Nursing is a very popular career choice in the world today. It is a fulfilling and rewarding career with the potential to lead to many different opportunities.
A nurse’s duties can vary depending on the field they are currently working at. Some nurses take care of patients and provide immediate nursing solutions, whereas other nurses specialize in education, research, or administration roles.
The Benefits of Becoming a Nurse
A major benefit to becoming a nurse is the ability to help people. You will be helping with their recovery in the hospital and providing basic care in the nursing home. You will also be able to provide preventative care and learn about how diseases occur and how they can be prevented.
Another benefit of becoming a nurse is the ability to work with different people. You may be working beside doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, psychologists and other medical professionals so you are able to learn many different things about your profession by doing them as well!
You will also become familiar with new situations that arise in everyday life. You will learn about different medications, diagnoses, and surgeries. You will be able to see the impact your decisions have on people’s lives and gain self-confidence.
The Rewards of Being a Nurse
Being a nurse has many rewards. The first reward is the money you can make as a nurse! Nurses make an average of $82,000 yearly and can even earn bonuses if they perform well at their job. Other additional benefits include health insurance, college credit hours, paid holidays, vacation time off and retirement savings plans.
If you are a working nurse, you will be able to earn some of your family’s income as well. Through medical tourism, nurses are often paid twice what they normally would be for a job.
Another reward for being a nurse is the ability to care for and help others. When you give someone else the gift of health, you and they will become much more bonded than before.
You may also enjoy getting to know people from all walks of life.
As an RN, you will have the opportunity to get to know new people who have different backgrounds which may include different ethnicities and socioeconomic classes.
What are the Requirements to Become a Nurse?
A major requirement to becoming a nurse is the Associate of Science degree or Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Nurses with an associate’s degree need to complete the minimum of 1,600 hours in a hospital.
The RNs must also pass the NCLEX-RN exam and achieve a passing grade. It is a three-hour test that consists of six hundred multiple-choice questions and five hundred clinical simulation questions. Many schools offer review classes that are specifically tailored to help students prepare for this examination as well as more common standardized tests such as the SATs, GRE, and MCAT. You have to take several classes like anatomy, microbiology and pharmacology in order to become a nurse.
Nursing Qualifications – What Do Employers Want To See?
Most employers prefer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) as opposed to a diploma. The most common type of nursing school is the community college where students can start with an associate degree, then get a BSN after two years of study.
Find the Right Program for You
There are many different avenues and programs offered today. It would be wise to research any accelerated program thoroughly before committing to them. It is important that they meet all of your needs, such as desire of working in a specific field or geographic location.
You may want to ask yourself these questions:
- How long does the program take? Is it an accelerated program?
- Do the clinical hours take place onsite or offsite?
- If onsite, how convenient is it to get there?
- Am I able to go at my own pace in between clinicals and practicum hours?
- Can I pass the NCLEX-RN after completion of the program, or do I have to complete prerequisite courses first?
- What kind of job assistance do they provide post-graduation?
- How much are tuition and fees per semester/per year and is there financial aid available?
Once you have received your nursing degree, you are able to go into different fields of nursing such as:
- Critical Care Nursing
- Emergency Room (ER) Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
- Obstetrics/Gynecology Nursing
- Family Nursing
- Mental Health
The possibilities are endless once you earn your degree – but if you know which area you would like to focus on, then choose a program which steers that way or has extra modules to focus and specialize.
General Tips for Choosing the Right Program
- For an accelerated program, research their curriculum and what the clinical hours look like. Make sure the clinical hours are supervised by an RN or another healthcare professional, so you know you are learning from someone who knows what they are talking about.
- If possible, sign up for a practicum experience at your local hospital or nursing home. If not, then do as many clinical hours as you can offsite in your own community (e.g. community medicine, a private doctor’s office, and so on).
- After you have completed your nursing degree and transitioned into the profession of nursing (e.g. entering on a clinical rotation), make sure you can still pass the NCLEX with help.
- Make sure your school has been accredited for at least three years in order to be eligible for the National Board of Certification and Recertification (NBCER).
- If possible, pay your school a visit to see how the program is set up and whether there are professors available to answer any questions.
- Look into the cost of an RN online degree vs. an RN online degree that you can complete at local hospitals or nursing homes in your community.
- Get as much information as you can on an online nursing degree program that appeals to your particular personality and learning style.
