Earn A Degree From An Accredited Program
Whether you earn an associates degree, a bachelors degree or a nursing diploma, this is your first step. Associate programs typically take two years to complete, while bachelors degree programs take four years. Both prepare you for the next step to take the NCLEX-RN exam but keep in mind that many institutions require a baccalaureate degree for hire.
Associate programs often cover many of the same topics taught at the BSN level, but a four-year program provides a more in-depth set of knowledge and skills. If you get your associates degree you should plan on continuing your training in an RN to BSN program. In addition to giving you a leg up with many employers, earning a BSN gives you more options, allowing you to move into administration, advanced nursing, nursing consulting, teaching, or research roles.
The third option, a nursing diploma obtained through hospital-based programs that provide hands-on training alongside nursing course work typically takes three years to complete but does not give you a degree upon completion, making it the path that gives you the fewest options professionally. There are no diploma programs in Oregon.
Pursue Additional Training Progress Your Nursing Career
For some this may not be necessary, but for others with specific career goals in mind, this may be a great option. In the field of nursing, much like other professional industries, further schooling often results in senior-level employment opportunities, higher salaries, and greater responsibility. Fortunately, there are many options for advanced degrees in nursing. Be sure to take a look at GMercyUs own Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.
Pass Your Licensing Exam
After completing your degree program, your employer expects that you pass the National Council Licensing Examination before practising as a nurse in a medical institution. The provinces have specific licensing requirements to fulfil and follow when you want to write the licensing examination. Once you pass the licensing exam, you can apply for jobs in hospitals and other medical institutions within your province.
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Prepare Your Nursing Resume
Your resume is the first thing your future employer is going to see, so make a good first impression!
Some top tips are to make sure your resume shows your personality and your brand, research the organization you’re applying to, and optimize your resume for the resume-robots. For more detailed tips on perfecting your resume, check out our Ultimate Guide to Nursing Resumes.
New Grad Nursing Jobs
You can pursue a rewarding job as a registered nurse in a variety of locations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics describes how 60% of registered nurses work in state, local, and private hospitals. At this time, most hospitals are looking to hire registered nurses with a BSN, as it qualifies them for accreditation and certification. Hospitals need certain accreditation in order to remain open and desire additional certification to demonstrate that they offer the highest quality of patient care. For instance, the American Nurses Credentialing Center awards health care organizations with Magnet status when their nurses have certain qualifications and demonstrate a commitment to excellence.
After you graduate with a BSN, you can also pursue a job as a registered nurse in ambulatory health care services, clinics, physician offices, or outpatient facilities. About 7% of registered nurses work in nursing facilities or residential care facilities. You can also earn additional certification and specialize in certain areas of nursing, allowing you to work in skilled nursing facilities or work directly with patients in their homes.
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I Want To Be A Nurse But I Didnt Major In Nursing
By Kirsten Slyter on 06/24/2019
Regrets are a fact of lifepeople ignore weather forecasts and leave umbrellas at home, opt for cheaper products that fall apart and turn down invites to fun new things constantly. But some regrets are bigger than others. The subject of choosing a major or degree program can be an example of a big one. If youve earned a degree in a field that for whatever reason didnt turn out to be what you imagined, its only natural to be a little concerned about transitioning into a nursing career.
But know thisits not too late to start a nursing career. If youre interested in becoming an RN, dont let what you perceive as a faulty first step in the short term stop you from pursuing a path youd rather be on in the long term.
You can carve a unique path to the nursing career youve been dreaming of. To prove it, weve asked several second-degree nurses to share their experience transitioning into the field.
Are There Online Options
While most BSN accelerated programs are brick and mortar, more online options have become available. By completing the track online, students are typically responsible for setting up their clinical experience in order to meet the required hours at the bedside. This may include the responsibility of approaching the facilities affiliated with your program and finding a preceptor to shadow when completing your hours.
*Note: It is a good idea to begin your search of online BSN accelerated programs by speaking to those who work at the facilities near you. This will help assure that you are applying to a program that will accommodate your locale.
For a few examples of the requirements of online accelerated programs, check is this one at Texas A& M Corpus Christi and another one at Emory University.
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Bachelor’s Degree In Nursing
After four years of study, you can attain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The degree is a bachelor’s degree, so the program contains all the required theories and clinical instructions for medical and surgical nursing. With this degree, you have a good understanding of general nursing science courses, and you can also specialize in specific health problems. After attaining this degree, before you can practise as a nurse, medical professionals might require that you write and pass the nursing licensing exam in your province.
