How to become a nurse? Learn how to become a nurse at Careerkeg.com, where you can find all the latest news, tips and resources to help you become a successful nurse.
Becoming a nurse is not just about having knowledge of the skills that are required. It also requires you to have great communication skills and good analytical abilities. You should also be patient and compassionate, as well as be able to remain dedicated and hardworking throughout your career.
Steps on How to Become a Nurse
You’ve made the decision to become a nurse, and you’re ready to get started. Here’s what you need to know about how to prepare for nursing school and become a nurse.
- What’s the best path for me?
The first step in becoming a nurse is deciding which path is right for you: associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree. An associate’s degree program will typically take two years of full-time study, whereas a bachelor’s degree program will take four years. The associate’s degree program will give you more options for jobs as an RN (registered nurse), but the bachelor’s degree program will prepare you better for leadership roles such as teaching or management positions.
- What kind of health care facility do I want to work at?
Once you’ve decided on your path toward becoming an RN, it’s time to decide where you want to work! If you want to work in an acute care setting like a hospital or urgent care center, then consider looking into hospital-based programs that offer accelerated programs for RNs who already have their bachelor’s degrees in other fields like business administration or education. If working with geriatric patients sounds more appealing than dealing
What Does a Nurse Do?
Nurses are the one’s who wear many hats in the medical field. From being able to coordinate with the doctors to provide complete care to patients. Here are a few responsibilities that are important across many different nursing specialities.
- They assess the condition of their patients and also assist doctors in forming a treatment plan.
- They record patient’s medical data and relevant behaviour.
- They operate and maintain medical equipment.
- Work and communicate efficiently with other members of the healthcare team.
- Advise families on the condition of the patient and post-hospital care.
Types of Nurses
There are various types of nurses that students can choose amongst after attaining the required educational qualification. The job profiles may also differ depending upon the need and requirements of the healthcare industry and the interests of the candidates. Listed below are a few job profiles for the same.
| Types of Nurses | Description |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | These nurses are registered by medical institutions and organisations. They work in hospital premises with physicians to perform tasks related to different medical settings. |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | These nurses work with or under the supervision of registered nurses or doctors and are responsible for giving injections and checking and maintaining medical requirements. |
| Travel Nurse | These are registered nurses who work nationally and internationally on a temporary basis. |
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | These are nurses who are skilled to diagnose and treat illness within their area of expertise. |
| Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Registered Nurse | ICU RNs have a prescribed and definite role designed only for taking care of medical requirements and maintenance related to the ICUs of hospitals or nursing homes. |
| Operating Room (OR) Nurse | Commonly known as Perioperative Nurses or Scrub Nurses, operating room nurses are responsible for taking care of patients before, during and after the operation or surgery. |
| Home Health Nurse | These nurses are the ones who provide medical help and support to the patients at their homes. These nurses offer care mostly for patients with mobility or development issues. |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) | These nurses work under the supervision of a doctor or physician and can also become independent medical practitioners prescribing medicines and diagnosing diseases. |
Skills Required
The following are the skills that are required to become a nurse:
- Calm personality
- Teamwork
- Logical Thinking
- Communication Skills
- Patient Care skills
- Time management
- Organizational skills
- Empathy
- Confidence
- Leadership
- Multitasking
Steps on How to Become a Nurse
Here is a step-by-step guide that will help you know about the procedure to become a nurse practitioner:
Step 1: Decision Making
You must consider whether or not you are interested in the medical profession before entering the field of nursing. You must choose cautiously because this will be one of the most important decisions you will ever make.
Step 2: Subject Choices
After completing 10th grade, candidates should choose PCB (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) as their major and study for the nursing exams.
Step 3: Entrance Exam Preparation
The next step is to prepare for entrance exams to get admission into a medical college. There are various entrance exams for the nursing department, such as the AIIMS nursing entrance examination, Indian Army Nursing 2021. Exams differ from one university to the next. Prepare by watching online lectures on YouTube and practising previous year’s exam papers, as well as using high-quality study materials offered on select websites.
Step 4: Attend an Accredited Nursing Program
Whatever path you take, whether it’s a CNA, LPN, ADN, BSN, or something else, be sure your school is authorised. If you don’t enrol in an approved programme, it may affect your employment chances and ability to transfer credits later.
Step 5: Obtaining Licensure in Nursing
After completing a diploma, bachelor’s or master’s degree course registered under Indian Nursing Council, you will be qualified to practice as a registered nurse in the healthcare sector in India. For those aiming to get a license in Nursing, you can register with the State Nursing Registration Council of the state you want to work in. For those who wish to practice as a nurse in the USA or Canada, you have to qualify for the National Nursing Licensure Examination.
