How Long Does It Take To Become An Aprn
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses require a graduate degree, such as a Masters in Nursing degree. While the RN role encompasses all facets of patient care, APRNs become specialized in an area of nursing through their graduate program. For example, APRNs may be Family Nurse Practitioners, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, or Nurse Midwives. Their level of responsibilities can differ depending on their role, but typically they are more advanced. Many APRNs can prescribe medications and develop treatment plans for patients, which RNs cannot.
Due to the advanced nature of their role, APRNs need to earn:
- A Bachelors in Nursing , and
- A Masters in Nursing .
- Sometimes, a doctorate is also required for advancement.
At Goodwin University, there are two pathways to becoming an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. You may pursue the Family Nurse Practitioner program, which will qualify you to serve as a primary care clinician, across the age spectrum, upon completion of your degree. The FNP degree program can be completed online and in as few as 27 months year-round.
The second APRN specialization offered at Goodwin is for aspiring Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioners . Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners help patients coping with mental illness using holistic and evidence-based methods. The PMHNP-APRN program is 50 credits and can be completed in as few as seven semesters, part-time.
Transitioning From Recruiter To Nurse
Hannah McNabb achieved her undergraduate and masters degrees in Health Services Administration and settled into a career as a nursing recruiter, but after several productive years in her field, she decided it was time to make a change. I was a clinical recruiter for a long time and then I became the nursing recruiter, she recalls. I served as a nursing recruiter for about four years, so I got to go to different colleges and talk to about being a nurse.
With Hannahs grandfather being an orthopedic surgeon, she fondly recalls spending time with him and being exposed to the duties and responsibilities of nursing at an early age.
Ive always really liked the nursing profession. My grandpa is an orthopedic surgeon so I would always do rounds with him when I was little. We have a medical family and so nursing has always been an option for me.
After years of promoting nursing as a career, Hannah finally decided that it was the right choice for her. I wanted to become a nurse so that I can take care of all types of people and show them the love they deserve, she says.
The Marian University ABSN program stood apart to Hannah, with its flexible online coursework and a curriculum based on holistic care that aligned with the Franciscan values of dignity of the individual, peace and justice, reconciliation and responsible stewardship. Im Catholic, so that really means something to me, she says.
When Considering Your Career Options: Have A Mindset That Tends To Ask ‘why Not’
12:20 PM on Sep 15, 2016 CDT
When he was 20, Bob Evans took an aptitude test that pointed to nursing as a career that might fit his personality and talents. That test’s predictions proved accurate more than 30 years later.
Evans returned to school in his late 50s to study nursing after a career in the horticulture industry. Today he’s a registered nurse in the Medical Surgical Telemetry unit at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center — Centennial in Frisco. In April, he was honored with a Daisy Award for excellence in patient care.
You had looked at nursing as a career earlier in your life. What happened?
When I was 20, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. So I took an interest and aptitude test, which matched me with occupations like social worker, psychologist, teacher or nursing. I started volunteering at a children’s hospital, and one night, a doctor invited me to look into a scope he was using to examine a patient. I will always remember how cool that was. The idea of learning the concepts of health science … to help others appealed to me.
However, when my wife and I realized our daughter, Marie, was on the way I decided to postpone my plan and took a job. That launched my career in the horticulture business. I worked in that industry, mostly in sales and customer-service positions in landscaping and lawn care, from 1976 to 2011.
What led you to decide to revisit nursing as a career in your mid-50s?
So I was asking myself, “What do you want to do now?”
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Never Be Afraid To Ask Questions
As you build on your online coursework, in-person skills and simulation labs as well as clinical rotations will allow you the opportunity to apply nursing skills and techniques. Youll start in mock clinical settings but move onto working with real patients under expert instructor supervision and guidance. Pay attention while observing new techniques, and dont be afraid to speak up and ask questions if you dont understand something. Our instructors are here to ensure that you have the knowledge you need you cant succeed if you dont have a thorough understanding of the techniques youll be applying each day as an RN.
Will It Be Hard
Nursing school is going to be hard no matter where you go. Nothing is easy, but with hard work, youll get through it and achieve your goal. The great thing about becoming a nurse with Utica Colleges accelerated nursing program is that while rigorous the program graduates great nurses. Our first-time NCLEX pass rate of 94% in 2015 proves it. Our ABSN program can be completed in as few as 16 months, but our dedicated faculty go above and beyond in preparing you to be the best nurse you can be.
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Will I Fit In
Concerned that youll be in class with students ten years younger than you? Worried you wont have anything in common with anyone? Think again. ABSN students liken their cohort to a family.
