In the
United States, this diploma is usually awarded by
hospital-based
nursing schools. Diploma programs in the United States require 2–3 years of training prior to graduation. Students awarded a Diploma in Nursing are qualified to take the
NCLEX-RN exam and apply for
licensure as a
Registered Nurse. At one time, all
nurses in the United States were diploma-prepared. The
Cherry Ames series of children's books was created to encourage girls to go into the nursing profession during
World War II. She was a "hospital diploma" nurse. Although the number of hospital-based nursing schools continues to decrease, many still exist. Some require that non-nursing prerequisite courses be completed at another school prior to admission or coordinate their program with classes at a nearby school, though many are still self-contained. Some hospital-based nursing programs with colleges offer cooperative programs that grant students a Diploma in Nursing, and a
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Nurses in other countries may also have diplomas, such as Practical Nurses in Canada, which complete a 2-3 diploma equivalent or greater in length to an associate degree in nursing completed the United States. ==References==