Becoming an RN Through an Online Program
Online classes are perfect for people who work full-time or do not want to commute daily. You will be able to log on at any time of the day or night and enjoy the convenience of learning at your own pace. Many schools offer this option through their programs.
We recommend that you look at an accredited online nursing program for a number of reasons. First, these programs are accredited, this means that the school is one that meets standards set by different organizations to ensure quality education.
Many schools will have other certificates in addition to their RN degree. This means that after you earn your degree, you may not be able to work in a hospital or lab if you can’t pass your NCLEX exam.
How Long Does It Usually Take?
It really depends on the person’s schedule and whether they are taking other classes. For example, a full-time student will complete their degree in two years whereas a part-time student may take up to four years.
Get Qualified Quicker With An Accelerated Program
An accelerated nursing program is designed to prepare students for a career in nursing fast. They combine their streamlined curriculum with an in-depth orientation to help students get the most out of their student experience. As these are only possible full time you will be fully focused on your degree.
This can benefit the student that has a hectic schedule and wishes to complete their degree as soon as possible, or even someone who just doesn’t want to wait! Find out more about doing your nursing studies through an ABSN program here.
What Are the Requirements to Get Your License?
The requirements to get a license vary per state, but usually include completion of an accredited program, passing of the NCLEX RN and having gone through some clinical hours under supervision.
The Clinical Hours (or clinical rotation hours) are hours spent in a healthcare setting to become familiar with working as an RN in that specific place.
What Is The NCLEX Exam?
You may want to make sure you feel comfortable with a certain program’s curriculum before enrolling. The NCLEX is a standardized exam that all newly graduated nurses must take before they are able to practice.
This exam will test your nursing knowledge, judgment and reasoning abilities. If you are not able to pass this exam, it can be very limiting as to where you can work as an RN.
Prepare for Your First Day of Nursing School
Like many other industries, nursing is becoming increasingly computerized. Students are expected to be able to perform a wide range of reports and process information electronically. In some cases, students may even be required to type up notes and other written work on the computer.
When you decide to go to nursing school, there are many things you will want to consider. First of all, make sure through the applications that you have all the correct certifications and credentials. Also, make sure you have the right clothes and shoes for your clinical rotations.
In terms of finances, make sure you have enough money available to pay for any additional expenses such as books or supplies, that may not be included in tuition costs. We also recommend that you budget accordingly for food, transportation and incidentals. Look at how much money it will take to live on a day-to-day basis so there won’t be any surprises down the line.
Remember, you can always get more information by calling the school. Also, there are many scholarships available. Once you have found an online nursing program that is right for you, it is time to get started. Studying for the NCLEX exam is a great way to begin your journey into the nursing profession.
What Does the Future of Nursing Look Like?
In the future, the nursing field will continue to expand with the tremendous growth of aging baby boomers. Nurses will be needed in specialized roles in hospitals and community healthcare facilities.
New specialties will continue to emerge; as a result, nurses with new areas of expertise will be needed to fill these roles. The importance of home health care is also growing and is expected to grow along with the geriatric population. There are a host of other opportunities for nurses in non-traditional settings, such as people’s homes and offices.
Innovations in electronic medical records and other forms of information technology can make it easier for nurses to collect and synthesize data from several sources. Computerized data entry and electronic medical record systems also help provide greater accuracy in calculating clinical outcomes and post-treatment care.
In the future, many nurses will work in settings other than hospitals. Many are now working in urgent care settings or home health settings. These nurses see patients who need immediate attention or routine checkups, but they do not work in hospitals or other full-service facilities.
Conclusion
Becoming a nurse is hard work, but the rewards can be great. Most importantly, you can expect to receive top-notch training in all the latest nursing techniques. You will be able to work with some of the most advanced medical equipment and work one-on-one with patients.
So when you have completed your nursing degree, you are ready to embark upon a new career as a registered nurse. To do so, remember all of the tips provided in this article and apply them accordingly. It is important to seek out a school with an accredited nursing program and find one that fits in your area or schedule.
It is also important to consider how you learn best and what aspect of nursing appeals to you. You also want to be sure that you have all the right credentials and certifications before you start working with patients. Then, once you are finished with your program, be sure to find a job in nursing right away so that you can begin your career as soon as possible.
With any luck, these tips will help ensure a smooth transition into the exciting world of nursing!
