What Is The Best Way To Become A Nurse

When Did I Decide I Wanted To Be A Nurse

I didnt want to be a nurse. When it came to choosing a career, nursing didnt hold any appeal.

I thought that being an occupational therapist or physiotherapist looked interesting.

I found a job looking for a physio assistant in the local hospital.

I applied and to my shock, was offered it.

I started in August 1997, a whole 20 years ago. Initially, I really enjoyed it. I loved helping get the patients out of bed after their total knee or hip replacements, and watching as their mobility improved from being crippled with pain pre-operatively, to being discharged on minimal painkillers and crutches or walking sticks 7-10 days after surgery.

Paths To Becoming A Registered Nurse

Becoming a Registered Nurse is a process that can take from 2 to 4 years and that can vary greatly in cost. The cost and the time involved depend on how quickly you want to get the training done and the path you choose to becoming a Registered Nurse!

Although there are variations of the paths, there are three main paths to becoming a Registered Nurse: a Diploma program, an Associate Degree in Nursing , and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree . For those interested in moving beyond these degrees, there is also a Masters degree in Nursing and a number of degrees at the doctoral level. In general, those degrees are not entry level pathways to the Registered Nurse license. This article will look at the three entry level paths. It should be noted that all three of these paths adequately prepare the student to take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses .

Take The National Certification Exam

As NPs are specialists, Oregon requires they pass a national certification exam in their area of focus. The certification organizations for NPs include the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the National Certification Corporation, and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.

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What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Nurse

The minimal qualifications needed to become a practicing registered nurse are an associate degree or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing , and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. Higher-level degrees, like a Master of Science in Nursing, require additional education and passing specialty certification examinations.

What Does A Nursing Degree Apprenticeship Involve

Nursing degree apprenticeships give you the opportunity to gain the qualifications you need to be a nurse and earn a real wage at the same time. The employer pays for your degree, which is always a bonus.

It will feel like a normal full-time job, however, youll be required to spend at least one day per week attending classes at a local uni.

Nursing degree apprenticeships tend to take longer to complete you can expect to take four years to become qualified instead of the normal three. If you already have a nursing associate qualification this may reduce the time your degree apprenticeship takes.

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What Keeps Me Excited About Nursing

I love my job. Sure, there are days when I cannot wait to get out of the door, and days when I dread the early morning starts but overall, even after 20 years, I can’t see me ever not being a nurse.

I would always advise moving around if you’re feeling burnt out. It’s a common feeling amongst nurses.

In such an emotionally and physically demanding job, it’s good to have a change and burn out is common. Changing direction or doing a stint as an agency nurse can give you this break without forcing you out of the profession entirely.

This is how the private and NHS sectors can work to retain nurses together.

Equally, the NHS offers secondments into different parts of the same organisation, so there are always opportunities to try something new.

Choose Your Career Path

The first step in becoming a nurse is to choose the career path that you would like to follow, at least initially. What job title do you hope to hold? What kind of tasks and responsibilities do you want as a part of your day-to-day job? This decision will impact the educational requirements that youll need to fulfill in order to become licensed in your chosen profession, so its an important one to consider, says Glynn.

There are many options to consider here. For example, you may decide to start your nursing career as a certified nursing assistant , licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse , or you might decide that you want to go straight into the field as a registered nurse . You might even decide early on that you want to eventually become a nurse practitioner.

Not sure what each of these job titles means? Here are some quick definitions:

Certified Nursing Assistant : These are medical professionals that help patients with needs associated with daily living, such as bathing, grooming, eating, and moving. They are also typically responsible for checking the patients vital signs periodically. CNAs work under the supervision of an RN, LPN, or LVN.

Registered Nurse : Registered nurses are responsible for direct care of patients. This typically includes managing their daily activities, assessments, medications, and any scheduled procedures they may need to undergo. Often, RNs will supervise other members of the medical team.

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Complete Any Required Exams

After meeting all education and state-specific license requirements, the final step in making yourself eligible for employment is completing the required nursing exam. The NCLEX examination is required for all candidates who wish to work as an entry-level registered nurse or practical nurse.

