By talking to advisors, students, and professors, you might gain insight into what the admissions committee looks for and how competitive the program really is. Worried that you might not get accepted due to bad grades or poor test scores? Consider starting smaller and working your way up. If your goal is to become an RN or higher, completing a CNA program first can look great on future applications. Gaining practical knowledge and hands-on experience could matter more than your previous grades.
Using your current financial and family situations, the FAFSA determines which government assistance you qualify for, including loans, grants, and work-study. Beyond that, scholarships are a great way to fill in any gaps in funding. You can find awards that are available to all kinds of students, as well as others designed for those with certain specialties, backgrounds, cultural identities, and more. Other than preparing you for a rewarding career, another benefit of attending nursing school is that it gives you the chance to take advantage of several student loan forgiveness programs.
Nurses have more resources than most when it comes to these programs, with federal initiatives that grant students up to tens of thousands of dollars. Skip to content. Step 1 Pick a career path. Learn more general information about what RNs do and where they work in our registered nurse career overview. While every RN follows similar steps to earn licensure, the specific requirements vary by state.
Certain states, such as New York , require RNs to hold at least a bachelor's in nursing degree. The following list covers the process necessary to become a registered nurse. Whether nursing students choose an ADN or BSN degree , they must complete liberal arts, math, and science prerequisites. Common prerequisites for nursing school include basic anatomy, physiology, biology, psychology, and anatomy.
Nursing schools often require that incoming students earn a minimum "C" grade in these courses. A four-year BSN degree offers an in-depth education in multiple disciplines and training in leadership, interpersonal communication, and clinical nursing. A two-year ADN degree covers nursing fundamentals and offers the fastest track to becoming a registered nurse, aside from an accelerated BSN program which lets those who hold a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field graduate in as little as one year.
This computerized test requires test-takers to complete a minimum of 75 questions. They have up to six hours to finish the exam. No matter your education path, be proactive in your career search. That means activating your college network and job resources before graduating. While the nursing field continues to grow, graduates must make an impression during clinical rotations with potential healthcare employers.
RNs who want greater recognition in their careers and more money become board certified. To qualify, RNs usually need about two or more years of clinical experience in a specialty focus and must pass an exam.
Expect to spend years completing the required education to become a registered nurse. The exact timeline depends on if you choose a two-year associate degree or four-year bachelor's degree. Having prior nursing experience can speed up completion time, whereas programs with more clinical hour requirements and less online options can take longer to complete.
For the specifics on an ADN vs. Nurses enjoy myriad benefits compared with other career paths, including greater job stability, stronger personal satisfaction, the ability for career mobility, and the potential for higher salaries. In addition to the cost of tuition and housing, nursing students incur additional costs associated with licensure exams, text books, and medical supplies.
When you prepare for your clinicals, internship, or lab courses, you may also be required to invest in nursing scrubs or uniforms. Think of your scrubs, stethoscopes, and everyday equipment as an investment in your future. All these things can contribute to cynicism over time. Over time, it may feel like nothing shocks you anymore.
In other words, they separate the natural human reaction to a person bleeding from their immediate need to provide life-saving care. Newer nursing pedagogies put a serious focus on empathy to help deter nursing students and professionals from becoming desensitized on the job. Those working in high-level roles within the government, research facilities, or pharmaceutical companies could earn significantly more.
Some schools even offer programs that allow you to earn a BSN in a particular specialty of nursing such as acute care, geriatric nursing, infectious disease, pediatrics, and psychiatry, just to name a few. Specializing can often increase your job opportunities and potential earnings. However, as the demand for nurses with BSNs grows, more schools are catering to students interested in categories beyond those listed above.
There are a number of different paths for you to follow as you seek your BSN—from traditional programs you can enter into right out of high school, to programs that fast-track your degree using the knowledge you may already have. Traditional BSN degree programs are intended for recent high school graduates who have little to no professional healthcare experience. Traditional BSN programs require four years of full-time study.
Since so many working RNs pursue BSNs for career advancement, there are many flexible part-time and online options, though they may add to your time to completion.
More than half of RNs work in hospitals, though with your additional clinical experience and any specialized skills, you can find a variety of less traditional roles. These could include:. With a BSN, you can often expect to make more than with an associate degree. They are fast-paced and intense, and designed for students who want to complete their degree quickly.
Specializations vary by program, but common options include the following:. Some industry associations have considered making a DNP the entry-level degree for nurse practitioners by , although this is not yet required. Working as a clinical nurse specialist CNS involves applying advanced training and education to a specific patient group or type of treatment.
The specialty area of a CNS can be defined by a specific population, disease, type of care, or treatment setting. The role of a certified nurse midwife CNM includes working with mothers during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum phases. CNMs are considered primary providers in all 50 states. A certified nurse anesthetist CNA works closely with physicians to safely administer anesthesia prior to procedures, monitor the patient during surgery, oversee the recovery, and develop plans for pain management.
By , a doctoral degree will be required to become a nurse anesthetist. The salaries of APRNs vary depending on the exact job title, where they work, and level of responsibility.
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