Apply For State Licensure
Once youve taken your exam, you will need to submit your results, transcripts and fingerprints to the Oregon State Board of Nursing to obtain your nurse practitioner license.
As part of the application process, applicants must submit their practice history. The practice requirement must be met in one of the following ways:
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Rn Degree Requirements By State
In order to work as a registered nurse, you will need to complete the licensure requirements as dictated by the state in which you wish to practice. While all states have certain educational requirements in order to qualify for an RN license, these requirements can vary significantly
Want to learn more about what our accelerated nursing programs have to offer? Download Our Free Guide!
In the past, in order to work as a registered nurse in most states, you would have had to earn at least an associates degree in nursing . Over time, many states have begun requiring that RNs hold at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in order to qualify for their RN license.
To make matters more complicated, some states will allow an individual to begin practicing as an RN after having earned an associates degree in nursing, with the stipulation that the individual earn a bachelors degree within a certain window of time. New York, for example, follows a law that is known colloquially as BSN in 10. This law states that RNs who have only earned their associates degree must complete a BSN within 10 years of obtaining their initial RN license in order to continue as a registered nurse.
How To Become A Nurse After College And A Bachelors Degree
Nurses are needed today more than ever before. If the recent outbreak of COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is the importance of health care workers. This may have inspired you to answer the call to work on the frontlines and become a healthcare hero. But if youve already earned your degree in a different field, you may be feeling a bit discouraged.
Earning a degree in any field takes time and work. If youve already completed a degree program, and that program is not nursing, you may be wondering how to become a nurse after college. Starting over is out of the question. So where do you go from here? Fear not! The journey to become a nurse is not as out-of-reach as you may think.
Youre an educated person. Perhaps you had planned on becoming a teacher and earned your education degree. You may have even worked in a classroom for a few years before realizing you were meant to help patients instead of students. A career change, or a change in path, is not out of the question. It doesnt mean you have to start a four-year degree program all over again. The truth is: There is a shortcut for aspiring nurses who have already earned their bachelors degree in a non-nursing major. It is called anAccelerated Bachelors in Nursing program.
- Professionalism
- Psychomotor skills
Are you ready to switch gears and get on the accelerated path toward becoming a nurse? Contact Goodwin University at 1-800-889-3282 or visit us onlineto learn more about our accelerated nursing degree.
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Registered Nurse Diploma Program
An RN diploma remains one of the fastest ways to become a nurse. Many of these programs last 2-3 years. Students can find some programs that only need one year of study for full-time students. RN diplomas are not as popular as full degrees and offer less opportunity for advancement.
Diploma programs cover the basics required to earn RN licensure. Students complete their required supervised clinical hours while learning about foundational nursing theory and skills. In comparison, degrees include general education courses that can help students with soft skills, like critical thinking and communication. Bachelor’s degrees also tend to include more advanced nursing courses.
I Want To Be A Nurse But
By Megan Ruesink on 11/04/2014
Youve heard it several times as a parent. I wouldve cleaned my room, but … . or I was going to do my homework, but … .
Theres nothing more frustrating than hearing an excuse and knowing how quickly it will fall apart under scrutiny. Yet when it comes to your own vocational goals and your desire to be a nurse, time and time again you find yourself letting the buts get in the way.Youre finally ready for a career change so its time to truly decide if the nursing field is right for you. Rest assured because were here to help you confront your concerns. We enlisted nursing pros to help you determine if your buts are really the roadblocks you think they are.
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Focus On What You Can Control
You cant control whether subject matter comes to you naturally or not. But you can control how you prioritize your time and effort to stay ahead. It is a virtuous tradition of nursing students to fervently complain about how difficult nursing school is, says Nick Angelis, CRNA, MSN and . He believes that a hard worker who knows how to prioritize his or her time actually has more potential in nursing school than a smart student with a photographic memory.
The complexity of the material isn’t far beyond other majors. The issue is really time management once clinicals start, he adds.
Becoming A Nurse With A Liberal Arts Degree
If you already hold a liberal arts degree, its likely youll have to complete more ABSN prerequisites specifically microbiology, anatomy and physiology and statistics. The good news is these prerequisite courses will give you a good benchmark of how youll do in your ABSN program and give you a chance to sharpen up your understanding of key math and science concepts that will be vital to your success as a nurse.