If you decide to become an APRN, you may need to take additional exams. One of the most prominent options is offered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. The other is the American Association of Critical Care Nurses certification.

The exams for these certifications test your practical knowledge before you transition to the workforce as a nurse.

Pros And Cons Of Becoming A Cna

Because the training process to become a CNA is just 4-12 weeks, its a great way for individuals to get their first experience in nursing and determine if they want to further their career to become an LPN or RN. Many CNAs are already in a nursing school program and use this career as a chance to learn more about the healthcare world and gain additional real world application and knowledge.

Certified Nursing Assistants can save up to 50% in tuition & books and become an RN ‘faster’ than traditional colleges with Achieve Test Prep’s “Nursing Test-Out Program”! The CNA to RN program helps CNAs earn their ADN and RN license by bypassing many prerequisite courses by testing-out of them. Because this type of non-bridge nursing program cannot be completed fully through only online classes, attendance at a local college for the nursing courses will be necessary. Prior to choosing a “test out” option, students should ensure their nursing program of choice will accept “testing out” in place of required courses. All applicants must already be a CNA.

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How To Answer The Interview Question Why Did You Choose Nursing As A Career

Because there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you as well as what strengths you possess that make you an excellent nurse and the best candidate for the job.

You will likely be asked questions relating specifically to nursing, as well as a certain number of general interview questions, so you should prepare some ideas about how you would like to answer them.

Dont try to memorize an answer, but do jot down a few ideas and talking points that relate to your own experiences and strengths.

4 Ways to Answer: Why Did You Choose Nursing as a Career?

How Can Nurse Plus Help Me

Glad you asked! While we cant do the actual studying for you, we can help you get familiar with NCLEX questions, the test format, and ways to reinforce your learning:

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Whats The Best Place To Start Studying For My Nclex

We recommend that you begin by downloading the NCSBN Test Plan for the NCLEX-PN. The test plan is effective April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2023. It is the road map for your studies.

The Test Plan outlines each of the four Client Need categories, tells how much content from each category will be on the examination, and lists both the related LPN/LVN activities and content. There is no way to know the exact questions you will be asked, but the Test Plan will help you focus on possible subject matter.

Here are the Client Need categories and subcategories for the NCLEX-PN:

Nursing At Every Level

Readers hooked by articles ranking the best and top jobs are likely already savvy to the idea that health care is one of the fastest-growing and highest-paying industries in the nation, and that nurses are leading the charge. From diploma to doctorate, the nursing field offers rewarding careers for nurses at every education level. Learn more about some of the most popular nursing careers below.

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S To Becoming A Nurse

The first step to becoming a nurse is getting a solid education, whether you hope to be a licensed practical or vocational nurse , registered nurse , or administrator. Every state and the District of Columbia require students to graduate from an accredited nursing program to become licensed.

• Step 1:

Average Salary Estimates May 2020

Youll want to weigh the pros and cons of how much you can potentially make vs. how much time it takes to begin working in the field in a nursing role.

If youre confident you want to begin working towards becoming an RN right away, beginning to earn the undergraduate education you need to sit for the NCLEX-RN represents the quickest path to begin seeking an RN job.

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Start A Rewarding Career As A Nurse Anesthetist

Regardless of where you are in your academic and professional life, theres a clear path to follow that can lead to a satisfying career as a nurse anesthetist. It starts with earning a CCNE-accredited bachelors degree from a highly respected school of nursing if you havent already done so.

If youre inspired to learn more, were here to make sure your next step will be a sound investment in your future in nursing.

Learn more about our nursing programs

Essential Nursing Skills Needed To Become A Nurse

• Ali Mir

Nurses tend to have excellent clinical skills that are learned through education and on the job experience. Their ability to identify conditions, side effects of medication, and when treatments are not working are vital for patient care, and thats why we value their expertise and knowledge. However, soft skills tend to be a part of ones personality, which makes them exceptionally hard to teach, but with time, can develop through experience. These soft skills are just as important when it comes to patient and patient family care. The ability to keep calm in stressful situations, share a compassionate smile and lift the spirits of those on the ward are traits that every patient under your care will appreciate, and fellow nurses need after a long and difficult shift.

