6 answers
lumka
Student
Klerksdorp, North West, South Africa
1
Question
Asked
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how to be come a professional nurse?
i want to be a nurse, or doctor or
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6 answers
Isabel Dominguez
Student
137
Answers
Corning, California
Updated
Isabel’s Answer
Hi Lumka!
Embarking on the journey to become a nurse or doctor is exciting and rewarding. Start by focusing on doing well in high school, especially in science subjects. After that, aim for a nursing or pre-med program in college. If you choose nursing, you can earn an associate's or bachelor's degree and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. If your goal is to become a doctor, you'll need to complete a bachelor's degree, take the MCAT, go to medical school, and finish a residency. Both paths require dedication and a love for helping people. Gaining experience through volunteering or shadowing at hospitals can also help you feel confident in your choice. Keep believing in yourself, and you can achieve your dreams!
Embarking on the journey to become a nurse or doctor is exciting and rewarding. Start by focusing on doing well in high school, especially in science subjects. After that, aim for a nursing or pre-med program in college. If you choose nursing, you can earn an associate's or bachelor's degree and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. If your goal is to become a doctor, you'll need to complete a bachelor's degree, take the MCAT, go to medical school, and finish a residency. Both paths require dedication and a love for helping people. Gaining experience through volunteering or shadowing at hospitals can also help you feel confident in your choice. Keep believing in yourself, and you can achieve your dreams!
Rebecca Tang
Banking
2398
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad to know that you would like to develop your careers in medical.
Below are my suggestions :
1. There are many medical related careers : Doctor, Nurse, Dentist, Phycologist, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, etc. You can find out more medical related careers online
2. Find out more on these careers determine what you have interest
3. Attend information sessions hosts by relevant department in colleges. Speak to alumni and professors if you can.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Work hard on your academic to meet the entry criteria
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions :
1. There are many medical related careers : Doctor, Nurse, Dentist, Phycologist, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, etc. You can find out more medical related careers online
2. Find out more on these careers determine what you have interest
3. Attend information sessions hosts by relevant department in colleges. Speak to alumni and professors if you can.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Work hard on your academic to meet the entry criteria
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Sarah Clark
Registered Nurse
4
Answers
Updated
Sarah’s Answer
Hello Lumka,
I'm excited that you are looking at a career in patient care. These roles are very different and provide different challenges and rewards. I would suggest starting by looking into what each career involves. Doctors typically manage the patient's care, treatment, medications, and overall plan. Doctors do not perform these tasks; they are done by nurses. Nurses provide the direct patient care. The work with the doctor to make the best plan for each patient and together they implement the plan.
Different countries and cultures divide these tasks and responsibilities between the doctor, nurse, nursing assistant, and various therapy specialists. I would suggest talking to doctors, nurses, and others to find out what they do in their job. Once you have done that, you can consider what role best matches what you would like to do in your career. Then you can begin looking at schools to begin your education.
Best of luck in your future with health care.
I'm excited that you are looking at a career in patient care. These roles are very different and provide different challenges and rewards. I would suggest starting by looking into what each career involves. Doctors typically manage the patient's care, treatment, medications, and overall plan. Doctors do not perform these tasks; they are done by nurses. Nurses provide the direct patient care. The work with the doctor to make the best plan for each patient and together they implement the plan.
Different countries and cultures divide these tasks and responsibilities between the doctor, nurse, nursing assistant, and various therapy specialists. I would suggest talking to doctors, nurses, and others to find out what they do in their job. Once you have done that, you can consider what role best matches what you would like to do in your career. Then you can begin looking at schools to begin your education.
Best of luck in your future with health care.
Gina Gill
Nurse
30
Answers
Vacaville
Updated
Gina’s Answer
Working in healthcare is very rewarding and there are many paths to take, but all require some education. Focus on doing well in high school and college. Your chosen career will guide your educational path. To become a nurse, you can earn a bachelor's degree at a four-year university. Becoming a doctor involves four years of college, four years of medical school, and two years of residency, with additional training for specialization.
Education can be expensive, requiring money, student loans, or scholarships, but it's worth it. For nursing, there are trade schools and junior colleges where you can take courses needed for the RN exam without earning a bachelor's degree. However, getting a degree is recommended, as many hospitals now require more than just an RN license, especially in large cities and hospitals with high accreditation standards.
Having a degree can open doors to leadership roles. I have a Master's in nursing, which helped me advance to a leadership position. Leadership roles require more than just nursing skills; they need a broader understanding of the field.
Education can be expensive, requiring money, student loans, or scholarships, but it's worth it. For nursing, there are trade schools and junior colleges where you can take courses needed for the RN exam without earning a bachelor's degree. However, getting a degree is recommended, as many hospitals now require more than just an RN license, especially in large cities and hospitals with high accreditation standards.
Having a degree can open doors to leadership roles. I have a Master's in nursing, which helped me advance to a leadership position. Leadership roles require more than just nursing skills; they need a broader understanding of the field.
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1085
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Lumka,
There are many great careers in the healthcare sector. Take some time to check out nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, etc to find out what suits you best. If possible talk to some medical professionals and "shadow" them in their professional setting.
Studying to become a doctor is a 6-year program to earn your Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) followed by a 2-year internship and a year of community service before you can register as a doctor. Specializations, like surgery require additional training.
Admission to medical school is competitive. You need to look up criteria for each university as they can be slightly different. Generally speaking, you'll need excellent marks in math (NOT math literacy) and science as well as English and/or another language.