Step 6: Earn Additional Certifications and Continue Practicing
If you want to specialize in a certain area of nursing, you’ll want to earn additional certifications in that area. As a nurse, you’re always learning something new. Each year, you’ll be expected to maintain your Continuing Education Units (CEUs). In addition, as a nurse, your pay is directly proportional to your level of education. So, if you want to make more money in the future, you may wish to return to school for a BSN, MSN, DNP, or other degrees.
Entry-Level Nursing
Entry-level nursing offers several career paths. Bridge programs, such as LPN-to-RN and RN-to-BSN pathways, also often allow nurses to apply previous education and experience toward the degree they want to earn. Which one suits your goals?
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Job duties:
CNAs help patients with daily tasks, such as bathing and feeding. They also answer patient calls, clean rooms, and are responsible for recording information and reporting issues to a nurse.
Degree needed:
Post-secondary certificate or diploma (4–12 weeks)
Median annual salary:
$30,310
Become a CNA if:
You want to join the nursing field quickly and gain valuable on-the-job experience.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Job duties:
Under the supervision and instruction of an RN, LPNs—also called licensed vocational nurses in California and Texas—provide patients with basic care, including dressing, changing bandages, and bathing. Some LPNs are permitted to administer medication but this depends on state regulations.
Degree needed:
Certificate or diploma (1 year)
Median annual salary:
$48,070
Become an LPN if:
You want to work in nursing sooner rather than later, but hope to become an RN one day. Many RN degree programs give credit for LPN experience.
Registered Nurse (RN)
Job duties:
RNs coordinate patient care, administer medication, assist doctors with exams and surgeries, educate patients, promote wellness, and manage other nurses and LPNs. While you can become an RN with a nursing diploma or an ADN, more employers prefer BSN-educated nurses, especially in acute hospital settings.
Degree needed:
Associate’s (2 years) or bachelor’s (4 years)
Median annual salary:
$77,600
Become an RN if:
You’re interested in a diverse work experience, potential career growth, and further educational opportunities.
Advanced Nursing
Advanced nursing programs require students to hold a bachelor’s degree before enrolling. Many students earn their BSN from one school and attend a different school for their MSN.
However, bridge programs allow students to earn the education of two degrees at the same time from a single school. An RN-to-MSN curriculum is designed in a way that students who are already registered nurses can receive their undergraduate education first and then move on to MSN courses.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Job duties:
Nurse anesthetists work with patients before, during, and after medical procedures to manage pain. They determine the amount and type of anesthesia needed—general, local, or regional—as well as the method for administering anesthesia.
Degree needed:
Master’s degree (2 years); All students matriculating into a nurse anesthetist program after January 1, 2022, must be enrolled in a doctoral program. This is because a doctoral education will be required for nurse anesthesia practice by 2025.
Median annual salary:
$195,610
Become a nurse anesthetist if:
You want to work as part of a team under the supervision of doctors, or independently, depending on the laws of your state.
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
Job duties:
Nurse midwives provide prenatal, postpartum, and newborn care, guiding and supporting women throughout their pregnancy. Nurse midwives also educate women and families about health and wellness. If major complications arise, you’ll refer women to a physician.
Degree needed:
Master’s degree (2 years)
Median annual salary:
$112,830
Become a nurse midwife if:
You want to specialize in healthcare for women and infants.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Job duties:
NPs serve as primary care providers to patients of all backgrounds and can diagnose illnesses and prescribe medication. They also educate patients about preventive care. In some states, NPs can practice independently without physician oversight, allowing them to open their own offices.
Degree needed:
Master’s degree (2 years); a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) will be required by 2025
Median annual salary:
$120,680
Become a nurse practitioner if:
You’re interested in providing more comprehensive care to patients.
Nursing Informatics
Job duties:
Training other nurses on new technology is just one part of nursing informatics. You’ll also spend time on system development, quality control, and finding new ways to use data. Patient confidentiality is key, as is efficiency in the workplace.
Degree needed:
Bachelor’s (4 years) or master’s (2 years)
Median annual salary:
$99,270 for clinical informatics coordinators, as part of the larger group of computer systems analysts
Become a nurse informatics specialist if:
You want to combine your tech-savviness with an advanced nursing career.
Nurse Leadership / Nurse Administration
Job duties:
From creating work schedules to managing finances, nurse administrators juggle many responsibilities. You’ll manage nursing staff, but also analyze services, look for ways to cut costs, and monitor the use of resources.
Degree needed:
Bachelor’s (4 years) or master’s (2 years)
Median annual salary:
$101,340 for medical and health services managers
Become a nurse administrator if:
You want to be instrumental in improving patient care while managing the business side of a medical facility.
