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How do i become a registered nurse?
I want to become a registered nurse, how do I do that?
What do you like best about your job?
What do you like least about your job?
How physical is the job?
Do you feel valued?
How does working in the field differ from what you learned in school?
How stressful is the job and what makes it stressful?
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4 answers
Updated
Char’s Answer
Hi Jordyn,
Here's the answers to all of your questions:
1. I want to become a registered nurse, how do I do that?
Look up nursing schools in your area to see how long it will take (usually takes about 4 years). You'll have to take many science classes including biology and chemistry, so if you are taking these classes now in high school, pay attention and do your best. It will make college much easier for you. The nursing school advisors will guide you on the classes you need to take, so you won't have to figure it out on your own.
2. What do you like best about your job?
I like that I can help people when they really need help. I make them feel better and I've even saved some lives. There's no greater feeling in the world.
3. What do you like least about your job?
It's very stressful. I had to take care of several patients at one time, and sometimes they all needed my help at the same time. I had to learn how to manage my time.
4. How physical is the job?
Sometimes you will have to stand on your feet for a long time. You may also have to help patients to move around which means you'll have to bend down a lot and do some heavy lifting.
5. Do you feel valued?
Some days I felt valued and other days I didn't. Many patients are nice to you and thankful for your help but some are not. As long as you know that you are doing a good thing by helping people, just know that you are valuable no matter how you are treated.
6. How does working in the field differ from what you learned in school?
School just gave me a taste of the real world. I had my instructors with me every step of the way so if I didn't know something or couldn't finish something, my instructor was there to help me. When I started working, I had to do most things myself (but you should always ask your manager or coworker if there's something you don't know how to do).
7. How stressful is the job and what makes it stressful?
Nursing can be very stressful. There's so much to do but it seems like there's not enough time. You have to figure out how to get everything done on time while keeping your patients safe and healthy. It can be stressful, but overtime, you'll figure out ways to reduce the stress.
Here's the answers to all of your questions:
1. I want to become a registered nurse, how do I do that?
Look up nursing schools in your area to see how long it will take (usually takes about 4 years). You'll have to take many science classes including biology and chemistry, so if you are taking these classes now in high school, pay attention and do your best. It will make college much easier for you. The nursing school advisors will guide you on the classes you need to take, so you won't have to figure it out on your own.
2. What do you like best about your job?
I like that I can help people when they really need help. I make them feel better and I've even saved some lives. There's no greater feeling in the world.
3. What do you like least about your job?
It's very stressful. I had to take care of several patients at one time, and sometimes they all needed my help at the same time. I had to learn how to manage my time.
4. How physical is the job?
Sometimes you will have to stand on your feet for a long time. You may also have to help patients to move around which means you'll have to bend down a lot and do some heavy lifting.
5. Do you feel valued?
Some days I felt valued and other days I didn't. Many patients are nice to you and thankful for your help but some are not. As long as you know that you are doing a good thing by helping people, just know that you are valuable no matter how you are treated.
6. How does working in the field differ from what you learned in school?
School just gave me a taste of the real world. I had my instructors with me every step of the way so if I didn't know something or couldn't finish something, my instructor was there to help me. When I started working, I had to do most things myself (but you should always ask your manager or coworker if there's something you don't know how to do).
7. How stressful is the job and what makes it stressful?
Nursing can be very stressful. There's so much to do but it seems like there's not enough time. You have to figure out how to get everything done on time while keeping your patients safe and healthy. It can be stressful, but overtime, you'll figure out ways to reduce the stress.
Updated
Gina’s Answer
You asked a lot of great questions -
I want to become a registered nurse, how do I do that? - the best way is through a 4 year degree to get a BSN, there are other options such as an associate's degree or RN license which you can get through a junior college, or you can get a bachelor's in something else like biology and then apply to a direct entry BSN program. You can google these and see which schools offer them, admissions cousnelors and guidance counselors can also be good resources as you get closer to this.
What do you like best about your job? Versatiliy, I have worked in many different areas in the nursing field, I love helping people and knowing how the human body works so I can give adivce and help quickly those in need.
What do you like least about your job? It can be stressful, people don't always care about their health or their bodies. Loosing a loved one, or getting a scary diagnosis are big deal things that are hard to cope with. You have to go through it with the patients and families sometimes ( a lot of the time). American healthcare is pretty terrible so there are a lot of sad politics people don't understand in terms of health insurance.
How physical is the job? Depends on where you work. In the hospital? Very physically demanding, in a clinic or office setting not very much.
Do you feel valued? ALWAYS. I've had people tell me that they felt I was the only one who cared about them. Sometimes people will get mad at you for not helping them enough or doing enough and that's not personal they are scared, but I almost always have some patient or family member be grateful for even a littel bit of help and care.
How does working in the field differ from what you learned in school? Just like any school and any job it's more theory and books, but in the field you learn as you do. This can be applied to any field really, computer software, engineer, etc.
How stressful is the job and what makes it stressful? Depends on the type of nursing you do. Working in a busy ER with lot's of patients can be stressful, working in a clinic where it's slower and no urgent needs is calmer, but both can be stressful depending on how supportive the environment is, if you love your job, if the doctors and other nurses you work are good, etc.
I want to become a registered nurse, how do I do that? - the best way is through a 4 year degree to get a BSN, there are other options such as an associate's degree or RN license which you can get through a junior college, or you can get a bachelor's in something else like biology and then apply to a direct entry BSN program. You can google these and see which schools offer them, admissions cousnelors and guidance counselors can also be good resources as you get closer to this.
