How To Become A Nurse
You can become a nurse by going to college and earning a nursing degree. You’ll need to complete an accredited program, which includes classroom instruction, hands-on training, and clinical experience. After graduation, you’ll need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Once you’ve passed the exam, you’ll be eligible for state licensure.
The best way to prepare for your career as a nurse is through education. If you’re interested in entering this field as a career path, it’s important that you speak with your guidance counselor or other school officials about what steps need to be taken in order to become a nurse. The process is fairly straightforward once you know where to begin and what steps are involved along the way.
How To Become Or Nurse
Becoming a registered nurse (RN) presents an opportunity to join a growing workforce of more than three million, make a direct impact on patient outcomes, and earn a respectable salary.
In 2-4 years, students can graduate from a nursing program and take the NCLEX-RN. While an associate degree serves as the minimum requirement, some employers and states only hire nurses with a bachelor’s degree.
What is a Registered Nurse?
A licensed RN has completed the educational requirements—either an associate in nursing degree or a bachelor’s in nursing degree—clinical nursing requirements, and has passed the NCLEX-RN to earn licensure in their state.
RNs provide round-the-clock direct care to patients in hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers, and residential care facilities. Their job consists of recognizing abnormalities, assessing patients, and administering medication while maintaining communication with a team of healthcare professionals. They can gain specialized training in oncology, acute and critical care, gerontology, or pediatrics.
After earning a graduate nursing degree, RNs can advance to become clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, or nurse anesthetists. Learn more general information about what RNs do and where they work in our registered nurse career overview.
Steps to Becoming a Registered Nurse
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.
1. Complete Prerequisites for an ADN or a BSN.
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.
2. Earn a BSN or an ADN Degree.
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.
Learn More About Registered Nurse Schooling
3. Pass the NCLEX Exam.
About six weeks before graduating, students can apply for licensure and then register for the NCLEX-RN. This computerized test requires test-takers to complete a minimum of 75 questions. They have up to six hours to finish the exam. See this guide to find more information about the NCLEX-RN.
4. Find Employment.
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.
Read About Working as a Registered Nurse
5. Earn Board Certification.
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.
