An ADN nurse is a healthcare professional who has an associate-level education in nursing and has passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to practice as a registered nurse (RN) . ADN stands for "Associate Degree in Nursing," which is a 2-year degree program that is the minimum requirement to become licensed as an RN. ADN nurses can work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, rehab facilities, home healthcare services, nursing facilities, clinics, schools, and physicians offices. They are qualified to provide patient care services to those who are sick, injured, and disabled. ADN-educated nurses also have the option to pursue specializations within the nursing field, such as critical care, ambulatory care, gerontological nursing, pain management, dialysis, and more. While BSN nurses have more career opportunities in areas including leadership, ADN nurses can also work in the role of a charge nurse, which is the first step in clinical leadership, and some employers even allow ADN nurses to take positions in management or as house supervisors.