean, and other native people of Southeast Alaska.
            South Peninsula Hospital - Homer

T  

U  
            Universal Health Services
            North Star Behavioral Health System - Anchorage

V  
            Valdez Regional Health Authority - Valdez
            Valley Hospital Association, Inc -  Palmer

W  
            Wildflower Court - Juneau
            Wrangell Medical Center - Wrangell

X  

Y  
            Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation - Bethel

Z