2 answers
Tenleigh
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
3
Questions
Asked
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Any tips leading up to becoming a Nurse Practitioner as a High school student?
I am a Sophomore in High school, and really interested in becoming an Emergency Room Nurse Practitioner. I want to be prepared and take in any tips that are available to me!
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2 answers
Cheri Hall
Physical Therapist
55
Answers
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Updated
Cheri’s Answer
Hello Tenleigh,
To pursue a career as a Nurse Practitioner (NP), you first need to become a registered nurse (RN). This involves obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), then completing a master's or doctoral nursing program that focuses on the NP role. The final step is to pass a national NP board certification exam.
There are a couple of ways to become a registered nurse. One option is to attend a four-year university, major in nursing, and earn a bachelor's degree in nursing. This will qualify you to take the national licensure exam. Alternatively, you could get an LPN degree from a community college, then join a bridge program to earn your bachelor's degree in nursing.
You can start preparing for a nursing career while still in high school. Consider volunteering at a local hospital or assisted living facility. You might also think about joining a program to become a certified nurse assistant (CNA). These programs are often available at local community colleges, and you can complete them while still in high school. This experience will give you a solid foundation for nursing and a taste of what it's like to work in a hospital or assisted living facility. You could also shadow a doctor's office like your pediatrician to see the various roles nurses play. Some local hospitals even offer the chance to shadow in the emergency room for a day or two.
After you've earned your RN license, you're ready to start working towards your Nurse Practitioner degree.
Look into CNA programs that may be available at a local community college
Consider volunteering or shadowing at a local hospital or assisted living facility
To pursue a career as a Nurse Practitioner (NP), you first need to become a registered nurse (RN). This involves obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), then completing a master's or doctoral nursing program that focuses on the NP role. The final step is to pass a national NP board certification exam.
There are a couple of ways to become a registered nurse. One option is to attend a four-year university, major in nursing, and earn a bachelor's degree in nursing. This will qualify you to take the national licensure exam. Alternatively, you could get an LPN degree from a community college, then join a bridge program to earn your bachelor's degree in nursing.
You can start preparing for a nursing career while still in high school. Consider volunteering at a local hospital or assisted living facility. You might also think about joining a program to become a certified nurse assistant (CNA). These programs are often available at local community colleges, and you can complete them while still in high school. This experience will give you a solid foundation for nursing and a taste of what it's like to work in a hospital or assisted living facility. You could also shadow a doctor's office like your pediatrician to see the various roles nurses play. Some local hospitals even offer the chance to shadow in the emergency room for a day or two.
After you've earned your RN license, you're ready to start working towards your Nurse Practitioner degree.
Cheri recommends the following next steps:
Charanpreet Walia
Public Health Nurse
47
Answers
San Diego, California
Updated
Charanpreet’s Answer
Hello Tenleigh
It all begins with obtaining a bachelor's degree in nursing and becoming a registered nurse, typically taking 4-5 years. Once you have a BSN, you can gain valuable work experience before applying to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offering NP certificates in your chosen specialty. The MSN program, which can take 2-3 years to complete, will open the door to a career as a nurse practitioner.
Talking with the school counselor about your ambition to become a nurse is important. Inquire about any health-related programs available at your school that you could participate in. Maintaining consistent communication with a college counselor is important throughout your journey to becoming a nurse. By ensuring regular contact with a counselor, you can guarantee that you enroll in the necessary nursing school classes.
Additionally, it is important to start volunteering at hospitals, senior homes, or daycare centers and consider shadowing a school nurse. Volunteering at a hospital can also help you secure recommendation letters from doctors and nurses. You will need a stellar GPA, outstanding SAT scores, a compelling college essay, and impressive teacher recommendation letters to gain admission to a nursing school.
There are different paths to becoming a nurse; the best one for you depends on the situation.
If cost is not a concern, you can attend a private university for a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. However, this option is expensive.
On the other hand, a more cost-effective and flexible option involves starting at a community college for two years of general coursework, which allows for a more manageable workload. After that, you can transfer to a four-year university to complete the remaining two or three years of nursing degree. I mentioned 2-3 years because sometimes you may miss a class in time due to being put on a waitlist.
Please make a list of state-level and private colleges and delve into their specific requirements for high school graduates and students transferring from a community college to a four-year program. Some nursing schools have unique requirements, such as entry-level exams or specific classes.
Remember, the most challenging part of achieving your dream of becoming a NP is the dedication, patience, hard work, and sacrifice in some aspect of social life. Countless individuals have conquered this journey before you, and it's a commitment of few years.
Just have the resilience and determination to succeed.
You have got this!
It all begins with obtaining a bachelor's degree in nursing and becoming a registered nurse, typically taking 4-5 years. Once you have a BSN, you can gain valuable work experience before applying to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offering NP certificates in your chosen specialty. The MSN program, which can take 2-3 years to complete, will open the door to a career as a nurse practitioner.
Talking with the school counselor about your ambition to become a nurse is important. Inquire about any health-related programs available at your school that you could participate in. Maintaining consistent communication with a college counselor is important throughout your journey to becoming a nurse. By ensuring regular contact with a counselor, you can guarantee that you enroll in the necessary nursing school classes.
Additionally, it is important to start volunteering at hospitals, senior homes, or daycare centers and consider shadowing a school nurse. Volunteering at a hospital can also help you secure recommendation letters from doctors and nurses. You will need a stellar GPA, outstanding SAT scores, a compelling college essay, and impressive teacher recommendation letters to gain admission to a nursing school.
There are different paths to becoming a nurse; the best one for you depends on the situation.
If cost is not a concern, you can attend a private university for a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. However, this option is expensive.
On the other hand, a more cost-effective and flexible option involves starting at a community college for two years of general coursework, which allows for a more manageable workload. After that, you can transfer to a four-year university to complete the remaining two or three years of nursing degree. I mentioned 2-3 years because sometimes you may miss a class in time due to being put on a waitlist.
Please make a list of state-level and private colleges and delve into their specific requirements for high school graduates and students transferring from a community college to a four-year program. Some nursing schools have unique requirements, such as entry-level exams or specific classes.
Remember, the most challenging part of achieving your dream of becoming a NP is the dedication, patience, hard work, and sacrifice in some aspect of social life. Countless individuals have conquered this journey before you, and it's a commitment of few years.
Just have the resilience and determination to succeed.
You have got this!