It takes a special type of person to be a nurse, combining compassion and knowledge to provide exceptional care at all times. There are several other essential nursing skills that are key to not only being successful in your career, but also create a positive atmosphere around you. As leading specialists in nursing recruitment, we have pieced together the most essential skills a nurse should portray to help you in your personal development and improve career prospects.

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Become A Certified Nurse Practitioner

Be sure to review information on licensure and regulatory requirements in your state. The AANP is a good resource.

To become licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner, you will need to take a national certification exam. You can take this exam through any of five national certification boards, including the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners , the National Certification Corporation , or the American Nurses Credentialing Center . Each organizations exam is different, so you should research the focus and format of each one and consider your personal career goals and testing preferences when deciding which exam to take.

Become An Rn With A Nursing Degree

There are several different routes you can take to become a nurse practitioner depending on where you are in your current career and the amount of transferrable credits you already have from a prior degree. There is no path to becoming a nurse practitioner without earning a nursing degree.

To enroll in one of Herzing Universitys FNP program options, completion of an associate degree, bachelor’s degree or RN diploma is required, and youll need to hold a current, active and unencumbered license as a registered nurse.

Educational paths to becoming an RN:

• If you are new to nursing and do not have degree, you can pursue an associate degree or a bachelors degree designed to accelerate your path to a graduate nursing program. We offer a BSN program online, eligible for enrollment in select U.S. states.
• If you already have a bachelors degree in a different field, you can choose an accelerated BSN program designed to prepare you for professional nursing practice in as few as 20 months.

After completing your education youll need to pass the NCLEX-RN and meet the board of nursing requirements in your state to become an RN.

Regardless of where you are on the nursing continuum, theres a path you can follow with Herzing University to achieve your career goal of becoming a family nurse practitioner.

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So You Want To Become An Aesthetic Nurse

So you want to become an Aesthetic Nurse?

How did you become a Beauty Nurse? I am a nurse, how do I do what you do? I love what you do, and love skin, and want to do Botox, so what do I do? I have always wanted to do what you do, so how do I do it?

These are the questions I get daily! They are all really great questions, and I hope I can answer some of them for you in this blog.

A Beauty Nurse is not a generic career title it was just something I created for myself. Thus, I didnt go to college to become a Beauty Nurse. I went to college to become a Registered Nurse , and then entered into the Aesthetic Industry.

A RN doing injections can have many titles such as the following: Aesthetic Nurse, Cosmetic Nurse, Nurse Injector, Cosmetic Nurse Injector, Advanced Nurse Injector etc. This area of work is so grey. There is no official title for this career!

Being a nurse is far from glamorous even a nurse in the aesthetic industry. I may not be coming off of 20-hour shifts caked in filth like I did in my early days as a RN, but being an injector is still really hard work. This career path is not all glitz and glamour like some may think.

Another great resources is Palette Resources. Palette Resources is an innovative educational program on nonsurgical facial rejuvenation that provides a continuum of learning opportunities and hands-on instruction for clinicians with any level of experience. Check them out here: Palette Resources

Shine on beauties.

Find The Program That Works For You And Your Schedule

Yes, you can get your nurse practitioner degree online! Both the Accelerated RN to FNP and MSN FNP program for BSN holders at Herzing are delivered online and therefore allows working nurses the ability to manage their coursework without disrupting their current work responsibilities.

Are you ready to start focusing on your long-term career goals? If so, you should know it’s possible to become a family nurse practitioner in as few as 20 months. Herzings curriculum is based on a five-semester calendar for full-time students. Your situation may vary based on transfer credits and whether you choose a full or part-time schedule.

One significant advantage of choosing Herzing is that our program has six start dates throughout the year, ensuring you can start soon, but allowing enough time to make any necessary adjustments to your personal and work schedules to accommodate your studies.

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