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English Is Not My First Language
The language of instruction for most courses at McGill University is English however, if French is your first language, you may make arrangements to write term papers and examinations in French. Being bilingual is particularly beneficial during clinical studies. Some applicants must demonstrate proof of proficiency in English – TOEFL scores for nursing admission and more specific details are found here.
Any student who has been admitted to our programs and who feels language barriers may pose a challenge – particularly in the first year of studies – should ask to meet with an advisor to discuss their situation.
Know How Many Credits You Need To Graduate
You transferred your credits and successfully completed your prerequisites, support, and signature courses. Now it is time to begin the nursing course sequence that starts the ABSN program.
During Madonna Universitys Accelerated BSN program, you will complete 53 credit hours. Those credit hours are broken down into four, full-time semesters that include a combination of online curriculum, hands-on lab experience, and in-hospital clinical rotations.
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What Is The Job Outlook For Advanced Practice Nursing As A Nurse Practitioner Nurse Midwife Or Nurse Anesthetist
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program, APRN employment is projected to grow 31% from 2016 to 2026. This is faster than the average growth of all occupations. There is currently, and is projected to be an increase in demand for healthcare services. Bloomberg Businessweek reported in 2013 that the U.S. has a shortage of 13,000 doctors and could grow to over 130,000 by the year 2025. Advanced practice nurses, especially nurse practitioners, could fill that gap.
*Quick facts chart is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
Gain Experience In The Field
This step likely comes as no surprise, but its an important one. Prior to enrolling in a certificate program, you need at least one years worth of professional nursing experience. The reasoning is simple: Before pursuing an advanced nursing position, you need to understand what its like to work as a nurse in the field. Besides, while you may leave our program with an MSN degree, youre going to learn a lot in that first year of working both about nursing and about working with other medical professionals.
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How To Become A Nurse In Oregon
There has never been a better time to become a nurse in Oregon. Outside of the obvious job perks the satisfaction that comes from helping people and contributing to the healthcare needs of the community the reasons for pursuing a nursing position in the state are numerous.
A number of factors, including the aging of the U.S. population, the aging and retirement of longtime nurses, and the uncertainty of healthcare reforms, point to a nursing shortage, particularly in the states rural areas. That means more nursing jobs in the future.
To compound matters, schools within the state are struggling to graduate enough nurses to keep up with the demand, requiring many healthcare providers to hire nurses from outside the state .
The bottom line: Projections show that, between 2017 and 2027, Oregon will need an additional 26,600 RNs over a 10-year period to fill new jobs due to growth within the industry and to replace current RNs who leave their positions.
The Benefits Of Nursing As A Second Career
Besides great pay and personal fulfillment, a career in nursing offers many benefits as a second career.
- A nursing career is highly customizable. Once you face the fact that your current job is not what you thought it would be, it becomes easier to identify the things you really want from a career. Nursing offers you the chance to do it all! You can travel the world helping people live healthier lives, work to implement public health strategies that strengthen communities, or assist individuals in living their best. Continuing education requirements make it easy to create your own path.
- Everybody needs nurses. Schools, hospitals, government entities, even corporations need trained nurses. Your RN credentials mean youll never have to worry about finding a job, no matter how tough the rest of the economy gets.
- Nurses are on the cutting edge. If technology excites you, the medical field has what youre looking for. New developments in imaging, robotics, and experimental therapies are changing what is possible every day. Stay at the forefront of all the exciting possibilities with a career in nursing.
Are you interested in a second career as a nurse? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and have already completed a bachelors degree, ECPI University offers the Bachelor to BSN Nursing Program at its Orlando campus. For more information about this exciting opportunity, connect with a helpful admissions counselor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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What Is A Registered Nurse
A licensed RN has completed the educational requirementseither an associate in nursing degree or a bachelor’s in nursing degreeclinical nursing requirements, and has passed the NCLEX-RN to earn licensure in their state.
RNs provide round-the-clock direct care to patients in hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers, and residential care facilities. Their job consists of recognizing abnormalities, assessing patients, and administering medication while maintaining communication with a team of healthcare professionals. They can gain specialized training in oncology, acute and critical care, gerontology, or pediatrics.
After earning a graduate nursing degree, RNs can advance to become clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, or nurse anesthetists. Learn more general information about what RNs do and where they work in our registered nurse career overview.