What do you like best about your job? Versatiliy, I have worked in many different areas in the nursing field, I love helping people and knowing how the human body works so I can give adivce and help quickly those in need.
What do you like least about your job? It can be stressful, people don't always care about their health or their bodies. Loosing a loved one, or getting a scary diagnosis are big deal things that are hard to cope with. You have to go through it with the patients and families sometimes ( a lot of the time). American healthcare is pretty terrible so there are a lot of sad politics people don't understand in terms of health insurance.
How physical is the job? Depends on where you work. In the hospital? Very physically demanding, in a clinic or office setting not very much.
Do you feel valued? ALWAYS. I've had people tell me that they felt I was the only one who cared about them. Sometimes people will get mad at you for not helping them enough or doing enough and that's not personal they are scared, but I almost always have some patient or family member be grateful for even a littel bit of help and care.
How does working in the field differ from what you learned in school? Just like any school and any job it's more theory and books, but in the field you learn as you do. This can be applied to any field really, computer software, engineer, etc.
How stressful is the job and what makes it stressful? Depends on the type of nursing you do. Working in a busy ER with lot's of patients can be stressful, working in a clinic where it's slower and no urgent needs is calmer, but both can be stressful depending on how supportive the environment is, if you love your job, if the doctors and other nurses you work are good, etc.
Kimberley Woodard-Henry, RN
Registered Nurse- Utilization Review Oncology
2
Answers
Updated
Kimberley’s Answer
Hi Jordyn,
I want to become a registered nurse; how do I do that?
First, look for nursing schools in your area and other states. Then, make an in-person visit to the campus if you can or/and speak with an admission counselor who will provide clear guidance on what prerequisites to take before applying for the nursing program and tour the campus. I started my nursing education and career in Fontana, CA, and finished in Northeast Florida.
My personal experience I started as Certified Nurses Assistance to Licensed Vocational Nurse and am now a Registered Nurse building my
skills and knowledge.
My RN program took me 24 months full-time, including my prerequisites (Associate Degree in Nursing), and my employer will cover the total tuition cost of my Bachelor's Degree in Nursing.
What do you like best about your job? I love the flexibility of my current position it gives me. I work from home.
What do you like least about your job? I miss the bedside care and daily interaction with patients, their families, and other medical staff.
How physical is the job? My current position is not physical but can sometimes be mentally challenging.
Do you feel valued? There are days I do not feel valued, and others I do. On the days I don't feel valued, I self-reflect on why I became a nurse.
How does working in the field differ from what you learned in school? School is the beginning of the journey and foundation. Working in the area is where you get your hands-on skills, and you will build on the knowledge that you learned in school. The most important thing while working is to take your time, ask for help if needed, follow policy and procedure, and remember someone's life may depend on it.
How stressful is the job, and what makes it stressful? My current job is stressful and varies from day to day. What makes it stressful is the pressure and demands of supervisors and administrators to get the job done within a short time frame and to be near perfect at it. Also, remember "why" you became a nurse in any stressful situation, reflect, and destress.
I want to become a registered nurse; how do I do that?
First, look for nursing schools in your area and other states. Then, make an in-person visit to the campus if you can or/and speak with an admission counselor who will provide clear guidance on what prerequisites to take before applying for the nursing program and tour the campus. I started my nursing education and career in Fontana, CA, and finished in Northeast Florida.
My personal experience I started as Certified Nurses Assistance to Licensed Vocational Nurse and am now a Registered Nurse building my
skills and knowledge.
My RN program took me 24 months full-time, including my prerequisites (Associate Degree in Nursing), and my employer will cover the total tuition cost of my Bachelor's Degree in Nursing.
What do you like best about your job? I love the flexibility of my current position it gives me. I work from home.
What do you like least about your job? I miss the bedside care and daily interaction with patients, their families, and other medical staff.
How physical is the job? My current position is not physical but can sometimes be mentally challenging.
Do you feel valued? There are days I do not feel valued, and others I do. On the days I don't feel valued, I self-reflect on why I became a nurse.
How does working in the field differ from what you learned in school? School is the beginning of the journey and foundation. Working in the area is where you get your hands-on skills, and you will build on the knowledge that you learned in school. The most important thing while working is to take your time, ask for help if needed, follow policy and procedure, and remember someone's life may depend on it.
How stressful is the job, and what makes it stressful? My current job is stressful and varies from day to day. What makes it stressful is the pressure and demands of supervisors and administrators to get the job done within a short time frame and to be near perfect at it. Also, remember "why" you became a nurse in any stressful situation, reflect, and destress.
Updated
Kerry’s Answer
Jordyn,
I am not going to touch on much of the questions you asked as I am not a nurse - however I worked for many years in administration and currently work with large academic healthcare organizations many times specifically around nursing.
My best advice would be start working as a Patient Care Tech (PCT) or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for a hospital that is affiliated to a nursing school. This will allow you to work first hand with providing patient care to truly understand what nursing is about and most healthcare organizations that are affiliated with a nursing program will pay for you to attend nursing school if you are an employee thus allowing you to attend nursing school for free or heavily subsidized by the hospital.
Regards,
Kerry
I am not going to touch on much of the questions you asked as I am not a nurse - however I worked for many years in administration and currently work with large academic healthcare organizations many times specifically around nursing.
My best advice would be start working as a Patient Care Tech (PCT) or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for a hospital that is affiliated to a nursing school. This will allow you to work first hand with providing patient care to truly understand what nursing is about and most healthcare organizations that are affiliated with a nursing program will pay for you to attend nursing school if you are an employee thus allowing you to attend nursing school for free or heavily subsidized by the hospital.
Regards,
Kerry