Some of the universities with medical schools:
https://health.uct.ac.za/home/medicine
https://www.wits.ac.za/course-finder/undergraduate/health/medicine-and-surgery/
https://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/healthsciences
https://www.up.ac.za/school-of-medicine
http://medicalschool.mandela.ac.za/about-us
To become a nurse, you would earn your Bachelors of Nursing and Midwifery, which is a 4-year program, before you can register as a nurse. There are postgraduate specializations for further education.
Entry to Nursing School is also competitive, and you need good marks in Math (NOT math literacy), science and English and/or another language. It's also recommended to participate in shadowing of professionals in this field.
Some more information: https://www.sanc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/SANC-Study-brochure.pdf
Some universities with Nursing Schools:
https://health.uct.ac.za/department-dhrs/divisions/nursing-midwifery
https://www.wits.ac.za/course-finder/undergraduate/health/nursing/
https://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/healthsciences/Nursing/Pages/Nursing.aspx
https://nursing.ukzn.ac.za/
Your closest university is North-West University with campuses in Potchefstroom, Mafikeng and Vanderbijlpark. Have a look at the Faculty of Health Sciences website for all the different options in the health-sciences: https://health-sciences.nwu.ac.za.
You find your degree options and entry requirements in the prospectus: https://studies.nwu.ac.za/sites/studies.nwu.ac.za/files/files/undergrad/2025/2025Grade-12-Prospectus.pdf
There is a Nursing School at NWU: https://health-sciences.nwu.ac.za/nursing.
They also have a brand new medical school, but I am not sure if they are taking students just yet: https://health-sciences.nwu.ac.za/nwu-medical-school.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/south-africa/clinical-medicine
https://edurank.org/medicine/nursing/za/
https://www.sanc.co.za/education-institutions/
https://www.sanc.co.za/education-and-training/
There are many great careers in the healthcare sector. Take some time to check out nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, etc to find out what suits you best. If possible talk to some medical professionals and "shadow" them in their professional setting.
Studying to become a doctor is a 6-year program to earn your Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) followed by a 2-year internship and a year of community service before you can register as a doctor. Specializations, like surgery require additional training.
Admission to medical school is competitive. You need to look up criteria for each university as they can be slightly different. Generally speaking, you'll need excellent marks in math (NOT math literacy) and science as well as English and/or another language.
Some of the universities with medical schools:
https://health.uct.ac.za/home/medicine
https://www.wits.ac.za/course-finder/undergraduate/health/medicine-and-surgery/
https://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/healthsciences
https://www.up.ac.za/school-of-medicine
http://medicalschool.mandela.ac.za/about-us
To become a nurse, you would earn your Bachelors of Nursing and Midwifery, which is a 4-year program, before you can register as a nurse. There are postgraduate specializations for further education.
Entry to Nursing School is also competitive, and you need good marks in Math (NOT math literacy), science and English and/or another language. It's also recommended to participate in shadowing of professionals in this field.
Some more information: https://www.sanc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/SANC-Study-brochure.pdf
Some universities with Nursing Schools:
https://health.uct.ac.za/department-dhrs/divisions/nursing-midwifery
https://www.wits.ac.za/course-finder/undergraduate/health/nursing/
https://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/healthsciences/Nursing/Pages/Nursing.aspx
https://nursing.ukzn.ac.za/
Your closest university is North-West University with campuses in Potchefstroom, Mafikeng and Vanderbijlpark. Have a look at the Faculty of Health Sciences website for all the different options in the health-sciences: https://health-sciences.nwu.ac.za.
You find your degree options and entry requirements in the prospectus: https://studies.nwu.ac.za/sites/studies.nwu.ac.za/files/files/undergrad/2025/2025Grade-12-Prospectus.pdf
There is a Nursing School at NWU: https://health-sciences.nwu.ac.za/nursing.
They also have a brand new medical school, but I am not sure if they are taking students just yet: https://health-sciences.nwu.ac.za/nwu-medical-school.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Karin recommends the following next steps:
Cecily Black
5
Answers
Updated
Cecily’s Answer
Hi Lumka,
All of the previous advice given above is excellent so I am just going to add on a little. Keep in mind there are varying requirements for medical degrees based on the country you are located in and the country you would like to eventually end up working in. For example, an undergraduate degree in the US is 4 years, followed by 4 years of medical school. In the UK, an undergraduate degree is 3 years, followed by 5 to 6 years of medical school. In South Africa, it looks like medical school is also around 6 years.
Nursing is a more parallel path. Both the US and South Africa offer routes to nursing that can be achieved in 1, 2, or 4 years based on the degree you want to finish with, and the level of autonomy you are seeking.
I only bring this up to say that are you are deciding what path you would like to pursue, be sure you look into the steps to get there and not just the end goal. Also, if you are looking to complete medical school or residency in another country that is always a great option, just look out for how the requirements may vary. Pursuing a career in medicine is definitely hard work, but it is absolutely worth it.
Good luck and I wish you the best! If I can do it, you can do it.
All of the previous advice given above is excellent so I am just going to add on a little. Keep in mind there are varying requirements for medical degrees based on the country you are located in and the country you would like to eventually end up working in. For example, an undergraduate degree in the US is 4 years, followed by 4 years of medical school. In the UK, an undergraduate degree is 3 years, followed by 5 to 6 years of medical school. In South Africa, it looks like medical school is also around 6 years.
Nursing is a more parallel path. Both the US and South Africa offer routes to nursing that can be achieved in 1, 2, or 4 years based on the degree you want to finish with, and the level of autonomy you are seeking.
I only bring this up to say that are you are deciding what path you would like to pursue, be sure you look into the steps to get there and not just the end goal. Also, if you are looking to complete medical school or residency in another country that is always a great option, just look out for how the requirements may vary. Pursuing a career in medicine is definitely hard work, but it is absolutely worth it.
Good luck and I wish you the best! If I can do it, you can do it.