The students in my cohort are the only ones who know what Im going through right now. They are my second family, says Dawn, ABSN student.
Our largest group of students falls in the 25-40 age range. You may not have a ton in common with your classmates, but youll have one big thing in common youre all trying to get through nursing school.
Nursing School Supply Not Meeting Demand
As a result of more people requiring advanced nursing care and the large portion of nurses exiting the workforce, it is paramount that nursing schools produce enough new graduates to help fill the nursing gap.
You might then conclude that nursing schools should just accept more students to help keep up the demand. In reality, the solution is not that simple.
For example, even though the American Association of Colleges of Nursing reported a 5.1% increase in entry-level baccalaureate programs in nursing in 2019, this growth isnt enough to meet the projected demand for nursing services, including for nursing school faculty, researchers, and primary care providers, which require more advanced degrees.
Simply put, there arent enough nursing instructors nationwide to account for the number of students who want to enter the field. Coupled with an insufficient number of clinical sites and preceptors, as well as lack of classroom space and funds, its clear why more than 80,000 qualified applicants to baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs were turned away in 2019, according to AACN reports.
Fortunately, Misericordia University is doing its part to alleviate this shortage by offering a path to a BSN degree that can be completed in as few as 16 months.
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Polish Your Technical Skills
You will never get ahead unless youre a pro when it comes to technical expertise. Investigate the technical skills youll need to hit your five-year goal. Envision what activities you will need to pursue to gain these skills. Is it more education? Can you find training opportunities through your job, volunteer work, or a side gig? List all the skills you will need to master, along with your strategies for attaining them within your five-year career development plan.
Know Your Learning Style
Everyone learns differently: some need to see information, some need to hear it, while others learn kinetically. So in effect, everyone needs to discover which study tips work best for them. Know your own style and use it to your advantage. For example, kinetic learners often do best when they write out their notes, as the motion of writing helps them remember.
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I Have A Bachelors Degree In Another Field But Now Want To Become A Nurse
Youre not alone! Nursing is one of the fastest growing career fields in the United States. Many people who are unsatisfied with their current careers are looking for a more stable and fulfilling career.
The Accelerated Second Degree BSN concentration is a great option for those who already have a bachelors degree. The concentration can be completed in as little as 15 months, and graduates are well prepared to be professional nurses.
Did You Go Into Nursing School Over The Age Of 40 Can You Share Your Experience And Perspective
I’m 42 and starting prerequisites. Thanks!
I turn 40 in a few months. I’ll be graduating with my BScN at age 42 and proceeding to graduate school for epidemiology from there.
I’m having a lot of fun, and university is fairly relaxed for me. My previous experience in the working world seems to have given me some advantages over students who came straight from high school in that I have a better sense of time management and prioritizing, and am better able to adapt to the changed learning style of post-secondary education. Being older also means that I’m more aware of what’s at stake, and often take things more seriously than some others in my cohort.
When I returned to school, a good friend warned me that I’d be treated as invisible due to my age, and that I would need to make an effort to insinuate myself into the “scene” if I wanted to participate. She was right. I’ve had students who mistook me for being in my mid-20s literally turn their backs on me in class once they learned how old I actually am. However, those attitudes are definitely the minority, and I’ve since developed friendships with a wide assortment of students from all age ranges in the program. Being driven to succeed has made me a popular study partner, so I’ve used that to my advantage in integrating myself into the student body.
Treat school like employment, and you’ll do fine.
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Fitting In As A Nontraditional Learner
Hunt argues that “nontraditional students may face multiple challenges, although they also have many strengths.” Many nursing programs use an educational model that accommodates the traditional college demographic of students under the age of 25, based on full-time attendance and a sequenced schedule of coursework and labs. Consequently, older nursing students may face challenges fitting in. Not only do they struggle with financial, work, and family responsibilities, they may lack test taking skills and feel inadequately prepared to use new technologies
Nontraditional learners achieve the most success by facing their challenges and learning to use their own strengths as assets. Dobratz shares how she felt eagerly accepted and valued for her maturity. “My instructors and fellow students relied on me for my steadfastness and perseverance. Please do not cheat the school and students of all that you have to offer.”
How To Pursue Nursing As A Second Career
1: Assess your education to determine what you can apply toward a nursing degree.
If you have a bachelors degree from an accredited institution, you likely have what it takes to qualify for an ABSN program. However, program requirements vary by school, so its wise to meet with admissions counselors at more than one program to determine what previous coursework you can apply toward a nursing degree.
Other considerations, such as a minimum cumulative GPA or minimum grade requirements in prerequisite classes, may make you a better candidate for some ABSN programs over others.
2: Complete any prerequisite courses.
