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My future
What steps would I take to become a nurse and what kind of nurse jobs would you tell me to look into because I know there are different kinds of nurses?
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Heather’s Answer
Nursing is an awesome and rewarding profession with so many opportunities. Different levels of nursing include being a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or a registered nurse (RN). Some people who are interested in becoming an LPN or RN start out in an assistant role by becoming a nurse aide (CNA). Every role is valuable and important. However, RNs have the most independence and career options as nurses. I am going to talk a little more about becoming an RN.
A good way to learn more about the profession is to look into job shadowing a nurse in your local area. Many hospitals are now offering this option so that interested people can learn more about the role of a nurse by following a real nurse on the job for a period of time. I highly recommend this because it provides a view into what it really means to be an RN. Another important step is to reach out to local colleges and talk to advisors/counselors about their nursing programs. There may be options for an associate or bachelor's degree. After completing college, taking the licensing exam is necessary to be a registered nurse. In some areas of the country and/or at certain hospitals, nurses can only work if they have at least a bachelors degree. So, if a person can get into a bachelor's program, it will open more doors. The nice thing is, once a person gets the degree, they can choose almost any specialty area: pediatrics, labor and delivery, intensive care, etc. There are also options to go on for more education and work as a nurse practitioner or midwife, etc. The American Nurses Association has a lot of information about the profession (ana.org). Another place to look into is the National Student Nurses Association (nsna.org).
A good way to learn more about the profession is to look into job shadowing a nurse in your local area. Many hospitals are now offering this option so that interested people can learn more about the role of a nurse by following a real nurse on the job for a period of time. I highly recommend this because it provides a view into what it really means to be an RN. Another important step is to reach out to local colleges and talk to advisors/counselors about their nursing programs. There may be options for an associate or bachelor's degree. After completing college, taking the licensing exam is necessary to be a registered nurse. In some areas of the country and/or at certain hospitals, nurses can only work if they have at least a bachelors degree. So, if a person can get into a bachelor's program, it will open more doors. The nice thing is, once a person gets the degree, they can choose almost any specialty area: pediatrics, labor and delivery, intensive care, etc. There are also options to go on for more education and work as a nurse practitioner or midwife, etc. The American Nurses Association has a lot of information about the profession (ana.org). Another place to look into is the National Student Nurses Association (nsna.org).
Thank you for giving me advice.
sanaa
Updated
Savannah’s Answer
Hello Jeffrey!
The first step to take would be graduating high school! If you haven't graduated high school yet, I would even look into a dual enrollment opportunity where you can complete some college credits while still in high school. After this, you can apply to a state college or university. Here you will take necessary pre-req's specifically for the nursing program that you want to get into. Most of these classes will be generic at first, but you can also customize these classes to what the nursing school wants. Be sure to scan over a couple of programs you're interested in so that you can ensure you're earning the exact grades they require and to know when exactly is the right time to apply to their program. You will most likely have to take something called the TEAS, unless they have changed that requirement in the past couple of years. It is extremely important to figure out the best way to study for yourself. Everyone is so different. When I figured this out, it made studying for nursing school so much more efficient.
While I was in nursing school, I also held a part time night shift job in the NICU, as I had already figured out this is where I had wanted to be as a nurse. This isn't absolutely necessary, but it can help you narrow down where you want to end up. Try to narrow down what specialty you want to work in early on! This isn't mandatory, but I just want you to know that you CAN start off in the field that interests you! So many people told me it was necessary to start on a med-surg floor, but I knew my passion was NICU. Needless to say, if you're passionate enough about a certain field, you can do what it takes to land yourself a position after you graduate.
Regarding nursing positions, you have to figure out whether or not you want to work in a hospital or outpatient. I genuinely think that working in an ICU helped mold me into a structured nurse. When I recently decided to go into pediatric surgery, my skills in the ICU made it a much easier transition. Therefore, it would not hurt to start out in a hospital. There is just about any type of nurse there that you can think of! Do you want to work with children or adults? Would you prefer geriatric? Women's health? There are so so many options!
The first step to take would be graduating high school! If you haven't graduated high school yet, I would even look into a dual enrollment opportunity where you can complete some college credits while still in high school. After this, you can apply to a state college or university. Here you will take necessary pre-req's specifically for the nursing program that you want to get into. Most of these classes will be generic at first, but you can also customize these classes to what the nursing school wants. Be sure to scan over a couple of programs you're interested in so that you can ensure you're earning the exact grades they require and to know when exactly is the right time to apply to their program. You will most likely have to take something called the TEAS, unless they have changed that requirement in the past couple of years. It is extremely important to figure out the best way to study for yourself. Everyone is so different. When I figured this out, it made studying for nursing school so much more efficient.
While I was in nursing school, I also held a part time night shift job in the NICU, as I had already figured out this is where I had wanted to be as a nurse. This isn't absolutely necessary, but it can help you narrow down where you want to end up. Try to narrow down what specialty you want to work in early on! This isn't mandatory, but I just want you to know that you CAN start off in the field that interests you! So many people told me it was necessary to start on a med-surg floor, but I knew my passion was NICU. Needless to say, if you're passionate enough about a certain field, you can do what it takes to land yourself a position after you graduate.
Regarding nursing positions, you have to figure out whether or not you want to work in a hospital or outpatient. I genuinely think that working in an ICU helped mold me into a structured nurse. When I recently decided to go into pediatric surgery, my skills in the ICU made it a much easier transition. Therefore, it would not hurt to start out in a hospital. There is just about any type of nurse there that you can think of! Do you want to work with children or adults? Would you prefer geriatric? Women's health? There are so so many options!
Thanks for the advice.
sanaa