Steps to Becoming a Nurse

Becoming a nurse is really a four step process. You have to first decide whether you like nursing and at what level. If you want to be predominantly occupied with direct patient care, then becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse would be the route to go. This requires only a year or less of schooling beyond high school, and there are bridge programs that will allow you to transfer that year into a longer Registered Nurse program.

You may decide that you would rather have the opportunity to move up to be more of nursing manager. While Registered Nurses do patient care in some higher level situations like Intensive Care Units and Emergency Rooms, for the most part, the RN tends to do more supervisory work over the LPNs and aides. Some people are better suited to this role than others. You just have to decide. It requires 2 to 4 years to become an RN depending on the academic credential that you want to end up with after the program.

Once you have decided what type of nurse you want to become, you have to locate a school and apply for acceptance. For an LPN course of study, you will most likely go through a technical school or a community college. Either of these will prepare you for the licensing exam in your state.

To become an RN, you have another decision to make. You can also go through a 2 or 3 year program at a technical school or community college. This will yield either a diploma or an Associates of Science in Nursing, ADN , depending on the program. If you intend to continue on to a Bachelors Degree after getting your RN, you will want to check on the transferability of the college-level credits. You may elect to go straight through the 4 year college program to receive your Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, BSN . More and more management level positions are requiring the 4 year degree.

As you go through school, you will be exposed to many different clinical settings. This will help you to decide in what nursing field that you want to begin your nursing career. While you are not bound to stay in that particular field, it does help to start somewhere that fits your likes and personality.

Once you begin your nursing practice, you will be confronted with additional decisions. As opportunities open up, you may decide to bridge to that RN program or complete that BSN . These are often excellent ways to continuing growing professionally . You may choose to move up to an advance practice degree, such as, a Nurse Practitioner. This requires additional schooling to gain your masters degree.

Interest and opportunity combine to help you decide the type and level of nursing career you will aspire to and attain. Nursing will always be a high-paying position in relation to the education required to enter the field. And, jobs will remain plentiful into the distant future.