An admissions counselor can work with you to determine whether youll need any prerequisites and help you establish a timeline to complete your degree.
Prerequisites typically include courses in anatomy, physiology, statistics, and microbiology to give you a sound foundation for your nursing studies. Based on program requirements, you may be able to complete your prerequisites online or at another accredited institution, such as a community college. This option could be convenient and save you money.
3: Complete your nursing education, including clinicals.
The curriculum for ABSN programs varies by school but you should expect to learn hands-on skills and to participate in simulation labs. Youll also need to gain experience by completing clinical practice at local healthcare facilities.
- Health assessment
Radiologic Nursing Certification Board
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Are You Ready To Become An Rn
If youve been asking should I become a nurse? you know just how many factors go into the career decision. These insights from nurses can illustrate what becoming an RN really means. Do you think its the job for you?
Remember that you will have some very challenging days both in nursing school and as a nurse, Pruitt says. But it is all worth it! Nursing is a calling. You see people at their absolute lowest and have the privilege to help them. It takes a special person to be a nurse.
Is it hard to become a nurse? If youve been looking into nursing credentials or considering the path to become an RN, you might find all the different levels of nursing confusing. Dont worry, all those options make nursing one of the more customizable educations out there! Check out A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding the Levels of Nursing Credentials to learn more about educational paths you can take. Or, if youre ready to get started on the path to becoming a registered nurse, visit the Professional Nursing program page.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, www.bls.gov/ooh/. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.).EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in August 2014. It has since been updated.
So How Long Is Nursing School
Nursing school can take anywhere from one to eight years, depending on the type of nurse you aspire to be. This is one of the beauties of nursing school there are many pathways you can take towards success. Today, you can become an RN, LPN, APRN, and more.
Below is a breakdown of how long nursing school takes, on average, for each career path:
- Licensed Practical Nurse : About 1.5 years in practical nursing school.
- Registered Nurse : About 2 years in nursing school.
- Registered Nurse with a BSN Degree: About 4 years in nursing school.
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse : About 6-8 years in nursing school.
The amount of schooling required for each type of nurse varies by their responsibilities. Licensed Practical Nurses , for example, leave nursing school with a diploma, which takes about 12-16 months. LPNs have less autonomy and patient care responsibilities than Registered Nurses . In fact, RNs often oversee LPNs, which is why RNs need a little more time in school.
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How Easy It Is To Forget Yourself
A sacrificial attitude is one of the greatest strengths of the nursing profession, but it can also be a detriment.
People don’t understand that nurses sacrifice eating and going to the bathroom to get work done, West says, adding that nurses can sometimes sacrifice to the point of harming their own health.
West emphasizes the importance of passion in nursing. Burnout is real. I certainly experienced it and wanted to quit nursing altogether. West says a perspective on how nursing matters to your passion or purpose will help you stick with it in hard times. That, and equipping yourself with strong nursing self-care habits to make sure you dont sacrifice your health.
We take on a lot, and it’s important to keep yourself grounded and take care of yourself, West says.
Former Occupation: Small Business Owner
Debbie had reservations about going back to school at an advanced age, knowing that she would be older than her classmates and probably even older than her instructors.
But after owning several small businesses, including a childrens consignment store and an RV service and repair shop, the Western New York resident found herself unemployed and looking for a more stable position.
She knew that the healthcare field was growing, so she decided to enroll in Bryant & Stratton College Onlines Medical Administration for Billing and Coding Degree program.
“You just have to keep going and put yourself out there to other people because you’ll never know what comes back to you when you do. You might lose some of your memory and mind when you get older, but going back to school really proved to me that you’re never too old to learn.”
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Working In An Ambitious Environment
I am going to warn you. This is a TOUGH job. It is tough on every facet of your being.
You will be physically drained and strained, and you will be mentally fatigued to the point where you will actually wonder if it is possible to sleep for 24 hours sometimes. But again, if you are like me, this is what you need in a career.
I can not do mindless busywork, where I know I am one budget cut away from being handed a nice letter and then moving onto something similar somewhere else for the remainder of my time here on Earth.
One of my favorite parts about working in health care is that you are surrounded by go-getters. You will be working with support staff that works extremely hard, and many are working on their degrees to become licensed health care workers as well. It is an environment that encourages growth and ambition.
There is also so much room for growth in the RN field as well. Nurses with their ADNs going for their BSNs. BSNs going for their NPs. NPs going for their doctorates
Not to mention the different certifications and specialties that are out there. There are midwives, CRNAs, lactation consultants, psych nurses etc. You will see it all, and you will even consider it all. But it is important to just take the first steps first.
Apply to nursing school.